St. Mark's Lutheran Church
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CHURCH POLICIES

Guidance for Funeral Services During Covid-19 Social Limitation Period
April 6, 2020

The health, safety and well-being of the members and friends of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church is one of the highest priorities of the Council. As recommended by the CDC, St. Mark’s is following social distancing guidelines to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Currently our worship services, educational events and meetings are being held online, allowing us to continue connecting in worship and fellowship until we can safely resume our standard practices. In this time of uncertainty, we must continue to consider new protocols to balance care and separation for one another.

If someone within our congregation passes away, how does our love of neighbor, our collective need to grieve and honor the deceased, and the counsel of medical experts inform our actions?

As members of St. Mark’s our desire is to console one another in person. The Church Council has wrestled with how to express this grief, honor, and consolation all while protecting family members, friends and our Pastor in the current context.

The Council has agreed:
· to instruct Pastor Joe and all members to utilize digital tools (phone, e-mail, video) to maintain connections with one another, including hospital visits, and connection before, during, and after the death of a loved one.
· to defer all in-person gatherings for funerals until it is medically safe to hold such gatherings.
· to utilize electronic media to inform and connect our St. Mark’s community in mourning and support for those grieving.
· to instruct Pastor Joe to be present fully but only through electronic means with individuals and families reaching out for pastoral care, including presiding at funerals and grave-site committals for families who choose to bury their loved ones in the context of the current safety directives.

We trust God is present and guiding our ministry at St. Mark’s in the midst of fear, uncertainty, and loss. We accept our responsibility to reach out to, protect, and encourage one another. For any questions on this Guidance, please reach out to a St. Mark’s Council Member by phone or email. Contact information is available through the church office by email request to admin@stmarkslutheranfargo.com or by telephone to (701) 235-5591.


Blessings,
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church Council

Romans 14:7-8 (NRSV): We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.
PDF Download of Policy Available Here:
covid_19_funeral_guidance.pdf
File Size: 139 kb
File Type: pdf
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St. Mark's Lutheran Church
809 11th Avenue South*
Fargo, North Dakota 58103

*Please use east entrance


Sunday Worship 10:00 am on YouTube Live
Fellowship Hour 10:45 am on Zoom



Church Office Hours and Address
Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
417 Main Avenue, Suite #401 (Fargo)
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  • Home
  • About Us
    • Staff
    • Council
    • Reconciling in Christ
    • Policies
  • Worship
    • Worship: 10:00am at Temple Beth El and On YouTube Live | Fellowship: 10:45 am on Zoom
    • Find Us: Maps
    • Special Services
    • Reconciling in Christ
    • Cancellations
  • Get Involved
    • Book Study
    • Intergenerational Education
    • Outreach and Community >
      • Reconciling in Christ
      • Churches United
      • Habitat for Humanity
      • Emerency Food Pantry
      • Mosaic Work
      • Query Book Club
      • FM Pride
      • Streets Alive
  • Contact Us
    • Office: (701) 235-5591
    • Pastor Joe (cell): (612)750-5079
  • Good News
    • Upcoming and Ongoing Events
    • Newsletter
    • Most Recent Sermon
    • Previous Sermons >
      • 2021: Previous Sermons >
        • January 2021
        • February 2021
        • March 2021
        • April 2021
        • May 2021
        • June 2021
        • July 2021
        • August 2021
        • September 2021
        • October 2021
        • November 2021
        • December 2021
      • 2020: Previous Sermons >
        • January 2020
        • February 2020
        • March 2020
        • April 2020
        • May 2020
        • June 2020
        • July 2020
        • August 2020
        • September 2020
        • October 2020
        • November 2020
        • December 2020
      • 2019: Previous Sermons >
        • January 2019
        • February 2019
        • March 2019
        • April 2019
        • May 2019
        • June 2019
        • July 2019
        • August 2019
        • September 2019
        • October 2019
        • November 2019
        • December 2019
    • Working Preacher: Lectionary and Commentary
  • Donate
  • (701) 235-5591
  • Worship: 10:00am at Temple Beth El and on YouTube Live | Fellowship: 10:45 am on Zoom