Monday, November 30, 2020

Introductory statement to in-person sacrament meetings

30 November 2020

STATEMENT TO BE RAED AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH SACRAMENT MEETING

Brothers and Sisters, we welcome you to the (Ward / Branch)  sacrament meeting. We extend a special welcome to those viewing these proceedings at home through webcast.

Bishop (President) (name) presides at this meeting. He has asked that I, (name), (title), conduct.

Before we begin, please know that your safety is our first priority. For those attending in person, thank you for following a few safety precautions:

  • Always wear a face covering while indoors.

  • Refrain from shaking hands or hugging.

  • Use only the restrooms located at (location of restrooms)

  • We encourage those at home to join us for all congregational singing. Those of us in the chapel are asked to sing quietly with our mask on. Or, for those who prefer, simply read the lyrics while the hymn is played. The music conductor will be allowed to remove (her/his) mask to lead the singing, especially for those watching online.

  • The sacrament will be administered to those in attendance immediately after the benediction. The sacrament is also authorized to be administered in homes.

  • Once the meeting ends, please exit the building promptly and socialize safely outside.

TESTIMONY MEETING INSTRUCTIONS:

Today is Fast Sunday. We will invite you to share your testimonies, both in-person and virtually. It is no longer necessary to wipe down the pulpit and microphone after each use, but we do ask that you remove your face covering before coming to the pulpit and that you not set your mask on the pulpit. Also, please apply hand sanitizer, available on each side of the pulpit, immediately before and after speaking at the pulpit.

Thank you so much for helping all of us to be safe. We will begin this meeting by singing hymn (number), (hymn name), with (conductor’s name) conducting and (organist’s name) on the organ (piano).

After which (name) will give the invocation.


Announcement about increase of sacrament meeting attendance of up to 100

30 November 2020

TO: Bishoprics and Branch Presidencies

Dear Brethren,

You may have noticed that Oregon's governor announced this week new guidelines that give us much more flexibility on the number who can attend in person religious services and gatherings.

As reported: "Faith institutions, funeral homes, mortuaries, and cemeteries will be limited to a maximum of 25% of capacity or 100 people indoors (whichever is smaller), or 150 people outdoors."

While we are still seeking the seating capacities of the chapels, overflows and cultural halls for all three buildings, as established by the fire department, we are confident the seating capacities of those three rooms combined in each building will easily allow more than 100 people to be socially distanced.

So the new attendance allowance for sacrament meetings in our stake, beginning Sunday, Dec. 6, will be up to 100 people—as long as everyone is properly distanced, wearing masks, etc.

A few notes:

  • Beginning Dec. 6, you may no longer have to restrict who attends, assuming you have fewer than 100 members who want to attend services in person.

  • You may want to ask members to notify you in advance, if they plan to attend, so you can adequately prepare for seating into the overflow and cultural hall, if needed, and plan for the increase in administering the sacrament.

  • Continue to conduct Sunday services virtually as there will be many who will not want to attend in-person due to the most recent surge in Covid cases.

  • Continue to administer the sacrament following sacrament meeting (not to be webcast) and authorize administration of the sacrament in homes.

  • For youth second-hour classes and activity nights, you'll want to know the seating capacity of the rooms you plan to use to make sure the 25% allowance in each room can accommodate the number attending.

If you don't already know the seating capacity of a room (sometimes there is a fire department document or plaque on the wall that gives the number), Brother Eldredge, of the High Council, has been tasked with obtaining those numbers for each building and we'll get them to you as quickly as possible.

Coincidentally this week, you may have seen that the Supreme Court ruled against a state government applying Covid-19 restrictions on church attendance. While this is good news for churches and for freedom of religion, we still want to show "an abundance of caution," as the First Presidency has repeatedly stated, to make sure we do everything we can to keep our church meetings as safe as possible.

Thank you for continuing to read the attached statement reminding those attending sacrament meeting in person of the safety guidelines. Please draft and read a similar statement for all other in-person church meetings.

Gratefully,

Stake Presidency

Friday, November 20, 2020

Message to the children when sending them our wills

20 November 2020

Dear children,

This has nothing to do with the brush I’m having with Covid right now (still no word yet from Brother Jones, though he feels the longer it takes to get test results the better the indication that he’s negative because testing labs notify the positives first so they can immediately initiate contract tracing efforts).

But a couple of months ago Mother and I signed up with an MLM called Legal Shield to get access to an attorney to draft our wills. Those wills are now complete and attached. (We’ve cancelled our Legal Shield membership.)

We just wanted you to have a copy of them for safekeeping, but we have the originals as does the attorney, Kivel and Howard LLP in downtown Portland.

