Service Update (Corporate Worship Resumes May 31)
Context
Toward the end of last month, Governor Ricketts announced in a press conference that churches state-wide would be allowed to resume in-person worship gatherings. He also announced that there would be a new Directed Health Measure (DHM) that would come out from the Nebraska State DHHS which would govern this and the date that DHM would go into effect would be May 4th. As your pastors, we have been following not only the development of this DHM but have also updates from Four Corners on the COVID situation in our area and have been talking about considerations in gathering together. We decided that May 31st would be the date that we would resume corporate worship gatherings.
We chose this date because it was after the projected peak of COVID in our area and to give us time to consider the DHM and prayerfully and thoughtfully consider how to resume worship as a church. This has been a weighty decision because we know there are some in our body who are anxious to gather again while others are still concerned about gathering in person. This plan reflects our best effort to be wise, Biblical, and considerate of those in the body whose conscience would not be ok with gathering in person yet as well as those who are at increased risk for complications from COVID. We are incredibly thankful for your ongoing prayers and support/patience, not only as we have considered these things and made a plan, but also throughout this time of not being able to gather together for worship.
What You Need To Know
With all of that said, here is our plan for gathering together for worship until further notice:
Sanitation
Surfaces that are regularly touched (door handles, rails, countertops, bathrooms, etc…) will be sanitized between worship services.
Hand sanitizer will be available throughout the building.
No nursery will be offered.
We will not be printing and handing out bulletins.
Doors will be propped open to minimize risk from touching surfaces.
Safety of those at higher risk who wish to attend
The “old chapel” will be reserved for those at higher risk (elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions). Those who fall into that category and who wish to utilize it can seat themselves in the chapel where the service will be streamed. If you are not considered high risk, please refrain from going to the chapel.
Those who wish will be encouraged to wear personal PPE (face mask/gloves).
Those who are higher risk and are not comfortable with gathering will be encouraged to stay at home.
General Practices
All will be encouraged to ask if they wish to shake someone’s hand or hug and not assume the other person is comfortable with it. If they aren’t, then do the new trendy “elbow bump” or feel free to give a courteous bow as George Washington was fond of doing.
All will be encouraged to ask permission from their neighbor if they need to sit within 2 seats of another family unit. We will generally encourage a 2 seat buffer between family units and encourage people to reserve the back 3 rows for families with young children or those with disabilities. Please be willing to move your family over a few seats if necessary to accommodate this.
The foyer will be available for people who need to take young children out of the worship center or who wish greater social distancing. The service will be shown on monitors.
All will be encouraged to use good sense and have a primary concern of acting in a manner loving to neighbors, understanding that there are different comfort levels with gathering together.
Those who are uncomfortable with gathering will be encouraged to stay home. The sermon will be provided after the service and will be available on the website by Sunday evening (pending any technological issues).
Those who are sick, not feeling well, or demonstrating any symptoms of illness will be asked to remain at home out of love for their neighbor.
People will be encouraged to consider space between individuals when talking before or after the service as well as in leaving the building to avoid bottlenecks.
No coffee will be served right now.
Communion will not be celebrated during the months of May and June. We will assess this in June and tentatively plan on serving communion in July.
Greeters will greet in a manner that is consistent with these guidelines.
There will be no Sunday School or other in-person activities throughout the week.
Entrances will be unlocked at 10:00 am.
All will be encouraged to place items on their seat if they get up and return to the same seat. If they move about the worship center prior to or after the service, they are discouraged from sitting or touching seats they will not be sitting in during the service.
Anyone who wishes is encouraged to wear their own PPE (mask/gloves) but the wearing of PPE is not required.
Anyone who is fearful, uncomfortable, or whose conscience is burdened is encouraged to remain at home and take advantage of the sermon that will be posted after the service.