Friends in Christ,
It was March 8th we had our last “In Person” worship service. So much has happened and changed since then. Our world has truly been turned upside down. Face masks, sanitizing, social distancing, stay at home has become part of our regular vocabulary. To date over 1,850 Hoosiers have died, 101,000 Americans have died, and worldwide over 351,000 people have lost their lives to Covid-19.
At the same time we have seen Christians and communities pull together. People stepping up to deliver food, make face masks, donate gloves, and give of themselves to help their neighbors. We have learned to worship online and not take for granted those moments God blesses us with family and friends.
Now we are entering a “new time,” a time that we can begin to come back together to worship in the same place. On June 14th we plan to resume worship at the Church. Things will be different and protocols must be followed to keep us all healthy. Some of these protocols will stretch us. We’ve never had to do anything like this before. And we’ve never had a time before that we have faced such a crisis as this.
In John Wesley’s three simple rules (I preached on this), his first rule was, “Do No Harm.” We need to take this to heart as we ease in to resuming worship. We want to make sure that everyone who walks through our door feels comfortable and knows that we are doing “everything” we can to make our sanctuary and church a “safe, clean, and sanitized” place for them.
Our Leadership Board will determine when Fellowship time, Sunday School, and Evening Service will resume. All meetings will continue to take place through Zoom until further notice.
Below is the list of protocols our Leadership Board approved May 13th to allow us to have “Person to Person” worship starting June 14th.
Ø We are asking if you are age 60+ or have an underlying at-risk health condition please remain at home and watch services online (we will continue having services on Facebook for you, on and after June 14th).
Ø Pews will be roped off ensuring 6 feet between individuals or family units of the same household.
Ø Masks will be worn in the building at all times. This will also allow us to sing (with masks on). Please bring a mask with you. If you do not have a mask or forget yours, we will have a mask for you.
Ø There will be no “paper” in the pews (bulletins or notes). Pastor Andy will send out “sermon notes” through email. If you would like to follow along with notes please bring them with you “and take them home with you.”
Ø We will have “Hospitality people” at both “parking lot doors” to open doors, spray sanitize your hands as you enter, and if you do not have a mask they will be on a table as you enter (if you do pick up a mask please take it home with you after wearing it).
Ø Offering plates will be on a table as you enter the sanctuary so you can place your offering as you enter or leave.
Ø During the service we will not have a greeting time or birthday time.
Ø Dismissal of services will be by pews, not all at once.
Ø Following the service everything will immediately be cleaned with disinfectant (pews, doors, doorknobs, bathrooms, etc.)
I do look forward to seeing you again and worshiping with you. I know these last few months have been so hard. But we are getting closer to the day we can all come back together. Hopefully, nothing will impede that July 4th date as we enter into Stage 5 allowing “all” of us to come back together again. May Christ’s peace be with you.
Blessings, Pastor Andy