Your leaders are always evaluating plans for keeping our sanctuary open for public worship. Our primary objective is for all we do as a church is that God be glorified. Part of this includes not only providing a safe environment for all who worship in our building in but also ensuring a positive experience. At the same time, we work to continue promoting a positive experience for those worshiping with us online.
Our Guiding Principles in this process:
- The safety of those people who worship at Trinity
- Holy wisdom on fellowship and gatherings
- The church’s public witness
- The love for our community
- The prayerful wisdom of faith leaders
- The particular needs and circumstances of Trinity Lutheran Church
- The latest recommendations/orders form the CDC and our federal, state, and local government
Please take time to familiarize yourself with the changes that will be taking place in worship starting on May 30, 2021. These changes have been inspired by the newest recommendations coming from the Centers for Disease Control and Lincoln County.
Sundays
8:00am
- Traditional Worship on campus
- Traditional Worship live streamed on Facebook
10:30am
- Contemporary Worship on campus
- Contemporary Worship live streamed on Facebook
- Traditional Worship broadcasted on the radio at 96.3 FM and 730 AM
6:00pm
- Traditional Worship on campus
Outdoor Worship
- We will hold the 10:30 AM service outside on the second and fourth Sundays in the months of June, July and August. Not only will this offer an outdoor option, it also allows people to witness God’s people worshipping Him for His mighty acts of deliverance. We invite you to bring your own chair, and if you forget one, we will have padded folding chairs for your convivence.
The Sacrament is celebrated the second and fourth weekend of every month in our building. If you are unable to attend communion in person please contact the church office to make other arrangements for the fall: 715-536-5482
All other on-campus ministries and meetings are taking place primarily in-person. Digital resources for children, students, families, and Bible studies are all available here on our website.
The church office has returned to its former operating hours for staff. Outside of the two Sunday worshipping times and our Open Hearts Food Pantry, the church building is open during the day while staff is present.
Staff will be in the office M-F from 8:00am-4:00pm.
We do want to visit with you and be accessible to you as much as possible, so please do not hesitate to call about anything. We also encourage the use of social media and online resources for transacting the business of the church.
You probably know that a typical weekend requires lots of volunteers. We LOVE our volunteers! If you’re wondering about your volunteer role, please contact the church office: 715-536-5482
Frequently Asked Questions
Click any of the questions below to find answers about what to expect as we move forward with reopening.
What general building wide safety and cleaning measures will be taken?
- Hand sanitizer will be available at all entrances
- Restrooms are regularly cleaned and sanitized
Will face masks be required?
Masks will no longer be required inside Trinity’s facilities. Out of an abundance of care and concern your pastors will still wear masks during communion and other times when we are in close contact with you. If you feel more comfortable wearing a mask for any reason, you are welcome and encouraged to do so!
What will be different during worship in the sanctuary?
Our primary objective for opening our church is that God be glorified. Part of this includes not only providing a safe environment for all who worship in our building, but with current constraints, also ensuring a positive experience.
Some aspects of our time together in the building worshipping will be altered to meet current social distancing recommendations and safety guidelines. This includes:
- Electronic copies of the bulletin are available each week on our website for personal use: www.trinitymerrill.com/live in addition to printed paper copies
- We will use screens exclusively to guide our use of liturgy, prayers, songs…etc.
- Fellowship pads have been taken out of the pews. We encourage everyone to record your worship attendance using our digital connect card found here: www.trinitymerrill.com/live
- Offering plates are not passed person-to-person during the service. We encourage you to consider using Text to Give or setting up electronic giving. There will also be a places at church exits for people to drop envelopes or donations. Learning more about how to give electronically here: www.trinitymerrill.com/give
Where can I enter and exit the building?
All main doors will be available for entrance and exit on Sundays. The glass doors located under the covered awning are the best doors to use if you have a need to access our elevator to enter our sanctuary.
Upon entering the inside of our building, please look out for and respect any special instructions from staff, volunteers, or signage directing how to navigate safely around campus.
How many people will be allowed in each service?
We will be operating at 100% of our approved fire code capacity.
What will precautions will be taken with communion?
- Instead of using gloves, all people participating in communion will use hand sanitizer as the last action prior to the distribution of communion.
- We will add another line to the distribution of communion. Both lines will form on the outside aisles and exit up the center aisle back to your seat. We ask that you self-distance on your walk back.
- Everyone serving communion will continue to wear a mask.
What accommodations will be available?
- Feel free to pull up under our covered awning to let anyone in your family or group have easy access to our main entrance before parking.
- Hearing aids are available for use during the service and will be sanitized in between uses.
- The elevator is available for use.
What if I am not comfortable with returning to worship in the building yet?
Many other people are able to meet their spiritual needs while worshipping at home via live stream and will continue to do so. That’s also right for them to do. No one should feel burdened to return to in-person worship before they are ready. Let’s not sit in judgment of each other. Rather, let’s give one another the freedom to follow God’s Spirit and live out personal convictions on how God is calling each of us to worship.