Letter from Elders-Reopening

Dear Church Family,                                                                                                                     

We are all excited about the prospect of meeting and worshiping together, in person, once again!  Recent developments have authorized worship assemblies with certain precautionary measures.  The shepherds are pleased to announce that we will open for worship on Sunday, May 31!     

Our goal is to provide an environment that is conducive to true and genuine worship, while being safe as possible for worshipers during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.  Because this virus can be transmitted by persons who have few or no symptoms, we have adopted protocols for all attendees to follow until further notice.  We believe these guidelines will provide a reasonable measure of protection for those who choose to assemble in the building for worship.  Livestreaming of the church services will continue as in the past for members who are unable or not yet comfortable to assemble at the building.  Please take a few moments and read these guidelines.

Assembly Schedule

On Sunday, May 31, there will be two worship services:  the first at 9:00 AM and the second at 11:00 AM.  Each sermon will be on a different topic.   

We ask that members with last names from A - K, meet at 9:00 AM.

We ask that members with last names from L - Z, meet at 11:00 AM.

There will be no Sunday evening service at the building at this time.  We invite you to watch the recording of the morning service that you did not attend in-person as it will be a different sermon.  These will be available on the church’s Facebook page and on our website (clovischurchofchrist.org).   

There will be no Wednesday evening service at the building at this time.  Scott and Travis’ livestream Bible study will continue at 7:00 PM on the church’s Facebook page and on our website.

There will be no children’s or adult Bible classes offered at the building at this time.

What You Need to Know

Before You Arrive

• The building will be sanitized before both the 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM services. 
• All items that can be handled (song books, pew Bibles, all items previously left in the pews) have been removed. 
• There will be no bulletins at this time.

When You Arrive ... As You Leave

• Please plan to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the beginning of your service to allow time for seating. 
• The entrance doors will be open so that you do not have to touch the handle.
• Greeters will direct you to the auditorium where ushers will help you find the first available seat (following social distancing guidelines).
• When you enter the foyer, please take one of the individual communion packets available on the tables.
• Please do not congregate in the foyer.  Please refrain from handshakes & hugs inside the building.
• We encourage you to wear a face mask before arriving, during worship, and while leaving the building.
• At the conclusion of our service, we ask that you exit the building and refrain from visiting in the auditorium, foyer, and near the exit doors. 
• If you wish to stay and visit after the worship service, we ask that you do so outside the building while continuing to maintain social distancing.

Seating

• When you arrive in the back of the auditorium, please wait for ushers to direct you to your seat.  Please do not seat yourself.  Your seating location will be determined by the ushers (so that social distancing can be maintained and maximum capacity seating can be achieved).
• One empty row of pews will be maintained between each row with seated members (six feet of separation).
• Rows intended to remain empty will be clearly marked.
• Please keep six feet of separation between parties on each row with this one exception...
  • Two or more members of the same household or family may sit adjacent to one another with, again, six feet of separation between them and the next person on the row.
  • Parents:  Please keep your children with you at all times before, during and after the service.

Lord’s Supper

• Individual communion packets will be available on tables as you enter the auditorium.
  • Please dispose of the used communion kit in one of the trash containers as you exit the building.
  • If you prefer, you’re welcome to bring your own small container of juice and unleavened bread from home.

Collection

• As you exit the auditorium, collection containers will be available by the exit doors.  Please drop your contribution there.

Additional Building Notes

• The restrooms will be open.  However, we encourage you to please use the bathroom at home before coming to the building to minimize the spread of germs.  In addition to washing your hands, please use the hand sanitizers that will be available in the restroom.
• The nursery will be temporarily closed.
• Hand sanitizers will be available in the foyer and in the bathrooms.
• The drinking fountains in the foyer will be inoperable. 

Deciding Whether to Attend

We understand that people have varying degrees of comfort about returning to the building for worship.  Some are comfortable returning immediately, while others may not be ready just yet.  This is an individual judgement decision only you can make.   

  If you have underlying health issues that put you in the high-risk category, please do not return to the building yet.  (CDC: People age 65 and older, people with heart or lung disease, diabetes, severe asthma, those who are immunocompromised, etc.).

If you have been sick, are currently running a fever, or have been exposed to someone with a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19, please do not return to the building yet.

We will continue to offer our services online.

One Final Note

We realize that to some these guidelines may seem a bit restrictive, especially when we are asked to sit where we’re not used to sitting.  We prefer to err on the side of caution at this stage of the reopening and do not want to put anyone unnecessarily at risk.    

Following these guidelines is an important way in which we can continue to “love our neighbor as ourselves” (Matt. 22:39) and “look out, not only for our own interests, but for the interests of others” (Phil 2:4).

Thank you for your wonderful patience and cooperation as we navigate our way through this challenging time.

“I thank God whom I serve ... as I remember you constantly in my prayers

night and day.  I long to see you that I may be filled with joy!”

 (2 Timothy 1:3/4)

With Much Love,

The Shepherds of the Church of Christ in Clovis

Friday, May 29, 2020