The attorneys simply use a template and fill in our names and your names. There’s not much to the wills, but hopefully it will expedite the processing of assets (home, cars, furniture that no one will want, etc.) if something should happen to the two of us together.

Earlier we drafted wills back in the early 1990s when all of you were still at home. So these wills should replace those wills when now, instead of amazing children, our most prized possession is a can of Reliv in the cupboard or our 2008 Honda with 200K miles in the garage :)

We hope these wills give you some comfort or assurance that our post-death desires are now formalized. BTW…Apparently there is no formal or court-recognized document for us to establish a living will, i.e. if you’re having to make a life-and-death decision for both of us. But please know that neither Mother or I want our lives to be prolonged if we are on some type of life-sustaining device in the hospital. We are completing a form and will keep that on file.

I can’t believe we’re old enough to be talking about this, but such is life or mortality, right? Thankfully, the Lord wants us to come home—His home.

We love you and cherish each of you…you make us very happy and thankful for Thanksgiving that you and your wonderful families will always be around OUR table. 

Dad & Mom

Monday, November 16, 2020

Guidance on weeknight use of the stake center

16 November 2020

Stake Leaders and Bishoprics / Branch Presidencies...

Just as we are restricted to in-person attendance of 25 for Sunday services, we must also abide by that limit for youth night activities and other weeknight gatherings...always with masks and social distancing.

Will you please note that the following times are scheduled exclusively for those units assigned to the stake center. It is most important that no other groups or even missionaries use the stake center during these times on the designated weeknights so we don't exceed the 25-person gathering limit:

  • Tuesdays, 7:00 - 8:45 pm - Walters Hill Ward

  • Wednesdays, 7:00 - 8:45 pm - Powell Valley Ward

  • Thursdays, 7:00 - 8:45 pm - Damascus Ward and Pioneer Branch

Thank you for respecting this schedule and helping us abide by the new state guidelines that go into effect this Wednesday, Nov. 18.

Gratefully,

Stake Presidency

P.S. Also, we remind you of the following guidelines sent to you on Nov. 9 that apply to all meetinghouses in our stake:

  • Where possible, please defer to virtual rather than in-person for (1) presidency and other leadership meetings; (2) interviews; and (3) adult classes, including Relief Society, Elders Quorum and Self-Reliance classes.

  • Use meetinghouses only for Church gatherings where adult leaders are present and are willing to assume responsibility for the safety of the group, including maintaining a list of attendees for contact tracing purposes.

  • Do not use cultural halls for contact sports and other activities where participants are unable to practice social distancing and wear face coverings.


Friday, November 13, 2020

New guidelines after the governor's announcement today

13 November 2020

Bishoprics and Branch Presidencies...

As you're aware, the governor announced today new guidelines and restrictions, including a reduction in gathering limits for churches to 25 indoors and 50 outdoors.

We are grateful the governor acknowledged, for the first time, the importance of faith gatherings and didn't lump us in with social gatherings, which came under even more severe restrictions.

President Lewis spoke personally with Maria Waters, the Faith Liaison in the governor's office, and she said it is a favorable indication that the Gov. Brown recognizes that faith groups are being extra vigilant—thankfully very few, if any, outbreaks from religious services. However, she stressed that the demand on hospitals is now critical and everyone is being asked to do something to bring the latest Covid surge under control.

By the way, Maria said she was hopeful that this temporary "freeze" through Wednesday, Dec. 2, will make a difference and that faith groups would be among the first to see an easing of restrictions.

We, of course, want to be good citizens and comply with government guidance and continue to show an abundance of caution in our in-person gatherings. We may yet receive specific direction from our Area Presidency inasmuch as the three West Coast states are working together in addressing the latest surge in Covid cases.

In the meantime, we share the following guidance for our stake:

  • The new state guidelines go into effect next Wednesday, Nov. 18, so there is no need to make any changes this Sunday, Nov. 15, unless you feel to do so;

  • Starting Sunday, Nov. 22, we encourage you to continue to hold in-person sacrament meetings with 25 in attendance;

  • You may want to survey your ward again next week to determine how many want to attend in-person and assign them accordingly so all have a chance to attend an in-person sacrament meeting at least once per month;

  • We encourage you to continue to administer the sacrament following your sacrament services, but consider having only one priesthood holder bless and one pass;

  • Here's one idea to maximize the number in the congregation—2 bishopric members, one to conduct, one for technology; 2 for music; 2 speakers; 2 to administer the sacrament; 0 prayers, invite prayers to be given over Zoom from home; leaving room for 17 in the congregation; as you've noticed, it's very difficult to speak over the pulpit when no one is in the audience (17 is better than no one);

  • If you feel deeply that there is an increased risk to members' safety, you may choose to continue to webcast your sacrament service and not invite members to attend in-person nor administer the sacrament in the chapel;

  • Continue to hold second-hour classes and meetings for youth and YSA, but we strongly recommend they be virtual-only until restrictions ease up.

