2020 October news letter article

I am pleased we have been able to safely return to worship since early July.  Many of you are coming back and we are very thankful for that.  Our goal is to hopefully see more and more of you return as you believe it is safe.  Our task is to adequate clean the church facility and keep the conduct of worship services as safe as is possible.  We further appreciate everyone’s cooperation in wearing masks and keeping a proper “social distance” during worship.  I want to give you a further update from a recent deacon’s meeting when the status of church services in the pandemic were discussed. 
 
-On Sunday morning October 4, we will resume SONQuest and Nursery services.  These activities will meet on the first and third Sunday morning of each month.  This will give parents, children and workers an opportunity to get back at it on a limited basis.  Pastor Luke is asking all volunteers to wear masks as well any children age 5 and older.  Obviously, children that show any signs of COVID or have been exposed to COVID are asked to not attend.  Workers and children alike will have their temperatures checked and everyone will be asked to wash their hands as they arrive.  For now, our 4th and 5th grade children are asked to attend worship in the sanctuary.  Check-in for SONQuest will be in the breezeway between the sanctuary and the fellowship hall.  Pastor Luke published a detailed “SONQuest SARS2-COVID 19 Policy and Procedure Guide” for more information. 
 
-We will continue our Sunday morning worship at 11:00 AM and the second service at 4:30 PM.  If you are looking for a less populated service to attend, the afternoon service is a good option.  As much as is possible this service is the same as in the morning. Of course, live streaming the Sunday morning worship service will continue, as will recording of this service to watch later.  Don’t forget the Fellowship Hall is functional to watch and participate in morning worship.  In addition, we will be serving coffee and doughnuts in the Fellowship Hall before and during worship starting October 4. 
 
 -For now, we will continue to conduct our Bible Study on Facebook and You Tube.  Also, the Zoom Sunday School Class will continue Tuesday at 6:00 PM.  Let us know if you need help connecting to these activities. 
 
We have tried to be prudent and cautious during the season of the pandemic, while staying as close to public health guidance as possible.  I know some of you are ready get back to a full slate of activities as soon as possible.  Others are hesitant and tell us they are not ready to attend now.  We are seeing on the average, thirty-five to forty percent of our church attend worship each week, and believe this number will tick upward as we return to having SONQuest and nursery.  If we resume these events without problems our deacons will consider adding more events in the upcoming weeks.
 
I appreciate your continued patience, counsel, and prayer as we navigate this situation together.  God bless you all.
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Pastor Jim