Grab a coffee and enjoy! (And don't forget to read hymn 724 as a family if you get the chance today or this week!)

The plans for this coming Sunday are similar! 

Sunday, from 8am to 1pm, SP Rockford will host indoor private masses for individual family groups to worship and commune together. These will last approximately 10 minutes per service. ​

• Elders will again be on hand to manage timing, order and social distancing. Please follow all instructions and be patient as we serve with decorum, giving full attention to both sanitation and reverence.
• You may be asked to remain in your cars for a time upon arrival, so be prepared with something to serve your group devotion and preparations.
• Please call 1  815 979 3952 to speak with Sue about scheduling your time. Priority order will be given to those who have announced in this way. 
• If you know that you are ill or ought to self-quarantine, please remain at home.
• We will not be broadcasting worship services because we fully expect to be back up and running for Holy Week and will divert all attentions to "rebooting normal" as fast as possible.

Please continue to maintain your pledges and offerings as you are able. SPRockford is no longer as fragile financially as we were just a few months ago, but without your continued giving that gained stability could come back into jeopardy.
Those who trust in the LORD Jesus Christ are like Mount Zion, which can never be moved!

MIDWEEK LENTEN OT SERIES: BARAK'S FEAR
After a short introduction, Pastor Fisk digs into more of our series on judges, looking at the powerful story of Deborah, Barack, and Jael. 

Some of you may receive this message twice, one from myself and again from another elder or representative of SP.

We are trying to ensure everyone be informed.

Our plans for the moment are as follows:

• Remain calm and resist “panic shopping” in all arenas of life.
• Midweek services are canceled until further notice. 
• This Sunday, from 8am to 1pm, SP Rockford will host a CDC compliant and “social distancing aware” series of outdoor "private masses" for individual family groups to worship and commune together. These will include both Confession/Absolution and the Lord's Supper.
• • Elders will be on hand to manage timing and order. Please follow all instructions from parking attendants and be patient as we serve each family in order and with decorum, giving full attention to both sanitation and reverence.
    
  • It will be very cold. Please dress warmly and expect to stay outside for 5 to 10 minutes.
    
  • You may be asked to remain in your cars for a time upon arrival, so be prepared with something to serve your group devotion and preparations.
  • Each service will include all the most necessary rites to ensure your faith is founded on the hope which fears neither death nor trial, practiced with heed and full attention to the best first article knowledge of science and medicine:
  • • New elements will be served and freshly washed utensils utilized for every family unit.  
    • We will manage to disallow more than 1 person in the building at any given time, and ensure constant maintenance of the six-foot rule for all households.
  • Please plan on staggering your arrival away from our standard precision habits of 8am, 9:30am and 10:30am. You have five hours to choose from. Make a family morning of it according to your comfort and rest.
  • If you know that you are ill or ought to self-quarantine, please remain at home.
  • Confirmation families, if you have not heard your special instructions, please reach out for the way we are seeking to find the best use of the moment to establish the habit of faith in our young adults in the midst of this temporal “crisis".
• Pastor Fisk will be hosting daily “livestreams” on YouTube, both for the sake of continuing our congregational study of the Word, and binding us together in community with other like-minded believers. These are there for your use and devotion. 
• We will not be broadcasting worship services. However, if you would desire such a gift, we highly commend to you the work of Village Lutheran Church. They are an established broadcasting congregation with a commitment to reverence and holy worship much like our own here at SP. 
• The SP Facebook page and website will make every effort to always have the latest updates. 
• Please, before you do anything else: say the Lord’s Prayer and read Psalm 1 out loud. Then, find your confirmation verse and read in out loud to yourself three times. Take a single deep breath with your eyes closed. Speak the third petition slowly and quietly (“Thy will be done.”) Then be comforted! You are an immortal who will outlast this dying world. Today is not here to fear, but to love those who are afraid until they are afraid no more. 
• Please continue to maintain your pledges and offerings as you are able. SPRockford is no longer as fragile financially as we were just a few months ago, but without your continued giving that gained stability could come back into jeopardy.
• Those who trust in the LORD Jesus Christ are like Mount Zion, which can never be moved!
• That means you. 
• Lent is a time of grace.