At our Low’s Council meeting on June 28 the decision was made to resume in-person indoor worship in the sanctuary.  We have been blessed with great weather during the month of June for our outdoor worship services, and are grateful for Shannon and his crew, David and Corky, and Jeff and Sandy for making this possible.  Due to largely to the heat, the decision was made to go back inside. We may do outdoor worship again in the future.

Many of you are looking forward to resuming in-person worship services beginning July 5. Some of you, I know, would have preferred we maintained outdoor worship during the summer.  As we do come back together again, it’s important to note that it won’t be the same as it was before this pandemic.

• Service will begin at 11:00.  We will try to keep worship to no more than 45 minutes, as we have during our drive-in worship time.

• There will be no Sunday school classes meeting at the church at this time.

• Masks will be required due to the Governor’s recent order, and some will be available before worship if you do not have one. If you are unable to wear a mask due to claustrophobia or breathing issues please let a greeter, usher, or pastor know and we will try to accommodate you.

• Please enter the church through the main sanctuary entrance facing Highway 61.  There will be antibacterial hand wash and hand wipes available—please use them upon entering the sanctuary.  There will be masks available if you fail to bring one with you.  Pick up your worship folder (everything necessary for the worship service will be printed there—no need to use a hymnal).  Then proceed immediately into the sanctuary.  Please do not sit in one of the marked pews (every other pew will be vacant) and maintain at least 6 feet between you and the next person.  You may sit together as a family unit or a couple, but please maintain 6 feet between you and another group.  Please don’t be disappointed if your favorite pew isn’t available.  We are all navigating unfamiliar territory and we pray everyone can exercise patience and a spirit of good will.

*Please maintain 12 feet of distance between you and those who are offering special music (David and Corky will be singing some anthems during these worship services, when possible—others may as well).  Please remember--singing is the best conveyor of the coronavirus.

• Nursery or children’s time will not be offered. 

• The upstairs and downstairs portions of the education building and the playground will be off limits, except for the restrooms in the education building (please only one person in a restroom at a time unless assisting a young child).  You may also check your boxes in the education building.  Offering counters and church staff may also use the education building.

• Passing of the Peace, offering and congregation singing will be different.  There will be no Sharing of the Peace, and no congregational singing for now.  Your offering may be placed in the plates near each entrance to the sanctuary (just inside the inner doors leading into the sanctuary).

*Holy Communion will be celebrated the first and third Sundays for now.  There will be prepackaged grape juice and cracker packets available as you enter the sanctuary.  Please pick one up and take it with you to your pew.  We will celebrate Communion together with the packets during worship—please don’t take them home for a snack!

• At the close of worship exit the building through the side doors at the back of the sanctuary--the doors facing out toward the education building. Once outside, you may socialize with members of your church family, but please make every effort to maintain proper social distancing, and please wear a mask. 

*If you are feeling ill, have been around someone who has been ill, or are simply not comfortable returning to church, please stay home. We plan to live stream the services on our YouTube channel and post on Facebook, as well as communicate important announcements via email and our Facebook page (and our telephone messaging system for urgent and important messages).   

*In the event of a funeral in the sanctuary we may need to move our Sunday worship service to the fellowship hall.  We are trying to allow for 5 days between events in the sanctuary to give the virus time to die off.  We want to reduce the risk to our custodian and staff.

*Thank you in advance for your cooperation and patience as we take this first step toward returning to “normal.”  If you require any assistance please don’t hesitate to ask the pastor or ushers/greeters.