Although we cannot meet together in person at Elim during the Stay-at-Home orders, we are
still preparing worship materials so that we can all worship together, but apart. |
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Welcome to the Elim community of faith. We are a diverse people who gather in the presence of God to receive grace and hope and to be renewed in our calling to love one another, all people and all of creation. |
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Greeting and Devotion from Pr. KathrynPastor Kathryn at Work!
With two + weeks at Elim, Pr. Kathryn is hitting the ground running! The office staff is working hard to get her up to speed. She has already started calling our homebound members and setting up Zoom meetings. Thank you for your patience while she navigates all this new information and our long member list. You are welcome to contact Pr. Kathryn with greetings, questions, pastoral needs, etc.
Her "office hours" will be: Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Per her agreement with Elim, Pr. Kathryn will have Fridays and Mondays off. Holy Communion to begin on Pentecost Sunday, May 31, with our Online Worship!
We will begin to celebrate Holy Communion on Pentecost Sunday, May 31, the birthday of the church! If you choose to partake of Holy Communion, please have a piece of bread or cracker, and wine or grape juice set up beforehand. Otherwise you may use that time for reflection and prayer.
“KindKnits” Needed More Than Ever
Looking to use your time spent sheltering in place for a good cause? The Elim KindKnits group is currently hard at work, knitting and crocheting beautiful scarves to give away as an outreach project again this fall. Want to join us? Just let Julie Prime or Athena Labberton know you’d like to participate. Scarves can be any color or pattern, so have fun being creative! If you’d like new patterns to inspire you, let us know that too. If you need yarn, check online—or with stores such as Michael's and JOANN's that offer online ordering with curbside pickup.
Senior Resources & InformationFriendship Line California: 1-888-670-1360 is toll-free and available to provide emotional support to older Californians facing loneliness, isolation and anxiety.
Petaluma People Services Center provides a range of services to seniors in Sonoma County and can be reached at www.petalumapeople.org. They also offer a You Are Not Alone warmline at 707-765-8488, which provides peer support to seniors in need. CalFresh has extra benefits available during the COVID-19 pandemic. Emergency allotments will automatically be added to qualifying households' EBT cards. Additionally, using CalFresh EBT benefits at farmers markets can double your food dollars. The Market Match program makes fresh, locally grown foods more affordable and provides up to an additional $10 that can be redeemed for fresh produce. To apply for Medi-Cal, CalWORKS and CalFresh, you can call 1-877-410-8817 or go to http://www.benefitscal.org/ DMV Drivers age 70 and older whose licenses expire before May 31, 2020, have been automatically granted a 120-day extension to renew without penalty. Eligible drivers will automatically receive a paper license extension in the mail. While in-person DMV offices are currently closed, many DMV needs can be handled on their website at: www.dmv.ca.govMental Health and Safety Resource List put together by The Sierra Pacific Synod has important information and hotline numbers available for those in and around our communities. Click here to download the list Mini Prayer Shawls Needed for Synod Assembly
We look forward to gathering as the Sierra Pacific Synod at assembly when the date is rescheduled. A major part of the next Synod assembly will be the election of a new bishop. To guide the voting members in prayer and discernment, we plan to provide mini-prayer shawls for each person.
And so, we are asking all knitters and crochet-ers to wash their hands, grab their needles and hooks, gather up their yarn, and create mini prayer shawls roughly 6” by 3”. We will need about 600 total! As your fingers are at work, please pray for God’s blessings upon the recipient of your creation and that they receive the gift of spiritual discernment. These mini-shawls can be sent to Assembly with your clergy and voting members. Your congregation is invited to bless them during a worship service beforehand. 
The City of Petaluma has a helpful
resource page for local citizens. |
Ascension Day Celebration ServiceThe video starts with photos of the churches in our Conference. Pr. Kathryn does the Call to Worship and pastors and musicians from around the region participated. Don't miss the Children's Message--it's perfect for Ascension!
A Video from the New Life BandAn urgent message from the New Life Band in Arusha, Tanzania regarding the impact of the Covid-19 virus on their ministry to youth and students. (Sound begins after approximately 25 seconds.)
Donations to the New Life Band Ministries: Mission for Youth and Students are gratefully appreciated. Online donations can be made HERE. The New Life Band deeply appreciates your prayers, your fellowship, and your support at this unprecedented time.
Second Mile Giving: May 2020“Second-mile giving” refers to an extra offering toward a special cause. Our second mile giving for May goes to our Elim R3 Team Fund. While the trip to New Orleans is up in the air, Elim R3 can still use donations for local projects. They are currently seeking ideas-- if you know of a building or clean up need in our area send an email to Erin at the church office.
Offering can be given through Tithe.ly or mailed to the Church Office at 504 Baker St., Petaluma CA 94952 Note: If donating to Second Mile Giving, please note "2nd Mile: Elim R3" in your preferred offering method. Thanks! Food Access & Food Security
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Elim Lutheran Church | 220 Stanley Street | Petaluma CA 94952
(The church office is next door at 504 Baker St.)
Office hours: 9am-Noon, Monday - Thursday. Also noon - 2pm by appointment. Closed until further notice but the phone and email will be monitored!
(The church office is next door at 504 Baker St.)
Office hours: 9am-Noon, Monday - Thursday. Also noon - 2pm by appointment. Closed until further notice but the phone and email will be monitored!
