Gov. Wolf’s latest order restricting gatherings to 25 persons indoors and 250 persons outdoors do not apply to religious institutions. Asked specifically about this at a July 15 news conference, Secretary Levine and the governor both responded “no.” (See this recording at 48:45) While the restrictions are not mandatory for congregations, churches are still...
Category: Public Health
July 20, 2020
Clarification on Gathering Size Limits
Gov. Wolf’s latest order restricting gatherings to 25 persons indoors and 250 persons outdoors do not apply to religious institutions. Asked specifically about this at a July 15 news conference, Secretary Levine and the governor both responded “no.” (See this recording at 48:45) While the restrictions are not mandatory for congregations, churches are still...
July 20, 2020
Staying Connected with Family and Friends: Resident at The Hearth Attends Daughter’s Virtual Zoom Wedding
The staff at The Heart at Drexel, a Liberty Lutheran retirement community, continue to work hard to keep residents safe, while also offering empowering opportunities that foster outstanding lifestyles during these extraordinary times. Here, you can discover how the team helped Nancy, a resident, attend her daughter’s wedding from the safety of her home. Read...
July 16, 2020
Update: New Order Limits Size of Gatherings
In an executive order that went into effect at 12:01 am today (July 16), Gov. Wolf announced new restrictions limiting gatherings to 25 persons indoors and 250 persons outdoors. Organizations are also required to conduct operations by telework unless the work must be done on premises. Update: According to Pennlive.com, both the governor and Health...
July 13, 2020
Managing the Risks of Return
City Webinar Covers Legal Aspects of Reopening In its’ ongoing conversation with Philadelphia faith leaders, the Mayor’s Office of Public Engagement offered an informative webinar last week discussing legal considerations when preparing to resume in-person worship and programming. (View video of the webinar and slide deck.) While the conversation focused on operations within the city, the...
July 13, 2020
Will Your Finances Flourish or Diminish?
Tip of the Month July, 2020 : Will Your Finances Flourish or Diminish? By 2026 checks will no longer be processed by banks! So says, one of the ELCA preferred vendors who oversees Simply Giving, in a recent webinar sponsored by the ELCA Stewardship Desk. In the past 15 years the use of checks has...
July 8, 2020
Feast of Justice Steps Up to Fight Hunger (Video)
As food insecurity across the five-county SEPA area during coronavirus and the ensuing recession, congregations and agencies have expanded and in some cases started service to provide food to the hungry. Today’s video highlights one of these ministries: Feast of Justice. Since the pandemic almost everything has changed at the Northeast’s Feast of Justice. Demand...
July 8, 2020
Spirit Uses Technology To Launch New Ministry
So, what happens to a yoga ministry in the age of COVID-19? Beginning in March 2019, Yoga at Redeemer gathered at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Jamison on Sunday mornings and occasional Saturday evenings for gentle, beginner-friendly yoga, meditation and prayer, with themes for each class designed around the weekly lectionary and the liturgical seasons. Instead...
July 5, 2020
Masks Mandatory in Pennsylvania
From Gov. Wolf’s website: Governor Tom Wolf today reminded Pennsylvanians that mask-wearing is required and critical to prevent the spread of COVID-19. “The order to make mask-wearing mandatory when leaving home was put in place to protect all Pennsylvanians from the spread of COVID-19,” Gov. Wolf said. “This simple practice, combined with social distancing, handwashing,...
June 30, 2020
City Requires Masks in Public
On June 26, Mayor Jim Kenney and Health Commissioner Dr. Tom Farley signed an executive order requiring people to wear face coverings to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Philadelphia. In addition to staying at home, practicing social distancing, and washing your hands thoroughly, wearing a mask in public is one of the best ways...
June 29, 2020
Counties Reopen As PA COVID Cases Increase
’Our highest priority is to do no harm,” Bishop says As our suburban counties move into the “Green” phase of reopening, both the state as a whole and the city of Philadelphia in particular are seeing rising new cases of COVID-19. The city remains in a modified “Yellow” phase and health officials now require the...
June 22, 2020
Yellow Phase Faith Update
Last week, Philadelphia Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley wrote a letter to faith leaders in the city. Dr. Farley wrote: Because of the continued high risk of community spread of the coronavirus, we ask that you not hold in-person services or gatherings of any sort during the “Yellow” phase of reopening. While this guidance applies...
June 4, 2020
Yellow Phase Faith in Philadelphia
Last week, the City of Philadelphia unveiled Safer at Home, a plan and executive order outlining the strategy for how Philadelphia will begin to reopen for business when the current Stay-at-Home Order is lifted, which is expected to occur later this week. The plan specifically outlines guidance for religious communities. Highlights include: Gatherings of over...
May 30, 2020
ELCA presiding bishop calls on church to observe national day of mourning
CHICAGO (May 29, 2020) — The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), has called on the church to join with faith communities across the United States in lament and remembrance, and on our elected leaders to observe Monday, June 1, as a day of mourning to honor...
May 23, 2020
Bishop Davenport on Opening Churches
Dear Beloved, I am so proud of you for the ways you are keeping the congregations of our Synod open through the pandemic and stay-at-home orders. The church in Southeastern Pennsylvania has truly never “closed,” moving worship and education online and continuing to safely serve people in great need. You, church, are proving to be...
May 20, 2020
Letter From Our Partner Bishop In Tanzania
May 13, 2020 Dear Rev. Patricia Davenport, Warm greetings in the name of our Risen Lord Jesus Christ. “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” (1 John 4:16) Beloved in Christ, It is...
May 20, 2020
A Hometown Hero for the Houseless
Welcome Church Pastor Violet Little nominated Project Home homeless outreach worker Sam Santiago as one of 6ABC’s “Hometown Heroes” for his work supporting people without houses in the city. Part of Sam’s duties, with co-worker Kara Cohen, is distributing hygiene kits and peanut butter sandwiches donated by supporters of Welcome Church and Welcome Bread.
May 20, 2020
Virtual Closing to the Sunday School Year
The last planned day of Sunday school at Redeemer Jamison was to have been the week before Memorial Day Weekend. At 9:30 am on May 17, the normal Sunday school time, they held a Zoom class instead. The teachers told the story of Mary and Martha, then asked each child if they thought of themselves as more...
May 19, 2020
Offerings of Hope in the Pandemic
From Trinity Lutheran, Fairview Village: Even in a pandemic, Christ’s love shines! The people of Trinity, Fairview Village faithfully serve every month at Cecil and Grace Bean’s Soup Kitchen in Norristown. Even in a time of social distancing, the soup kitchen is still serving bagged meals to the hungry. We prepared the bagged meals and handed...
May 19, 2020
Updated List of Coronavirus-related Messages
Since the implications of the coronavirus outbreak became clear in early March – before there were any cases identified in Pennsylvania – Synod Communications has been keeping you inspired by messages from the Bishop and staff and informed about the disease, closings and stay-at-home orders, online/digital worship, and financial and legal resources. This page collects...
May 15, 2020
Continually Updated List of COVID-19 Resources
We have been collecting and sharing resources for navigating COVID-19 from faith and government sources. The most recently added items are listed below. To view the entire collection, click the button below. VIEW ALL RESOURCES > Latest Resources VIEW ALL RESOURCES > Photo by Марьян Блан | @marjanblan on Unsplash
