COVID-19 - Imago Dei Church

Corporate Worship Update

May 26, 2021/in COVID-19 /by Rob Idom

“The no-masks are coming! The no-masks are coming!” Maybe a bit exaggerated, but the transition into normal life may have many people feeling like Paul Revere, while for others, it feels like freedom is right around the corner. No matter where you are on that spectrum, we want to faithfully respond to recent news as best we can, together. In the last few days, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new guidelines around Covid-19 vaccinations, and the City of Milwaukee released an update stating the mask mandate and capacity restrictions will be removed as of June 1st.

What does this mean for our worship services? What about small and large group gatherings? Will Imago Dei still require masks and social distancing? I’m glad you asked.

Horton Hears a Who

Let’s begin by addressing the elephant in the sanctuary: vaccines. All of these updates hinge on what it means to be fully vaccinated. The CDC describes it like this:

In general, people are considered fully vaccinated:

2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.

If you don’t meet these requirements, regardless of your age, you are NOT fully vaccinated. Keep taking all precautions until you are fully vaccinated.”

We will use this definition moving forward to be consistent in our communication. Our goal is to inform you on what these changes mean for our worship services. Knowing there are a variety of opinions around vaccines in general, we want to give everyone an opportunity to make an informed decision no matter where they are at.

To mask or not to mask?

Per the city update, “The public health guidance to forgo masks is for fully vaccinated individuals only…If individuals are not fully vaccinated, they should continue to wear masks in any public indoor settings. The CDC’s guidance does not include schools, healthcare settings, correctional facilities, and homeless shelters, so fully vaccinated individuals should continue to wear a mask in these environments.” Take notice that churches are not included in this list.

After much prayer and consideration, we will use the following guidelines:

If you are fully vaccinated, you are not required to wear a mask or physically distance yourself in the church building or Imago Dei gatherings.
If you are fully vaccinated and prefer wearing a mask, you may continue to do so.
If you are not fully vaccinated, we ask that you follow the CDC Guidelines accordingly.
With capacity restrictions lifted we will no longer continue Service Registrations as of June 1st. Whether fully vaccinated or not, you are welcome to worship with us. Take a 3D tour of the building. Although we are not required to practice social distancing, we will keep our areas set up to accommodate social distancing.
- We are planning to have outside services in the summer, dates TBD.
We will not screen for vaccine cards or proof of vaccination. We will continue to have open conversations regarding all of this as we do with other areas of our church’s operations.

But wait, there’s more….

At least there will be. Just not at this moment. If you made it to the end,I am glad you are still here. After reading this you may even have more questions.

Great! We do too.

Everyday we are learning more and being made more like Jesus. Join me, Rob Idom, for a Q&A on Youtube Thursday, June 3rd at 6pm. I will try to answer your questions as best as I can. In the near future, we will have more detailed information in regards to serving teams, family ministry, REM groups, and more. Keep an eye on our social media pages, check your email for updates, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions at robi@idmke.com.

Philippians 2:3-11 tells us, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Amen

Bad Dad

April 16, 2020/in COVID-19, Fatherhood /by Pete

Alright coronavirus, you win this round. Not because you’ve infected me. At least not that I’m aware of. But you have revealed an infection in me that I did not know about.

I am a bad dad. This is not false humility. Nor is it a baited attempt for encouragement. Just honesty. I’m pretty sure I’m not the worst dad. I don’t think I’m bad in every way or all the time. I have some strengths and good moments. I love my family. Which is why it hurt me so deeply when my son let me know how I have hurt him.

The COVID-19 quarantine has taken away many of our coping mechanisms. We can’t escape from the people we live with. We shouldn’t spend money on non-essential indulgences. We are unable to throw ourselves into our work. This is all a brutal blessing. It forces us to face issues we would rather not deal with.

Have you sensed this in your heart? Has the removal of temporary escapes revealed weaknesses you did not know you had? Me too.

My 11-year-old son left me a note the other night that started with, “I feel like nothing I do is good enough for you.” Ugh. Kick me in the gut and rip my heart out while I’m down! When did I become that dad? How did this happen?

He’s right. I understand why he feels this way. And he’s not the only one. My wife told me something similar a few days earlier when she said, “your unattainable standards are crushing everyone around you.” I understand why she feels that way. This is how I live.

I do not feel like anything I do is good enough. My blogging, my preaching, my reading, my eating, my exercise… shoot, even when I play a video game I berate myself up for the mistakes I make. I don’t even know what “satisfied” feels like. I have never considered contentment a possibility.

