COVID – 19 Updates
December 15, 2020
The inn was closed. Can you imagine how Mary and Joseph felt? Frustration. Despair. Desperation. Anger. Disbelief. “No room? There must be a way to make it work…”
Well, there was a way. It was just slightly different than they had expected…
This year, our building is closed for Christmas. Due to the global pandemic COVID-19, we continue to stay the course, determined that the best way for us to worship together right now is online. The Minnesota Department of Health has been unwavering in their recommendation that “If you can meet online, please do.” In other words- the “inn” may be closed to us, but there is a way to meet, it is just slightly different than we had expected.
This Christmas Eve we invite you to the “manger” of online worship. This is not our first choice. We all want the inn. But we follow the lead of Mary and Joseph, and trust that even when we find ourselves in surprising places at Christmas, God can make it work.
Our Christmas 2020 theme is “He Came To Us.” The miracle of Christmas, and the essence of our Christian faith, is not about our ability to get to God. It is about God coming to us, wherever we are, whether that’s in an animal stable or sitting at home in front of a screen.
On Christmas Eve, we will hold worship at 2 p.m., 5 p.m., and 10 p.m., on our Facebook Page or YouTube channel. In addition, on Christmas Day, Friday, December 25, at 10 a.m., we will hold a Holy Communion service on Zoom. We invite you to assemble wine/grape juice and bread/cracker in your home and join us at 10 a.m., Christmas morning.
Surprising opportunities often come from a change in plans, just as in the first Christmas. Who would have thought the first visitors to meet the Messiah would be animals, shepherds, and magi? Our question is: How can we make the most of our Christmas celebration this year, despite our change of plans? Can you worship with loved ones who might be spread about the state, even the country? How might the Christmas miracle that God comes to this world, to our community, to our homes, to our hearts, impact us anew this year?
The inn may be closed, but the manger is open and ready for Christ to come. Christmas blessings to you and your loved ones.
In God’s love,
Pastors Ben and Alicia
Pastors Alicia and Ben Hilding

July 27, 2020
Holy Trinity Community,
We are writing to stay communication regarding our congregation’s Covid-19 updates. We know everyone’s experience of this pandemic is different. We know some of you are eager to be back together in person while others are most comfortable staying at home. You matter and we want you to know that we hear you. We sincerely thank you for your faithfulness and patience in receiving these updates.
Our Risk Management Team has been working diligently to prepare our congregation’s comprehensive Covid-19 Preparedness and Response Plan. This plan has been developed with church staff and members by listening to the facts, feelings, and values of the faith community, broader community, and ministry partners. Part of this plan includes phases for our congregation’s life together (listed below). We are currently in phase 1, making preparations for phase 2, including exploring outdoor ministry options.
The purpose of this phased approach is to provide guidance and direction for activities at the church. The disease progression is imperfectly known and there may be times where Holy Trinity Lutheran Church may need to move back and forth between phases. The timing for shifts from phase to phase will be informed by limitations and dates set by the Governor and the State Department of Health, but will be determined by our Risk Management Team, Executive Team, and Pastors. While this plan could change, we are grateful for the guidelines it provides for our life together.
