Return to Worship Summer 2020
Services Begin July 5th
June 24, 2020
Dear OLCC,P Family,
The Session, at their June meeting, gave approval to return to In-Person worship services outdoors beginning Sunday July 5th with one service at 10 a.m. All our summer worship services in 2020 will be held outdoors to maximize our safety.
There are some important points the Session would like to make about this return to worshipping together by the lakeside on our beautiful campus. As you read through these protocols, please keep in mind that we look forward to relaxing restrictions as soon as it is prudent to do so. We know that not everyone will feel comfortable returning to a group gathering, even with safety protocols in place. We understand and affirm that reality. We will continue to offer video recordings of our worship for access online or via our website as we move ahead.
• We envision that our worship schedule for the duration of July and August will include an 8:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. outdoor service (10 a.m. service ONLY July 5th). We have rented tents to provide some shade for our worshippers. In case of rain, services for that day will be cancelled. Service cancellation will be communicated through the church website no later than 8:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings. Please check the website if it looks like rain! A video worship service will be posted instead, as we will do each week for those remaining at home.
• For the time being, we are requiring that everyone (ages 3+) who attends the service bring and wear their own face mask. Please bring your own chairs or blankets for seating (some chairs will be available as needed). A brief health screening including a temperature check and brief questions (active symptoms, exposure to someone with C-19, travel out of Michigan) will be given everyone as they arrive. Please allow extra time for this prior to worship. If you are not feeling well, please elect to stay home instead that week.
• For the time being, there will be no plates passed for offering; please use the donation boxes to deposit any offerings. We continue to encourage the use of online giving or mailing offerings to the church.
• For the time being, there will be no community singing, though we encourage humming and clapping! Bulletins will be available to be picked up individually.
• For the time being, worshipers will be asked to follow physical distancing guidelines. Family groups may sit together (there will be children’s activity bags but no Sunday School), but please distance from those not in your family grouping to maintain proper protection.
• Ushers will be present to monitor physical distancing guidelines. At the conclusion of worship, ushers will dismiss worshippers gradually from back to front as they depart.
• For the time being, there will be no “passing of the peace” or other forms of physical contact – hugs, handshakes, etc. We encourage interaction at an appropriate physical distance from one another. The building will be open only for use of restrooms.
We ask everyone’s patience as we embark on this unique journey into new territory. We are still learning as we go and appreciate everyone’s willingness to be flexible and keep in mind the needs and concerns of others as we return to worship together. We know some will choose to avoid group gatherings at this time and we understand and affirm that preference. We look forward to the time when we all will be able to gather again as God’s people in worship!
If you have specific questions or concerns surrounding our return to in-person worship, please feel free to call or email us at any time!
Blessings,
Pastor Paul Thwaite
Email: paul@olccp.com
Cell: 412-445-4243Pastor Linda Cochran
Email: linda@olccp.com
Cell: 586-549-8657