Victim or Convict

If you, like me, are feeling some of this, how do we move forward? Do we need to give ourselves a break? Heal some childhood trauma? Learn how to live within our enneagram numbers? Some of that might be helpful in some ways. What I know for sure, though, is we need to repent.

Can you see what one of my core issues is? Do you know the source of some of your struggles? Maybe we need to ask some questions like this.

Who is the only one who is never wrong? Who is the only one who always gets everything right? Who is the only one who’s ways are perfect? God alone. When I hold myself, others, or any part of the creation to God-like expectations, I am trying to be God or forcing other things to be my God. And that was the lie that sold Adam and Eve on the forbidden fruit. “You can be like God.”

Condemned for us

This is why God became like us. Jesus took on flesh. He performed perfectly. He never even drank too much water. Jesus fulfilled God’s expectations for all of humanity. He did this so that He could be exhausted by my futile attempts to be perfect, to be God. It pleased God to crush Christ in our place so that God could satisfy us all with His perfect love. And in that, we are liberated. Not to be God, but to be human. Weak. Limited. Dependent. Cherished by the One, True God. And when we are satisfied by Him, we can let others be human as well.

Take off the Makeup

I suspect I’m not alone in this. Has this season forced some junk out of your heart too? What are you going to do with it? Would you consider joining me in trying not to hide, shift, justify, or pacify our sin?

Put On Christ

Maybe the coronavirus didn’t win this round after all. Isn’t it just like our God to use what feels like death to bring life? The anger, irritation, frustration, failures, and guilt – can all be redeemed to bring love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control. How? By thinking less about our performance and more about God’s. To think less about ourselves and more about Him. We must become less, Christ must become more.

And it just might happen that as we lose our lives, identifying and repenting of our idolatry, we just might find true and better life in Christ alone.

A Church Without Walls

April 8, 2020/in Community, COVID-19, The Church /by Rob Idom

Have you ever heard someone say, “the church is more than a building.” Have you thought about it or said this yourself? To be clear, yes it is. But it’s together, often in a building, that God stirs our affections for Him and each other! The author of Hebrews communicates this clearly:

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:23-25 ESV)

Stirring each other up for good works. At this time, we may not be able to gather together in person, but that does not stop us from being in church! It has not stopped us from cheering on good works for the good of the city. In fact, I personally have seen time and time again how the fellowship of the church gathering has changed hearts, while also seeing how God’s work in someone’s heart has changed the gathering! It is beautiful! There is nothing else like it. It cannot be quantified. It cannot be explained. And it is so good.

This is why I write to you. Not because we had a committee assembled to figure out how to be the church now. Rather, the church was “gathering” together online to care for each other well and to stir up some good works. If you are looking for ways to serve your neighbors and care for those that are most vulnerable, I have good news. You can! It is about being faithful stewards of what God has given.

Needs to pray about and to serve in

If you are like me and need help getting started, consider some of these options

Elderly Relatives and Neighbors

Helping with chores, yard work, errands, and just checking in on the elderly in your life.

Supporting Small Businesses

MKE Black is a resource to support black business and MKE Covid Carry Out is a facebook group supporting take-out and delivery services in Milwaukee.

Care for Mental Health

For personal mental health needs, but also for checking in on others to see how they are really doing. The biblical counseling care team has everything from videos, books, blogs, and more to help bring the gospel to bear.

Food Pantries and Shelters

Consider volunteering at one, and many are taking great measures to make volunteering still socially-distant. Jon and Michelle are volunteering at Feeding America on 4/3/20 (1-4pm) and the Hunger Task Force on 4/9/20 (1-4pm) if anyone wants to join and be in relative proximity to one another.

Consider Donating Blood

Donors are needed desperately during this time, and blood drives are taking steps to keep things sanitary and socially-distant for donors.

Sew Masks for Healthcare Workers

Here is the resource and instructions that go over how to do this, if you have the skills and access to materials to help.

Health Concerns and Pregnancies

Pray for and work to support those that are expecting and others that have prior health conditions that affect them.

Federal Stimulus Package

If the current legislation passes through Congress as expected, Americans will be receiving money from the government. If you don’t personally need it to get by, consider supporting ID, or one of our partners. Reconcile Church, Safe Families, or Compassion International.

Trusting in Jesus

There are good works to be done in the name of the great God we serve, Jesus Christ. We don’t have to be anxious about tomorrow. We don’t have to fear for our lives. We can trust the One who gave His life so that we might live. We can fully serve, generously give, and truly worship. And we can do it all for the glory of God alone.

Good Grief

April 1, 2020/in Community, COVID-19, Milwaukee Church /by Sarah Lange

Over the past 2 weeks, our family, along with most others I know, were thrown into homeschooling, working from home, laid off, or have an “essential” job facing this COVID-19 head-on. (Thank you by the way! Your service is not going unnoticed!)