Phase | Activity | ||
Phase 0 |
· Worship online· Life celebrations (weddings/funerals/baptisms) postponed· Faith formation online· Ministry events postponed· Building closed· Staff telework· Community groups/gatherings postponed |
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Phase 1 |
· Worship online· Recording possibility in the sanctuary but limited to critical elements of worship, while maintaining at least 6 feet of space between people.·Life celebrations (weddings, funerals, baptism) postponed or held private/outdoors with social distancing & PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)/recognized online· Faith formation online· Ministry events online/postponed· Building closed· Staff telework, only in the building for necessity· Visitation via phone/writing· Community groups/gatherings online/postponed |
||
Phase 2 |
· Worship online &/or consider outdoor options with social distancing & PPE· Recording possibility in the sanctuary but limited to critical elements of worship, while maintaining at least 6 feet of space between people.· Life celebrations (weddings, funerals, baptism) postponed or held private/outdoors with social distancing & PPE /recognized online *10 or less recommended.· Faith formation online &/or consider outdoor options with permission (with social distancing & PPE) *10 or less recommended.· Ministry events online/postponed· Staff encouraged to telework, but can work with permission/staggered hours/social distancing & PPE· Visitation via phone/writing &/or outdoor options considered with social distancing & PPE· Community groups/small groups online &/or consider outdoor options with permission (with social distancing & PPE) *10 or less recommended. |
||
Phase 3 |
· Worship in-person (live-streaming) with social distancing & public health practices implemented per local guidance (e.g. masks)· Entrance and exit into the church will be designed to avoid gathering.· All worship practices evaluated based on recommendations by ELCA· Life celebrations (weddings, funerals, baptism) held private with social distancing & PPE /recognized online· Faith formation online/In-person w/social distancing & PPE (age-appropriate)· Ministry events online/In-person w/social distancing & PPE· Office/Building staff in the building, remaining staff can telework/work in the building with permission/staggered hours/social distancing & PPE· Visitation via phone/writing/outdoors &/or in-person considered (with social distancing & PPE)· Community groups/small groups In-Person with permission (with social distancing & PPE) |
||
Phase 4 |
· Business as normal (although we recognize this new normal may be different) |
*The full Covid-19 Preparedness & Response Plan is available here.
Thank you for your commitment to God and to this church. We care about you, we are thankful for you, and we are praying for you.
In God’s love for you and this church,
Pastors Alicia & Ben
July 10, 2020
To the Holy Trinity Community,
Greetings and thank you for your faithfulness to God, your church, and your community. This is not an easy time to remain patient and faithful but you have maintained a commitment to welcome all, continued to make worship a priority, and listened to community needs so we can respond as we are able.
The most frequently asked question during this unique time is, “when will life get back to normal at home, school, work, and at church?” The only way we can honestly respond to this is, “we don’t know.” One thing we do know is that God is with us and the church remains alive during this time regardless of our external circumstances. Paul’s famous words that encourage the church in Corinth come to mind, “Love is patient” and “Love is kind.” It is our hope that when we look back at this time, we remember how we showed love and kindness to each other and to our neighbors.
Worship is central to who we are as a community of faith. You have probably heard that churches have been given permission to open their building to 50% capacity. So, you may be wondering: what does that mean for us and our worship this summer? We continue to approach this question informed by and in communication with the counties we serve, MDOH, CDC, WHO, neighboring congregations, the ELCA, and our Risk Management Team. Here are our current plans:
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- Worship online/radio: We will continue to offer worship online and on the radio at 9 am on Sundays (also available any time after). At this point, we are not resuming in-person worship.
- Live-streaming equipment: Church Council approved the purchase of live-streaming equipment. This will allow us to begin preparing for when we can provide both a meaningful in-person worship experience and simultaneously a high quality online worship experience.
- Life celebrations: We are currently prepared to offer private outdoor baptisms, weddings, and burials with a broader online community participating.
- Vacation Bible School Online: We exceeded the number of students that participated last year and had a faith-filled and fun week online!
While we know worshiping online is not the same as worshiping in person, we want to thank all who have been involved in worship leadership for their flexibility and commitment to provide meaningful worship. We are doing all that we can to stay connected in creative ways including our new weekly emailed/mailed newsletter (HTLConnections), our newly formed Connections Team (reaching out to the whole congregation), our New Prague HTLC Community Facebook Group, and our online/radio worship engagement. Thank you for your care for one another.
We also give thanks to God for your continued care shown through your generosity as we respond to the needs in our community. Many of you have switched to automatic giving and we thank you. You have kept the Little Free Food Pantry stocked with in-kind gifts of food, personal care items, and homemade masks while it has continuously been used. In fact, it has become such a needed resource, Jon Bergquist has built two more pantries making it a “Trinity” of Little Free Pantries. This is to be able to provide personal care items without impacting the food provided (we didn’t want our soup tasting like soap). Your monetary gifts have also made a big difference.
