September 26, 2020
Worship Schedule and Congregational Meeting
Dear Members and Friends of Park Hill Presbyterian Church,
 
 This past Sunday the session of Park Hill Presbyterian met and passed two important motions regarding our fall and winter church calendar and upcoming congregational meeting.
Your session passed a motion to continue to offer "live" worship in the sanctuary every-other Sunday through the new year, until Session meets in January.
This decision will allow us to continue to offer online worship each Sunday, and to prioritize congregational care as well as develop other means of outdoor worship and discipleship this fall. We are happy that we can plan for special events and opportunities to celebrate Advent and Christmas Eve in new ways.

THE CALENDAR
Please look for additional changes as we continue to try new methods for safe and effective worship.

  • September 27 - Online Worship, and Ferncliff Forest Church at 2pm
  • October 4 - Live and Live Streamed worship for World Communion Sunday, Drive-Thru communion available at noon. *see below*
  • October 11 - Online Worship
  • October 18 - Live and Live Streamed worship
  • October 25 - Online Worship, and Ferncliff Forest Church at 2pm
  • November 1- Live and Live-Streamed worship for All Saints Sunday, including outdoor remembrances at the Memorial Cross
  • November 8 - Online Worship
  • November 15 - Live and Live Streamed Worship
  • November 22 - Online Worship with guest preacher
  • November 29 - Live and Live Streamed Worship to begin Advent, and Ferncliff Forest Church at 2pm
  • December 6 - Online Worship for Advent 2
  • December 13 - Live and Live Streamed Worship for Advent 3
  • December 20 through December 24 - stay tuned for a special calendar of live and online worship opportunities throughout the week
  • December 27 - Online Worship
  • January 3 - Live Worship for the New Year
  • January 10 - Online Worship and Session meeting.

THE OFFICE AND BUILDING
• Our Administrative Assistant Kay Johnson is available in the church office from 7am-11am weekdays. Kay will continue to work other hours as needed, but she hopes to be consistently available to congregants at this time.
• Pastor Marie will be available afternoon and evenings Monday-Thursday, and is often in her office Tuesday through Thursday from 2:00pm to 6:00pm, and you can always contact her on her cell phone at 214-686-6347.
• The building is not yet open to any other other meetings, activities, or groups.

ON SUNDAYS
•  The virtual “Coffee Hour” via Zoom continues at 9:00am.
•  The Fellowship Class continues to meet via Zoom at 9:30am, and invites new participants anytime. They tend to focus their study on a book of topical interest to the class, with a new topic every 4-6 weeks.
• The Disciples Class meets at 9:45am via Zoom to study the biblical texts for worship, and also invites new members any time.
• The last Sunday of the month you are invited to join us for worship at Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center for Forest Church at 2pm, a socially distant outdoor service and fellowship.
•  If you have not yet made a reservation to attend live worship, please call and leave a message at the church office at 501-753-9533 so that we may know to expect you and reserve your seat, or reserve online here.

**World Communion Sunday** October 4th,
we hope to celebrate World Communion with our siblings in Christ across the globe. At the end of the service, we will offer the communion liturgy live in the sanctuary and livestreamed online, and then invite all congregants--both those in the sanctuary and those at home--to hop in their cars for the distribution of the elements in a drive thru line using our back parking lot. We will distribute prepackaged communion elements and offer the final benediction to each vehicle, hoping that our entire congregation will be able to participate. If you are unable to use the "drive thru" this day, please contact Pastor Marie and the elements will be delivered to you.

Your session also passed a motion for a modified Congregational Meeting to elect a new slate of elders and the 2021 Nominating Committee, at a meeting beginning on October 18th and concluding on Nov. 1st.

The PC(USA) has issued guidelines on how to hold congregational meetings during the pandemic. Our church by-laws require 10% of the congregation be present for a congregational meeting quorum to be called, but extenuating circumstances of COVID-19 also require us to take every effort to include members who cannot be physically or digitally present.

