We tentatively plan to re-open the building and re-start in-person worship Sunday Dec. 13th!
(And of course we’ll maintain online services, and are even developing improvements for an online-campus-model of ministry!) Here’s our plan and the thinking behind it:
1) For now and through Dec. 12th worship is online-only and the building is still closed (except preschool, office, etc.).
2) Sunday Dec. 13th we’ll start in-person worship services at 9:00 and 10:30 like normal, with KICK kids ministry and nursery childcare provided for the 10:30 service.
3) The building will be available for use through the week at a limited capacity, with COVID precautions enforced and preference given to our ministries.
4) In order to stay open as diligently as possible through the rest of the pandemic, we’re renewing and expanding our COVID precautions including the development of an RSVP system for worship and the recording of where individuals sit.
CHRISTMAS EVE—YES! We’re planning to have both in-person and online streaming of the candlelight services at the normal times!
5:30 Family Service (in Sanctuary)
7:30 Contemporary Service (in Family Life Center)
9:30 Traditional Service (in Sanctuary)
We will begin an RSVP process for the services starting this coming week to ensure socially distanced seating, AND to determine if we need to add additional services.
Our thinking behind our plans: We closed down when it looked like we might have been experiencing a spread of COVID through our church, and four of our staff were self-isolating as a precaution. However, it turned out that our safety diligence has paid off, the staff were not positive, and the positive cases among a few people in our congregation did not cause mass spread. Also, the UC Health Director has confirmed to our local ministerial association what the governor and others have said: official activities of businesses, schools, and churches that take all the health precautions have not been the cause of the most recent outbreaks and spreading of the virus. Rather, it’s been the more informal gatherings that are lax about the precautions that have been spreading it, such as employees going out to lunch together without masks, kids after a sports practice hanging out close together without masks, or Bible study groups closely together unmasked in a small room. So, thanks for your understanding, patience, and diligence in complying with the precautions AND please be diligent in your informal gatherings to help prevent the spread of COVID and the corresponding stress on the healthcare system.
