ALL SERVICES & EVENTS CANCELED INDEFINITELY UNTIL FURTHER RECOMMENDED

Updated March 17th, 2020 at 7:00AM

Hey, Element Church!

Wow, what an unbelievable time in which we live. While there is widespread concern over Covid-19, there is also an incredible opportunity for the Church to spread the hope of Jesus. Now more than ever, we need to shine our light brightly!

I wanted to keep you informed as to what our plan is as a church in the coming weeks. As you know, LCSD1 has canceled school through April 7th. The CDC has also asked for no public gatherings of over 50 people for the next 8 weeks, and today, President Trump asked for a 15-day restriction on meeting in groups of 10 or more.

This clearly poses some problems for places of worship like us, but they are not problems that cannot be overcome. Let me remind us that while we didn’t see this coming, God did. He isn’t changing plans hour by hour. He is still God, He is still good, He is still on His throne, and we can still trust Him.

With that said, I want you to know some critical things about how we are responding at this time:

1. Effective immediately, all in-person Sunday worship experiences and Fusion Youth Ministry has been canceled through April 12th. Yes, this means that outside of some significant changes, we will not be having a public Easter gathering. The great news is, Jesus is alive whether we meet in person or not.

In the meantime, we will continue to connect online each Sunday with a recorded service for you to participate in. We will have worship, a brief welcome, and a message from me. I plan on presenting a call to salvation each week, so I would still ask you to share the service with people who need the lifesaving power of Jesus in their life. Each Sunday, the service will be available by 9 AM.  

2. Because of the requested restrictions and need for social distancing, we don’t feel it is responsible for us to promote the official gathering of small groups as a church. Obviously, we can’t keep you from meeting with people. Still, it would be poor leadership on our part to ignore the experts and our leaders by promoting something that clearly goes against what is being asked.

While we cannot connect in person, this doesn’t mean we shouldn’t connect. Make sure you are reaching out to those in your sphere of influence. Pray for one another. Encourage one another. Utilize the power of technology and social media to stay connected as much as possible. Our small group’s team is working on some virtual ways for us to stay connected. 

3. Ministry will go on. Our staff is still available throughout this season. We are closing the office down for walk-ins, but we are still here and are ready to minister to you. Do not hesitate to call for any need. You can contact us at the church by calling 307-635-1316. You can email us as well, hello@164.90.147.158.

We know there are going to be many needs that arise, and we know that many people will need help in processing things in life. That’s why we are here. Just because we’re not having Sunday service in person, doesn’t mean we aren’t here for each person. Please let us know how we can serve you or minister to you. We are ready and able to do that.

4. We have put together a communication strategy in place to keep you adequately informed without bombarding you with more information than you need. Starting this week, we will be sending out a weekly communication like this each Wednesday. This will include our latest church information and the most up to date information we feel is appropriate to pass on to you.

Each Sunday, as a part of my message, I will be offering some updates as well. This will allow for two times a week where we are passing along the most essential information to you as a church. Our pastors and directors on staff will communicate to their teams the information that relates only to them. Please be watching our website, www.elementchurch.life, and all of our social media channels: Facebook and Instagram = elementchurch.life — Twitter = elementchurchwy.

5. We don’t know what outreach is going to look like right now. We are working with and talking to a number of different organizations in town and are moving forward with some food pantry outreaches as well. With the group size restrictions, we don’t know yet how that’s going to work. Please understand, we are doing everything we can to serve those who are in need in our own “Home” first, and in our community as well. We aren’t going to be able to do everything, but we will do everything we can. 

For now, I really challenge all of us to continue the four things I said on Sunday. First of all, pray. We need to pray for everyone involved and for wisdom for our leaders. Pray for our churches that we would unite together to shine the light of Jesus. 

Second, we should give. The needs don’t stop just because our gathering does. My prayer is that we will come out on the other side of this fully funded and ready to serve. You are already such generous people, and I expect that to continue. 

Third, you can serve. Find out what the needs are around you and do your best to meet those needs. There are going to be great opportunities to be the hands and feet of Jesus through this. Be watching for those needs. 

Lastly, stay connected. Stay connected to God, to others (as much as is responsible and health), and to the Church. Don’t allow this time of social distancing to cause you to disconnect from the church.

We are in this together, and we will see this through! 

I love you, Element Church, and I’m with you til the end! 

Pastor Jeff