HERE'S HOW WE'LL DO IT
~ October 4 – The slate for elders and nominating committee will be announced in worship, via email and letter. Write-in candidates may be communicated to the pastor/moderator or the clerk of session and must be received by Oct 10. 
~ October 11 – Announcement of any write-ins to add to the slate.
~ October 12 – Ballots mailed to members with 3 weeks to return.  
~ October 18 - Congregational meeting declared open during live worship; all ballots should be received by members through the mail.
~ October 31 – Deadline for ballots to be returned to the church office.
~ November 1 – The elders and nominating committee ballot results announced in live worship, and the congregational meeting is declared closed.
~ April/May - In a regularly called Congregational Meeting, the actions of October meeting will be ratified, and any dissentions noted.


We believe these actions will help to continue our life as a congregation together, and prepare us for the future in which we can more easily gather for fellowship and worship, using the gifts God has given us.

OTHER NOTES
• Online worship will continue to be available every week, along with weekly emails for announcements. The video of this worship will also be available later on Facebook and our website in the afternoon, if you are unavailable or if we encounter technical difficulties. The bulletin is available on the church website, and can be mailed to your home if requested.

• Please, keep our diverse church family in your prayers. There are many needs, situations, challenges and concerns among us. Please pray for one another, for your Session, and for all who will assist in helping us return to worship.
 
We look forward worshiping with you whether in person or online. If you have questions, please be in touch with Pastor Marie or another member of the Session. Our ability to respond is directly related to your direct and clear communication of your needs, and we are grateful for your patience and assistance in knowing your prayer concerns and life situations.
 
Grace and Peace,
 
Your Session:
The Rev. Marie Mainard O’Connell, Moderator;
and Audrey Barrick, Clerk of Session;
and your elders Whitney Bordelon, Mary Henry, Brad Krowski, John Lierly, Russ Mathis, Mike Powell, Phil Terrell, and Vickie Trodgen

Live Worship in the Sanctuary Guidelines
 
WHEN YOU ARRIVE FOR WORSHIP
• If you have been ill, had a fever or other symptoms such as a cough or trouble breathing, or have been knowingly exposed to someone with COVID-19, we ask you to join the service online.
• We ask only one person at a time use the restrooms, and to disinfect afterwards with the provided cleaning products.
• Please keep at least 6 feet of social distance from others.
• Masks are required at all times in the building and during service. 
• Upon entry, greeters will take your temperature using a no-touch thermometer; those with temperatures above 38°C or 100.4°F will be asked to worship from home.
•  Please sign in, indicating that you have read our covenant of agreement for everyone’s protection. Please use the hand sanitizer available after touching common objects such as pens or door handles.
•  Proceed to the Narthex, and an usher will find your assigned seat. Rows are labelled A- P. If you make a reservation, your name will be on a placard in your seat; if you do not make a reservation, your seat will be selected from those available.
 
DURING THE SERVICE
• We arrange social distancing in the sanctuary by skipping two pews between seating. Please know that seating assignments are based on the size of your party and the accessibility needed for yourself and others. Your seat may change between Sundays, so thank you for your flexibility.
• Those who desire to sing are encouraged to join the virtual choir, or sing from home. Our in-person music is provided via video and a guest soloist.    
•  Worship leaders will guide the congregation through our liturgy. Please use a low volume, and do not “project” your voice loudly, so as to prevent air flow. 
• All worship words will be projected on the screen. You are encouraged to bring your personal bible, and bulletins can be mailed to your home earlier in the week if needed.
• Offering plates are available in the Narthex, or you may give online or mail your offering to the church office. 
• The Nursery is not available, but children are always welcome to stay throughout the service and sit with their caregivers. If we know a child is coming, a Children’s Worship Bag will be waiting in their seat with activities. Also, we love the sound of children! Please don't worry about whether your child will be "too loud;" we are simply happy to have your family.
 
AS YOU LEAVE
• Please remain seated during the postlude, and refrain from exiting the pew until asked to stand.
•  Ushers will assist you in leaving row by row beginning from the back of the sanctuary. All exits will be open as you depart.
• Please do not gather in the Narthex, lobby or gathering space, but move swiftly outdoors for conversations.
• If you develop symptoms after being at church, please let us know immediately. We can worship together only because we agree to protect each other, and that includes sharing knowledge about exposure and illness.