COVID-19
The Apostle Paul tells us, “In humility count others more significant than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).
In order to live out this truth as we gather, let’s follow these guidelines.
1.
Please do not attend if you have any symptoms of illness, or if you suspect you have been exposed to someone with the virus in the last few days.
2.
Please avoid shaking hands at this time.
3.
Please wear a mask covering your nose and mouth whenever you are within six feet of others indoors. We will have masks available Sunday morning for those who don’t own one. Please use them, take them home, wash them, and then bring them with you in subsequent weeks.
4.
Don’t be concerned with trying to keep masks on young children.
5.
We will sit in alternate rows in the sanctuary, leaving an empty row between each row in which we sit.
6.
Please leave two empty seats between your family and others sitting in your row.
7.
Although the latest CDC guidance says the chance of contracting the virus from contaminated surfaces is low, we will nevertheless clean surfaces before the service, and prop doors open so we don’t have to touch door handles.
8.
We will have hand sanitizer available at the entrance to the sanctuary.
9.
After the service, please exit to interact with each other outside.
10.
For the time being, we will not have Children's church or nursery. All children will stay with their parents during the service.
11.
Make the best decision for your family and loved ones. Some will attend. Others will participate via the stream. We honor all those decisions.
Rationale for these guidelines:
We continue to learn more about this virus every week. Here is some of the important information that have led us to issue the above guidelines. We will modify this post as more information becomes available:
The elderly and those with certain pre-existing conditions are most vulnerable to this virus. For children, this virus is less serious than the seasonal flu. Furthermore, there are almost no known cases to date of the virus spreading from a child to a family member, much less from a child to someone outside the family. The virus spreads primarily by droplets breathed out. The number of such droplets expressed increases dramatically when sneezing or coughing. The number also increases substantially when singing. The virus spreads primarily indoors, when people have shared a space for a lengthy period of time. There are few known cases in which the virus has spread outdoors.