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- You heard the need for food and supplies in Minneapolis after the recent rioting and we were able to respond by sending $1,500 to Holy Trinity and $1,500 to Calvary in Minneapolis to support their pop-up food shelves.
- You heard the need for mental health awareness and support and we were able to respond by sending $3,000 to Duck-cup Memorial to support the mental health needs in our community.
- You heard the need for housing for those experiencing homelessness in our county and we are preparing to respond by sending $10,000 + whatever VBS students contribute to Beacon Interfaith Housing.
- You heard the need for mental health support for young people in our area and in response, we were able to provide The Well $2,500.
We commend your commitment to remain strong in faith and we praise a God who has been faithful to us in these challenging times. We care about you, we are thankful for you, and we are praying for you.
In God’s love,
Co-Pastors Alicia & Ben
We want to begin by saying thank you for your sincere faith and flexibility amid this evolving COVID-19 reality. We commend your commitment to remain strong in faith while worshiping in new ways. We also want you to know that we care about you and are praying for you.
As areas around the country begin to reopen, some have asked how this will influence our church practices. We approach this question informed by and in communication with the counties we serve, MDOH, CDC, WHO, neighboring congregations, and the ELCA. Our Risk Management Team, Staff, and Church Council continue to stay up to date with the latest recommendations. While we see an increase in people out and about, we are reminded by our greater church body and partnering health professionals that there remains a real risk for our community and world.
The ELCA shared with congregational leaders a document titled, “Considerations for Returning to In-Person Worship.” We are working through this document to consider when we begin to roll out a phased re-entry back into our building. Religious gatherings have unfortunately proven to be highly contagious events, and even congregations taking appropriate precautions have been hot-beds for virus transmission. The care for and safety of our community is a priority for us in this pandemic. As much as we would like to be together in person as soon as possible, we don’t want to make any quick decisions that could pose a risk for you and your loved ones. At this time, our building will remain closed.
We are proud of all the ways that our team has adapted and shifted worship onto a meaningful digital format. While nothing replaces a gathered community, we will continue to live into this chapter of our congregation’s life with faith and hope. Worship will remain online and on the radio at 9am on Sundays. We have plans for Vacation Bible School online (July 6-10), and are considering leaning into other new online opportunities as well. God continues to unite us even when we are not in the same physical space.
Let us continue to share God’s love with a community and world that needs to hear it! This is going to take perseverance, but as the writer of Hebrews encourages, “let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2).” With discipline, patience, and hope, we can be responsible and faithful at the same time. May God’s peace be with you.
In God’s love,
Co-Pastors Alicia & Ben
December 2020
The inn was closed. Can you imagine how Mary and Joseph felt? Frustration. Despair. Desperation. Anger. Disbelief. “No room? There must be a way to make it work…”
Well, there was a way. It was just slightly different than they had expected…
This year, our building is closed for Christmas. Due to the global pandemic COVID-19, we continue to stay the course, determined that the best way for us to worship together right now is online. The Minnesota Department of Health has been unwavering in their recommendation that “If you can meet online, please do.” In other words- the “inn” may be closed to us, but there is a way to meet, it is just slightly different than we had expected.
This Christmas Eve we invite you to the “manger” of online worship. This is not our first choice. We all want the inn. But we follow the lead of Mary and Joseph, and trust that even when we find ourselves in surprising places at Christmas, God can make it work.
Our Christmas 2020 theme is “He Came To Us.” The miracle of Christmas, and the essence of our Christian faith, is not about our ability to get to God. It is about God coming to us, wherever we are, whether that’s in an animal stable or sitting at home in front of a screen.
On Christmas Eve, we will hold worship at 2 p.m., 5 p.m., and 10 p.m., on our Facebook Page or YouTube channel. In addition, on Christmas Day, Friday, December 25, at 10 a.m., we will hold a Holy Communion service on Zoom. We invite you to assemble wine/grape juice and bread/cracker in your home and join us at 10 a.m., Christmas morning.