Thank you for how well all of you have adjusted to these fluctuating guidelines and continue to provide inspiring sacrament services both in-person and virtually.

Gratefully,

Mount Hood Stake Presidency

Monday, November 9, 2020

New Guidelines following Governor Brown's announcement of a 'pause' with stricter guidelines

9 November 2020

TO: All stake and wards leaders in the Mount Hood Stake

Dear Leaders,

As you know Governor Brown recently announced a two-week "pause" by listing additional safety precautions for five counties beginning this Wednesday, Nov. 11. The new guidelines were issued for some businesses and "informal social gatherings" (usually in homes) where precautions are easily ignored. Her action was in response to the recent surge in Covid-19 cases in Oregon.

Gratefully, the new restrictions did not include religious groups or faith-based meetings. We believe that is because officials acknowledge that churches, like ours, are making every effort to follow safety guidelines.

Additionally, Clackamas County (where all of our meetinghouses are located) was not included in the governor's directive. However, Clackamas County is experiencing a surge in Covid cases, too, and may soon come under the same restrictions. Regardless, we want to be good citizens and comply with all official guidelines as best as possible.

Therefore we ask you to please follow these (hopefully temporary) guidelines for our stake:

'OFFICIAL' GATHERINGS

  • Continue to hold Church in-person services and classes, specifically: (1) sacrament meetings; (2) second-hour classes for youth and YSA; and (3) weekday youth activities.

  • Continue to follow safety precautions during in-person gatherings, such as wearing face coverings indoors and even outdoors, if unable to social distance.

  • Stress with parents the expectation that youth comply with safety precautions, including wearing of a mask indoors.

OTHER GATHERINGS

  • Where possible, please defer to virtual rather than in-person for (1) presidency meetings; (2) interviews; and (3) adult classes, including Relief Society, Elders Quorum and Self-Reliance classes.

  • Use meetinghouses only for Church gatherings where adult leaders are present and are willing to assume responsibility for the safety of the group, including maintaining a list of all attendees for contact-tracing purposes.

  • Do not use cultural halls for contact sports and other activities where participants are unable to practice social distancing and wear face coverings.

We hope these new guidelines will not be permanent. In the meantime, we appreciate your willingness to help protect our stake members and communities.

Gratefully,

Mount Hood Oregon Stake Presidency

Saturday, November 7, 2020

Guidance to bishoprics after the Governor calls for a "pause" in social gatherings

7 November 2020

TO: Bishoprics and Branch Presidencies in the Mount Hood Stake

Brethren,

We recognize there may be concerns about continuing with in-person sacrament services following the governor's announcement yesterday.

Unless we are directed otherwise by our Area Seventy and/or the Area Presidency, the stake presidency has counseled together and feel to continue meeting as we are for several reasons:

  1. The governor did not include religious services as part of the two-week "pause" presumably because the latest Covid outbreaks have not come from churches where safety is a priority;

  2. The greatest concern is with "informal social gatherings" in homes where safety precautions are seldom taken and with many businesses where contact tracing is all but impossible;

  3. We continue to conduct hybrid services so members can choose whether to attend in person or virtually.

We appreciate you continuing to take every safety precaution in conducting sacrament meetings and administering the sacrament afterwards. Please make sure your clerk or Covid-19 Supervisor continues to keep a list of all who attend in person each Sunday for the purpose of contact tracing.

Feel free to draw from this email or forward it in your communications to your leaders or members. 

Gratefully,

President Lewis and the Stake Presidency

Monday, November 2, 2020

Message to Members on 29 Oct 2020

2 November 2020

Dear Mount Hood Stake Friends...

As you know we live in a wicked world with wars, atrocities and even genocide not unlike those we are reading about in our Come, Follow Me study this week of Mormon 1-6.

We are amazed by the prophet-general Mormon, a mighty man of righteousness living at a time when the "day of grace was passed." (Mormon 2:15) Somehow he retained in his heart "the goodness of Jesus." (1:15)

My heart resonated with a thought shared in a popular podcast about Mormon. 

First, let me say that I welcome and completely embrace President Nelson's plea that we not use nicknames for the Church or for ourselves.

But this week's reading has given me a new appreciation and gratitude for Mormon's righteous life while surrounded by evil.

So if you slip and say to someone, "Yes, I am a Mormon," please don't feel guilty. It can mean you are trying to be like Mormon and live righteously in a wicked world.

May we all be "Mormons!"

With love and gratitude for your faithfulness,

President Lewis