September 16, 2020
Dear FPC Tequesta Family,
On behalf of the session, I am excited to announce that we will resume worship services in the sanctuary at 9:30am and 11:00am beginning Sunday, September 27! We have prepared the sanctuary so that we can gather safely while maintaining social distance for everyone who attends. Knowing that there are still many who do not feel safe gathering in person, we will continue to provide a weekly virtual worship service, which will be a video recording of the worship service in the sanctuary. We also plan to broadcast our service on 89.5 FM for anyone who wants to continue worshiping in the parking lot.
For those who plan to worship in the sanctuary, it’s important to know that both the preparation for each worship service and the service itself will be different in order to provide the safest environment possible. The following will take place each week:
1. Registration: Because of limited space, everyone who attends in person must register before coming on Sunday. We will assign pew spots on a first come, first served basis with the registration deadline being every Thursday at 12pm. To register, please send an email to worship@tequestapres.org stating which service you’d like to attend and how many in your family are planning to come. Our newly renovated nursery will be open, as well as Sunday School for our kids. We will send out a weekly reminder to register as well as a notification once pew assignments are completed.
2. Arriving: Upon arrival, an usher will greet you and guide you to your pew. Please be sure to remember your mask!
3. Adapted Worship: Our service will be adapted for time and safety, but will be familiar to those who have been attending our drive-in services this summer. Each service will include a scripture reading, sermon, prayer, and music. Initially, we will refrain from corporately singing hymns in order to limit the amount of droplets getting into the air, but will provide musical opportunities for reflection.
4. Departing: At the conclusion of each service, the ushers will dismiss each family individually so that everyone can maintain social distance.
On a final note, the session is committed to gathering as a community in the safest way possible. While we pray that we will be able to loosen restrictions as we navigate the fall season, we also recognize that we may need to suspend sanctuary worship again if positive COVID rates spike up again. No matter what we face for the remainder of this year, I am confident in God’s ability to reach us regardless of our circumstances, as well as God’s willingness to lead us every step of our faith journey together. Please keep your church in your prayers, and reach out to the church office if you have any questions.
In Christ,