June 17, 2020
Dear Grace Community,
At its June 15 meeting, the Session voted to begin in-person worship on July 5. We look forward to again gathering at Grace. The worship services also will be live-streamed in real time and available online. Sunday School will not meet.
While we are excited about this return, it is important to note that the Sunday morning experience will be different than it was March 8, the last time we were here. The dangers of Covid-19 are real, and it’s important that we observe the requested safety measures. While many things will be different, we know some things will be the same:
- We get to greet (at an appropriate distance) the church community.
- We hear music, some live and some recorded.
- There will be scripture, prayer, and the word proclaimed.
- We share one another’s joys and bear each other’s burdens.
- God’s name will be praised.
On July 5, we worship with One Service at 10 am in the Great Room. Starting on July 12, we have two services: one at 9 am in the Great Room and one at 11 am in the sanctuary. The following guidelines apply to all Sundays moving forward. The Session also emphasizes that we may return to on-line only worship at a future date because of the virus.
What to expect when you come to worship at Grace:
- The main doors to the church will be open – no one needs to touch door handles.
- You may be asked to give your name as you come in. This list is internal only and allows us to contact worshipers if we learn that someone who was present tests positive for Covid-19.
- There will be hand sanitizer and masks at each entry. Please bring your own mask if you have one. The expectation is that all wear masks unless prevented from doing so by a medical condition.
- The coffee bar is closed.
- There will be no paper distributed and no hymnals or Bibles used.
- We will have a place to give offering after the service, but no offering plates or bags will be used in worship.
- There is no passing of the peace.
- There is no congregational singing.
- For the month of July there is no nursery available. Children of all ages are welcome in worship – noise and all!
- Windows will be open to help with air circulation.
- Ushers will seat and dismiss the congregation.
- The seating is socially distanced so limited by space. If we are not able to accommodate crowds, we will have to turn away people.
- A custodian will be on duty to clean surfaces throughout the morning.
We encourage those of you in high risk categories to remain at home for online worship. Please stay home if you have any symptoms of illness.
In Christ,
Catherine Neelly Burton, Senior Pastor
The Grace Session:
Sandy Blaylock Dennis Buteyn Darcy Eads
Pam Head Fred Heismeyer Dave McIntire
Betsy Ross Elyse Scholl Ginny Vincent
Joe Wangombe Alisa Watkins
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