Surprising opportunities often come from a change in plans, just as in the first Christmas. Who would have thought the first visitors to meet the Messiah would be animals, shepherds, and magi? Our question is: How can we make the most of our Christmas celebration this year, despite our change of plans? Can you worship with loved ones who might be spread about the state, even the country? How might the Christmas miracle that God comes to this world, to our community, to our homes, to our hearts, impact us anew this year?
The inn may be closed, but the manger is open and ready for Christ to come. Christmas blessings to you and your loved ones.
In God’s love,
Pastors Ben and Alicia
December 2020
The inn was closed. Can you imagine how Mary and Joseph felt? Frustration. Despair. Desperation. Anger. Disbelief. “No room? There must be a way to make it work…”
Well, there was a way. It was just slightly different than they had expected…
This year, our building is closed for Christmas. Due to the global pandemic COVID-19, we continue to stay the course, determined that the best way for us to worship together right now is online. The Minnesota Department of Health has been unwavering in their recommendation that “If you can meet online, please do.” In other words- the “inn” may be closed to us, but there is a way to meet, it is just slightly different than we had expected.
This Christmas Eve we invite you to the “manger” of online worship. This is not our first choice. We all want the inn. But we follow the lead of Mary and Joseph, and trust that even when we find ourselves in surprising places at Christmas, God can make it work.
Our Christmas 2020 theme is “He Came To Us.” The miracle of Christmas, and the essence of our Christian faith, is not about our ability to get to God. It is about God coming to us, wherever we are, whether that’s in an animal stable or sitting at home in front of a screen.
On Christmas Eve, we will hold worship at 2 p.m., 5 p.m., and 10 p.m., on our Facebook Page or YouTube channel. In addition, on Christmas Day, Friday, December 25, at 10 a.m., we will hold a Holy Communion service on Zoom. We invite you to assemble wine/grape juice and bread/cracker in your home and join us at 10 a.m., Christmas morning.
Surprising opportunities often come from a change in plans, just as in the first Christmas. Who would have thought the first visitors to meet the Messiah would be animals, shepherds, and magi? Our question is: How can we make the most of our Christmas celebration this year, despite our change of plans? Can you worship with loved ones who might be spread about the state, even the country? How might the Christmas miracle that God comes to this world, to our community, to our homes, to our hearts, impact us anew this year?
The inn may be closed, but the manger is open and ready for Christ to come. Christmas blessings to you and your loved ones.
In God’s love,
Pastors Ben and Alicia
March 18, 2020
Dear Holy Trinity community,
Thank you! Thank you for your flexibility and your courage as we seek to navigate these uncharted waters of COVID-19. This is a difficult time and we want you to know that we care. God is with you!
Our church will continue to “be the church,” just in a new way. We believe the Holy Spirit is capable of finding new ways to form community and faith, even when we have obstacles in front of us. The Holy Spirit broke the language barrier at the Pentecost so that people could be reached through new languages and tongues. Today, I marvel at how the Holy Spirit is speaking through new languages such as Facebook Live, Moodle, Zoom, etc.
We want you to know your church is here for you, but our presence is going to look different for a while.
We have moved all church activities to an online or virtual format. Our building is closed to anyone other than staff.
In addition, starting Friday, March 20th, until the CDC recommends otherwise, we will be postponing all weddings, funerals, and baptisms.
We have made this decision not out of fear, but out of love; love for the most vulnerable populations, love for our healthcare providers, and love for the community as we face this challenge together.
We will share updates with you via Facebook and our website, and will look to do so through email as well. If you are not receiving updates, please do not hesitate to call the church office (952-758-3513). Jamie Bisek will be happy to get you connected.
As we seek to be creative with ministry opportunities, here is what you can expect:
God is with you. We care. We are going to get through this. God’s peace and presence to each of you.