I don’t know about you, but this abrupt change has been… well… It’s been something… and I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I have felt overly stressed or overwhelmed most of the time these past 14 days and we’re not even in quarantine! One thing is certain about me, I do NOT like abrupt change. HAHA! Anyone else with me?!

But, in light of all that, God’s got a sweet, constant reminder and gift for all of us… the gift of grace, especially in our time of weakness as 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 tells us. God intended this grace to be sufficient for a day’s use, one day at a time- like the Manna that he provided to the Israelites while in the desert, we too get the portion He knows we need for today alone. AND Tomorrow.., His mercy will be new in the morning, therefore, we can rejoice and be glad in it! Hallelujah!

On a heavier note, how many of us are working through the disappointments of thing after thing being canceled, rescheduled or postponed indefinitely? How many of us don’t get to find this time as a vacation but have to keep working, encountering the everyday anxiety of “What If I get the virus?!” or think/complain, “What’s all the worry?” or “Why are they not staying at home?” or “Why does this type of disappointment always seem to happen to me?” How many of us are afraid that we might lose a loved one because of this virus, and, if that’s the case, grieving this may be the last time we see them and it’s virtual?!

There’s hope in our complaint, disappointment, angst, and grief too. It’s called LAMENT. We’ve heard this over the past few months via email, at the pulpit or maybe you’ve read the book “Woke Church” by Eric Mason that was recommended to us during Black History Month (fantastic read btw). Below I have 3 more places to encourage you to go to learn, practice and grow more deeply in this form of prayer; “lament.” God’s familiar and comfortable with this grief, angst, complaint, etc when we are coming to Him with it. He invites us to come to Him with our heavy burdens, weary souls for He will give us rest because His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

This season of COVID-19 is likely not going to get easier. It’s likely going to press into some of our deepest sorrows, idols, anxieties- this list can go on. I have found a few places that may be helpful to do what I mentioned above bringing hope in learning, practicing and growing in our lament and thus growing in closer, greater relationship with our Abba Father.

First, this blog was shared with me about understanding the coronavirus biblically, it’s just good, quick and good.

Second, Throughout the Psalms we can find Lament. Here are a handful: Psalms 3-7, 22, 25,26, 28, 51, 54-61, 77, 123, 143

Last but NOT least, (I am really excited about this- obviously not before the Bible)
“Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy,” by Mark Vroegep. If you can make time in this COVID-19 season to sit with your Bible, a journal and this book, you won’t regret it. It is written to teach us how to lament and lament with Scripture. It’s available at just about any bookstore online. Better yet, since we’ve gone almost all virtual, if you have a Milwaukee or Tosa Public Library membership, you can check out this audiobook, for FREE, via the Hoopla app. (If you need a library card you can get a temporary MKE Library membership by going to mpl.org and talking to a librarian via their chatbox on the bottom right-hand corner of your computer screen.)

As the grief of what is happening all around us in different forms, in our homes, in our neighborhoods, in Milwaukee, in Wisconsin, in the US, around the globe, will likely grow, let us continue to learn how to Lament with God. We can do it with a joy that can only come from the Lord Himself.

I will leave you with the prayer that has been on my heart and mind the past 2 weeks:

ISAIAH 43:1-2 But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.

Grace and peace everyone!

Sarah Lange
Ministry Lead Biblical Counseling Care Team
Imago Dei Church
sarahl@idmke.com

Socially Distant But Not Alone

March 20, 2020/in COVID-19, News /by Rob Idom

Hey, these are unprecedented times. We all need hope. We need community. We need each other.

If there is any way I can pray for you, please let me know. If you have any needs, I’d love to help if I’m able.

If not, I am connected with a church that might be able to help as well.

Resources and News

Below you’ll find some helpful sites to stay current on up to date information from the city and our church.

wisconsin.gov/covid-19
cdc.gov/coronavirus
Dial 211 for ‘community resources’

Here’s my church’s contact info

Email: info@idmke.com
Phone: (414) 595-4664
Social Media tag: #ImagoDeiMKE

COVID-19 Response

Imago Dei has taken the recommended directions from the CDC and moved all of our public meetings digital. Sunday services will be streamed live on YouTube @10am, our Small Groups have been moved to the Zoom audio/video platform and will meet at their regular times.

Here are a few more ways you can get plugged in with us online:

Download our Church Center app for Apple and Android
Click here for your free membership to RightNow Media
Listen to our Worship Playlist on Spotify
Follow us on Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, and Instagram #ImagoDeiMKE