Thursday Church Life Update

Greetings, beloved EMC family!

This is the week we have all been waiting for. The staff, Board, and I have decided to open the church up this Sunday to you for the morning worship service. While this is a cause for rejoicing, it is also a time for caution. We do not make this decision lightly, knowing that there is still risk involved with any indoor mass gathering. We are also mindful of the continued warnings from public health officials on the dangers of coming together like this, so before you read any further please stop and pray for the Holy Spirit’s wisdom on what this all means for you.

(Waiting patiently while you pray…)

Ok, first off: If you do not feel comfortable coming to church Sunday for any reason, please do not feel in any way compelled to come. No one is taking attendance here. No one will question your commitment to Jesus or EMC. Everyone understands the unique time in which we live and no one is judging each other about their decisions. So please do not read this announcement as anyone requiring you to come to church Sunday. Come as you feel led, aware of the risks and expectations listed below.

Now, for those of you who do wish to come, be prepared that things will be different than you remember. We have tried to think everything through to make the worship environment a safe place to meet. We are blessed with a large space for our size of congregation, so we are confident that we can worship together while observing social distancing guidelines.

Here are some key things you need to know in advance of Sunday:

The service starts at 10:15 am and it will be livestreamed. As usual, the stream will go live 15 minutes prior to the start of the service.
There will be no children’s lesson at 10 am. Instead, the service will be treated like a typical Family 5th Sunday service when parents have their children with them the whole time.
There will be no Sunday School, KidZone, or nursery care. We are trying to ease back into church life and are taking it one step at a time. This is our first (big) step.
Parents must keep their children with them for the duration of the worship service. Special seating will be available near the rear exits for families that might need to allow their little ones the opportunity to stretch their legs if the need arises. The ushers will make sure optimal seating is reserved for families with young children.
The front doors to the FYF building will be opened at 9:30 am. They will be propped open so no one has to touch the handles. No rear doors will be unlocked for entry.
The lobby will not be open for fellowship. To keep the flow of traffic moving in the right direction, please follow the arrows and directions of the ushers while going directly to your seats.
Please enjoy fellowshipping with one another before and after the service in the parking lot. Once inside, please remain with your family unit.
Preservice traffic only flows into the Worship Center from the middle doors. People needing to exit must use the side doors. Once the service is over, the flow of traffic will be reversed and you will exit the Worship Center from the middle doors.
Chairs will not be set up in rows, but rather in clusters of 2 and 4 with 6′ of spacing between each cluster in each direction. Some clusters in the rear have more than 4 chairs, and an usher can assist you if you have any additional seating needs.
You will find your bulletin with a song sheet insert waiting for you at your seat.
Ushers will collect the offering by bringing the collection bucket to you. You will not need to touch anything. Ushers will be wearing masks.
Masks are strongly encouraged, especially during the congregational singing. COVID-19 primarily results from breathing in airborne infected respiratory droplets, which are more likely to be projected during singing. My family will be wearing masks, and for the sake of your fellow worshipers I encourage you to please do the same.
In the event that we run out of room in the Worship Center, the Friendship Suite will be set up as an overflow space.
At the conclusion of the worship service, the ushers will dismiss you from your seats.
Please be extra patient with everything. All of this is new. No one has it all figured out. Parents will certainly be struggling with their children at times. Someone will forget a mask. All of us are human and doing our best, so let’s allow the Holy Spirit to produce in us the beautiful fruits of peace, patience, kindness, and gentleness toward one another.
If you are not feeling well in any way, please enjoy the worship service online from the comfort of your home.

I’m sure that list was as exhausting for you to read as it was for me to type. I don’t relish having to put so many parameters on our time together, but I do feel it is necessary. The Holy Spirit is still every bit as free to move in our midst and have his way with our hearts. The presence of God is what makes our time together matter, so be in prayer that God would be at work through and among us even while we’re behind a mask at least 6 feet apart. Honestly, I would rather be 6 feet away from you in a mask than not around you at all!

If you have any questions about any of this, please do not hesitate to contact me by email or call me at my office (264-2254, x.201). Again, do not come if you feel unsafe or deem it unwise in any way. Otherwise, I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible this Sunday to worship the Holy One together in person once again!

In Him. With you.
Pastor Sean