Members
First Lutheran Church streams its worship services as an occasional supplement to the weekly gathering of God’s people to worship, to commune, and to fellowship together. It is not meant to be, and is not a substitute for in-person participation in the life of the congregation. As a rule, members of this congregation should be attending the Divine Services every week in person. However, if you are ill and cannot attend Divine Service in person, then you should follow the service online (note the italics!). The same holds if you must be out of town, or take care of another who is ill, or must work on a Sunday morning. Then the streamed service is for you! But if you, as a member of this congregation, find yourself watching a Divine Service online when you could have attended that same service in person–that’s a habit that should not be cultivated. And if that is happening very frequently, that’s a bad habit you have already cultivated!
The only members of this congregation who should regularly follow the online worship services instead of attending worship in person are the chronically ill, the shut-in, or those who have a genuine concern regarding Covid-19 or some other health vulnerability. In that case, you should let the pastor know your situation, and you should make provision with him for the regular reception of Holy Communion, while you are unable to attend in person. Communion can be brought to you where you live, or if you are able and desire to do so, you can arrange to come to the sanctuary and commune there, either in conjunction with the live streamed service, or at another time during the week.
Non-Members
If you are not a member of First Lutheran you are welcome to follow all Divine Services and classes of the congregation, and to comment up on them, or to communicate with the pastor regarding them, or anything else, as often as you like. However, if you are a member of another congregation, you are encouraged strongly to attend worship there regularly and in person as well! Online services are not a substitute for gathering with a congregation!
If you are not a member in good standing of another congregation, please understand this: our Lord Jesus wants you to be! Following online services and bible classes is much better than nothing, and by all means you are welcome to continue to do so; but the life of the Christian Church, and in particular, of First Lutheran Church, is fully experienced only in gathering together and communing together. If these online services and classes ultimately lead you to a full, in-person participation in this or some other congregation, they have served their purpose well!
First Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod) 