Coming Back Together
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In case you missed the service on Sunday, or as a refresher for those who watched with us, here’s a brief recap of some of the "next steps" that Matt touched on. We are tentatively planning on Sunday, June 21 to hold our first in-person service, if the building is ready to occupy at that time; however, we know that delays are possible, and we’ll adjust our plans accordingly if this is the case.
We recognize that there are still varying levels of comfort and anxiety about returning to church, so as we continue to pursue "patience with all," we thought it might be helpful to share a little bit about what you can expect when you show up for your first service. We've been thinking and planning for this as a leadership team for a number of weeks, and this is the current approach we'll take until September, at which point we’ll reevaluate. We recognize the need to be both wise and flexible at this time, and if it becomes clear that there are better ways to go, we'll gladly change our plans, even if it means doing the opposite of what we've been doing.
Service times will be at 9am and 10:30am, with live streaming available at 9am. For those not attending the service in-person, you’ll be able to watch online anytime from 9am on. We’ll begin meeting together at 50% occupancy and will hold off on children's ministry through the summer months, but we invite you to bring your whole family with you to the service, if you're comfortable doing so. In our best effort to limit the number of attendees, and to do so as fairly as possible, we will be utilizing an RSVP tool that will be made available on Friday, June 19 (assuming that the first service will still be on the 21st).
Please remember that there is parking across the street at Harding Middle School. When you arrive, be sure to look for signage that will direct you toward the proper entry doors. Your RSVP will be checked at the door, and from there you’ll be guided into the auditorium, where you’ll be seated individually or with your family, observing appropriate social distancing measures.
Everyone who attends in person will need to wear a face mask, as we anticipate singing together to be a part of our morning worship. We will hold off on passing offering trays and bulletins, but we are working on an app update that will serve as a resource and "digital bulletin" for you in the interim. We will also have pre-packaged elements for the Lord's Supper that will allow us to participate together safely.
In an effort to keep the areas we’re using within the building as safe as possible, we are in need of volunteers to help wipe down surfaces after the 9am service. If you would like to help out in this way, please fill out the Volunteer Form and select "Sunday Service Cleaning Team" as your serving area of choice, and we’ll follow up with you. Bonus: cleaning volunteers are guaranteed a spot for the 9am service!
Lastly, if you're unable to join us on June 21st but would still like to get in and see the work that’s been done on the building, we’ll be holding a Prayer Open House beginning the 22nd (unless the first Sunday date is postponed), where you'll be free to wander around the building for a time of guided prayer. Stay tuned for more information!