In Person Worship Guidelines
The way we conduct in person worship has changed. We now follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for churches.
Please review and prepare yourselves for these changes so that we can protect our physical health.
Equally as important is to prepare yourselves emotionally for the changes you will encounter. These adjustments may be difficult to experience so remember that regardless of how our worship has changed the Lord will be with us as he promised in Matthew 18:20: “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
General Guidelines
- Stay home if you are sick.
- Stay home if you are in a high risk category.
Physical Distancing
We will practice physical distancing which includes:
- No handshaking or other physical contact.
- Stay at least 6 feet away from other people.
- We are asking you not to congregate before or after services.
Arrival
You will be greeted by individuals wearing masks and gloves.
- We strongly encourage you to wear a mask.
- Masks are available if you do not have one.
- Hand sanitizer will be given to you as you come in and as you leave.
- We recommend you wash your hands when you get home for at least 20 seconds.
Seating
Seating will be spread throughout the Sanctuary and overflow seating will be available in the Fellowship Hall. Please be flexible regarding where you are asked to sit.
- The ushers will seat you.
- Family units will be seated together.
- At the conclusion of the service, please stay seated until the 5 minute postlude ends.
- The ushers will then dismiss you by pew to facilitate physical distancing.
- Please be patient with the ushers as they do their best to seat you quickly and safely.
Pews
- Pews are partitioned off and the ushers will seat you. Do not seat yourselves.
- Bibles, LBW’s, pencils, etc. have been taken out of the pews.
- You may bring your own Bible or use a Bible phone app.
- No refreshments will be served after worship.
- There will be no bulletins.
- You will be able to follow along via PowerPoint on the screen, as you do from home.
Communion
- Communion is served each Sunday.
- Communion will be served using individual, pre-filled and sealed "Fellowship Cups".
Offering
The way we accept offerings has changed. The offering plates will be in the back or you may give electronically by going to the "Give" section on our webpage, by mail or through your online bank bill pay.
Hearing Devices
- We do have hearing devices available.
- Please ask an usher and they will give you a sanitized device in a Ziploc bag.
- At the conclusion of the service, simply place the device back in the bag and deposit it in the basket on the ushers stand at the back of the sanctuary as you leave.
Elevator
The elevator is available. Please no more than one family at a time.
Common Areas
- No congregating in the church foyer or at the back of the Sanctuary.
- Ushers will seat you and dismiss you in order to help with physical distancing.
- Once everyone has departed the church the doors will be shut.
Live Broadcasting
- We are continuing to live stream our service for those staying home.
- The service is live when the 5 minute prelude begins. We ask for quiet during this time.
- We also have a 5 minute period at the end of the service. Again, we ask for quiet and please stay seated.
- The ushers will lead you out by row after we end the live stream.
- Check out our Wednesday seven:seven devotionals on our website or through Facebook.
Greeting Friends
- Each family unit will be seated 6 feet apart. In making your greetings, you may find yourselves shouting across the pews.
- Please remember that those viewing on the livestream will be able to hear you, and consequently not be able to hear the prelude or postlude.
- One way you can talk to both those in the room and on the livestream is to bring your mobile phone, log on to Facebook to watch the service (with the sound muted) and talk with one another via the comments section just as you do at home.
- This is a great way to build our church family community and reduce the instances of Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) on the part of those who choose to take part from home.
If you have any questions, please call the church office at (480) 837-9532 and leave a message. Blessings.