EPWORTH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OPEN For

Worship Sundays

SERVICES 11:00 AM

50 PEOPLE PER SERVICE

 

 

August 7, 2020

 

Friend and Family of Epworth United Methodist Church,

 

Words cannot express how much we have missed being able to gather with you in person during this season of quarantine. We have been praying about what the reopening of Epworth United Methodist Church will look like and our Ad Council has been working diligently to create and implement a reopening plan for our church.  With this careful planning along with the guidelines provided by the Conference, we are happy to announce that Epworth will reinstate in person Sunday services on September 13th, 2020!

As we prepare to reopen the church building to welcome our community and church family back to in-person worship, there are many questions pertaining to what the worship experience will be like.

  • Q: How are we handling mask-wearing?  A: It is mandatory to wear a mask at all times when attending worship service and while on church property. Signs will be posted at all church entrances and throughout the sanctuary as a reminder. If a person does not cooperate, they will be refused entry.  Masks are also available for distribution if an individual does not have a one on hand.

 

  • Q: How are we encouraging social distancing?  A: We will have markers in place to show that congregants should sit in every other pew in the sanctuary. Members and guests are encouraged to sit together as a family and keep at least 6 feet of space between themselves and others around them.

 

  • Q: How are we hosting worship differently?  A: Depending on the number of members willing to attend in-person service, we will have 10 am and 12pm services on Sundays to comply with the conference guidelines of a 50 person max capacity. Services will also be recorded and uploaded to our YouTube channel until livestreaming becomes available.

 

  • Q: How are we keeping the church sanctuary clean?  A: Plans are in place to hire a professional cleaning company to sanitize all rooms and surfaces within the church. Along with this, we are complying with the guidelines as outlined by the church conference, and a team will be assembled to sanitize the church between services to thoroughly disinfect, clean and wipe down all door handles, pews, seats and tables after each service. Before entering the church property, each person will undergo a touchless temperature scan to confirm that their temperature does not exceed 100.4 degrees. Hand sanitizing stations will be set up at the main entrance of the church and outside of the restrooms.

 

Each person has a responsibility to look out for the welfare of others. If you suspect that you or a member of your family have symptoms, stay home until the 14 day quarantine period has expired and/or testing has occurred.

From the CDC - symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms or combinations of symptoms may have COVID-19:


• Cough

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

 • Fever

• Chills

 • Repeated shaking with chills

• Muscle pain

• Headache

 • Sore throat

• Loss of taste or smell


 

As always, we will closely monitor the impact that Covid 19 is having on our community, and we’ll keep you notified if our reopening date changes based on these results.  We understand that things may be different for a while and we’ll have to adapt to a new way of worship. However, we know that God’s love for us is constant and unwavering.  We will get through this together as people of faith, as a church family, and as a community. In these uncertain times, we are reminded of the words that Albert Goodson composed in 1956:”We’ve come this far by faith, leaning on the Lord. Trusting in His holy word, He’s never failed us yet.”

Stay safe and see you on September 13!

Thank You,

Alanna Ramirez & Lauren Fleming

Ad Council Co-chairs