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Because You Asked: Responses From Corner Your Council Weekend
Every month, we offer a special Corner Your Council weekend, where the congregation can chat with our Council members and ask questions. Below are answers to a few questions we received.
Why has Hope started passing the offering plates? What are ushers to do when there aren't enough people in a pew to get the plate to the other end of the row?
Hope Lutheran Church has traditionally passed the offering plate during all services. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the practice was suspended to prevent the passing of germs. We now feel comfortable with resuming the passing of the plate. Additionally, many guests do not know about Hope’s offering boxes and many folks are unable to give online due to personal technology limitations. In the approximately four months since Hope has resumed the practice, donations are up approximately $5,000 a month and though it's difficult to quantify, that is largely due to passing the plates.
When there aren't enough people in a pew to pass the plate to the other end of the row, simply return the plate to the usher. The usher on the far end of the row will encourage those on that end to do the same.
The American flag which flies at Hope Lake Weir Campus is damaged. Can we please replace it?
The Council looked at the flag and confirmed it was damaged. Thank you very much for bringing this to our attention. Two Hope members, John and Debbie Schuettler, have put up a new flag. The damaged flag was properly and respectfully disposed of by members of the Summerfield VFW.
When will the Hope Lake Weir Campus sign at the corner be replaced?
Our sign was destroyed in an accident earlier this year. Since that time, we have been battling with the driver’s insurance carrier to cover the cost of replacement. As you can imagine, this has been a difficult process.
Last week, we confirmed with the driver’s insurance representative that the cost of the new sign would be 80% covered. Our maintenance staff is now working with our preferred sign provider to create a replacement. We expect a new sign to be delivered and installed in the next few weeks.
Why was the Altar Rail at Hope Central Campus removed?
The altar railing historically signified a separation of the seating (nave) from the chancel (including the altar and where the priest and deacons performed their duties). The railing was also important when the congregants knelt to receive communion. Historically, as churches moved to a liturgy including reception of communion while standing, the railings were often removed, as they no longer serve to facilitate kneeling and standing.
Modern liturgical practice in many traditional churches, including our Catholic and Episcopal brothers and sisters, is to emphasize the shared participation of the congregation and celebrant in communion as well as to remove the physical representation of what had, in the past, been hailed as a spiritual barrier. One story among many is of one of our member's mothers, who didn’t believe she was allowed or worthy to enter the chancel as a non-member. Our pastors have had similar conversations with others during New Member classes, who have asked if it was appropriate for them to be on the chancel.
Those who need mobility assistance when accessing the chancel are encouraged to use the secure railings on the far sides of the chancel. At this time, the Altar Rail will not be reinstalled.
Can we add more handicap parking to the front of Hope Lake Weir Campus?
While we don’t have room to add permanent handicap parking spaces to the front of Hope Lake Weir Campus, we will soon have weekend handicap parking available. Our groundskeeping staff has ordered special signs that will designate more parking spots as Handicap Parking. These will be put out each weekend, beginning soon.
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