Starnberg Fellowship Update

Dear All,

According to Bavarian law, churches are free to meet again from the 10th May, and we had initially considered holding our first service since the lockdown next Sunday. At our online church leadership meeting last Thursday we decided to push this back until at least the end of May for a number of reasons that we would like to share with you.

Firstly, as restrictions are relaxed, some school classes re-starting, shops opening up, it’s entirely possible that we see a second wave of infection take place, or at least that the infection numbers start increasing again. In two weeks we’ll have a much better idea what effect the relaxed restrictions have on the infection rate and the resulting risks.

Secondly, we want to see how the new restrictions concerning what we can do in church services work out for others. Rather than re-inventing the wheel for ourselves, we’d like to see how it pans out for others.

Thirdly, even though we could meet for services, we would still not be able to do a lot of things that define us as Starnberg Fellowship; we wouldn’t be permitted to sing, to hug, to shake hands. Family groups would have to remain 2 m apart. We won’t be able to hold Sunday school. We wouldn’t be able to have coffee and cake after the service. Some of these things, such as singing, we can do online though.

The CLT will be meeting online again on the 14th May to discuss how we go on from here. In the meantime, we want to explore how we can minister to you from afar so if we can help in any way, please let us know.

We hope you will continue to join us online on Sundays and also for small group on Tuesdays. If you Tuesdays don’t work for you and you are interested in being part of a small group on another day of the week, please let Pastor John know.

We miss you all and look forward to being able to laugh and worship with you again in person soon.

Blessings,

The CLT