Guidelines for On-Site Worship Services

TWO ON-SITE WORSHIP SERVICES: 8:00 AM & 10:30 AM
 
(In addition, the 10:30 am Worship will be streamed live for those who do not want to risk exposure.)
 
SEATING CAPACITY HAS CHANGED: Since Arkansas has moved to Stage 2 COVID-19 Restrictions, seating capacity has increased to two-thirds (2/3) of full occupancy.  Since we must follow “Social Distancing”, it is nearly impossible to predict the number of seats that will be available at a service as the space available for chairs depends on the number and size of families attending.
 
 
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT WHEN YOU ARRIVE:
 
1. A greeter will share some hand sanitizer and mask if you need one.
 
2. A music team and pastor eager to worship.
   We will keep a good distance while speaking / leading music.
   We will wear masks as much as possible.
 
3. A Clean Church:  Floors, Plastic Chairs, Altar Furniture, Music & Worship
    Stands, instruments, and bathrooms: Cleaned with COVID destroying
    products!
 
4. Separation: Chairs are set far apart so worshipers can keep the distance from each other.  Even during the distribution of Communion, you’ll notice people maintain a lot of distance.
 
5. Masks: In an effort to avoid spreading the virus, everyone will wear a mask.
   If you do not have a mask, no worries. We have one for you, and you can keep
   it!
 
6. Communion offered two ways from two separate places.
   If you would like to receive the sacrament of Holy Communion,
   You can come forward individually or as a family.
   I will say the Words of our Lord to you. (While wearing a mask)
   Then, you then have one of two choices:
A.   You can personally take your prepackaged bread & wine and return to
        your seat, briefly remove your mask to eat and drink it.
       (The prepackaged communion sets were a bit hard to get hold of, so
       we’ve taken steps to make that process even easier/safer)
B.   You can personally take your portion of bread & cup of wine and return
        to your seat, briefly remove your mask to eat and drink them.
        (We’ve made taking the one you want easy.  Either way, several places
        will be available to discard the empty communion cups.
 
God’s peace to you and those you love, Pastor
 
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1)  General Facility Usage Guidelines

  • The Nursery and Education Classrooms will be closed until further notice.
  • The Fellowship/Coffee Hour will not be held between services.
  • Hymnals, songbooks, attendance cards/pens will be removed from the sanctuary.
  • Committees and Groups (over 10 people) will continue to meet via “ZOOM” meeting.
  • Committees or small groups of ten (10) or fewer people may use the facility and are encouraged to wear face masks, follow the social distancing guidelines below, and be responsible for cleaning tables, chairs, and other surfaces used before leaving the facility.
  • Hand sanitizer will be available at entrances/exits and bathrooms.
  • The sanctuary, bathrooms, and fellowship area surfaces will be disinfected after each service.

2)  Use of Face Masks and Social Distancing Guidelines:

     All members and guests over the age of 10 will be required to wear a face

     mask during worship services. 

  • Disposable face masks will be available for worshippers arriving without a mask.
  • All worshippers wearing a facemask must be seated and remain six (6) feet apart from other worshippers – except for family units who may be seated together. Worship leaders without masks must remain 12 feet from worshipers.
  • No physical contact (hand shaking, hugging, or elbow/fist bumping, etc.) is
    recommended.
  • The sanctuary floor and chairs will be marked to ensure appropriate social distancing.
  • Ushers will remind worshippers and guests of social distancing requirements.

3)  Worship Service Guidelines:       

  • Fellowship hall is reopening! Masks are required and giving people appropriate space is requested. We understand that it is impossible to sit four people at a table and have six feet between everyone, but the tables will be spaced and there will be limited chairs at each table. Please take this opportunity to catch up with members of our church family. 
  • Sanctuary Guidelines:  The cloth chairs are back in the sanctuary!   There will be pods of chairs with a six feet space between them, but there will no longer be any requirement relating to who may sit together. There will, however, be small pods for those that wish to sit alone or in small groups. Please respect those who wish to sit in smaller pods. The larger pods will be set up for anyone who wishes to sit together. There is no requirement that seats stay where they are so long as there is six feet between pods. You are welcome to move chairs if you need more in one pod or less in another. Communion will be taken by pod with social distancing only with the remaining pod groups.   
    For those who wish, there will be the opportunity to enter through and leave through the side door of the sanctuary to avoid the fellowship area. This is the same entrance and exit we have used since May.  
     
    After several requests, the council has approved a mask optional service at the 10:30 am service only in the Sunday School room (the old Sanctuary). There will still be a service in the Main Sanctuary that will require masks. The service will be streamed to the Sunday school room (the old Sanctuary). Communion will be brought to the room. While masks are optional, a six-foot social distance is required for those participants not related to one another. If you attend this service, please enter the Sunday school area from the outside door for this area. You may go into the fellowship hall but to do so you are required to put on a mask go outside and enter through the front door.  Whenever you visit the fellowship hall or the restrooms, mask are required in those areas of the building.  
       
    WHILE YOUR COUNCIL IS MAKING THIS UNMASKED SERVICE AVAILABLE, PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS SERVICE DOES NOT FOLLOW THE GOVERNOR’S RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE USE OF FACEMASKS.  PLEASE FULLY CONSIDER YOUR HEALTH RISK AND ENGAGE IN AN APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF PRAYER AND REFLECTION BEFORE CHOOSING THIS OPTION.  
  • During Worship Service:
    • Worship bulletins, hymnals, and songbooks will not be used during the service.
    • Worshippers will remain in their seats during the “Sharing of the Peace.”
    • Collection plates (baskets) will be located at the back of the sanctuary at the end of the service.

    Leaving Worship:

    • Worshipers will be ushered out by row either individually or by family unit at the end of the service.
    • Worshipers will exit the sanctuary through the rear sanctuary door, pick up mail from their mailbox, and exit the facility through the main Fellowship Hall door.
    • All visiting and conversation between worshippers should be outside the building while maintaining appropriate social distancing.