Tucker First UMC Announcement
September 28, 2020
Our pastors, staff and the Health and Welfare Committee have been continually monitoring health data in our area. After many long months away, we are excited to announce in-person worship beginning Sunday, October 4 at 11:00 am in the Sanctuary!

In-person worship will be different, but the temporary changes and procedures outlined below will allow us to worship together while following current CDC health recommendations and state-required standards. 

As with everything new, please be patient with our staff and volunteers as we navigate these new waters together with you. Each week, we will be learning and making adjustments to improve our worship environment.

We encourage everyone to carefully assess their own level of risk before deciding to join us for in-person worship.
Making Your Worship Experience Safe
We will be offering one in-person worship service in the Sanctuary at 11:00 am.

The nurseries will not be open at this time (Phase I of our Regathering Plan).

There will be no in-person small groups or adult, youth, or children’s Sunday school classes (Phase I of our Regathering Plan). Instead we encourage you to meet outdoors or online.

We have created traffic flow patterns to reduce crowding in aisles and doorways.

We will not pass the offering plates down the pews. Instead, you will be able to place your offerings in drop boxes located at the entrance and exits.

Given the close quarters, the elevator will not be in use at this time.

Because of the physical distancing limitations in the Sanctuary, we are only able to accommodate 120 people during the service. The pews have been marked off for safety.

There will be no congregational singing (or humming!). There will be instrumental music and soloists at safe distances.
Sign Up for Worship
Please click on the Sign Up Genius logo to reserve a spot for each member of your family unit for the October 4 worship service.

You may also call the church office at 770-938-3030 to reserve your spot in the Sanctuary for the October 4 service.

A few notes about the signup:

  • Only family units may sit together in the Sanctuary.
  • We have made accommodations for visitors in the Sanctuary.
  • You will have to sign up each week to attend Sunday worship.
  • The staff is contacting persons who do not have computer access. If you know anyone not connected through church emails, please spread the word about service on October 4.

Please continue to worship with us online if the following applies to you.

  • You feel ill or someone in your household feels ill.
  • You are experiencing fever, a persistent cough, and/or shortness of breath.
  • You have been exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID-19 within the last 14 days.
What to Expect When You Come to Worship
Please enter the church through the main Sanctuary door (under the portico).

Temperature checks will be required before entering the church. If you have a fever of greater than 100.3, you will be asked to return home.

Face masks will be required to enter the church and masks should remain on until you return to your car. You may bring your own mask and the church has masks available if you forget yours.

We encourage you to arrive 10-15 minutes early to allow additional time for entering and seating in the Sanctuary.

Ushers will seat you. Please follow the usher’s instructions on where to sit in the Sanctuary. You will probably not be able to sit in your regular pew. Areas have been marked off for single attendees, families, and visitors.

Screens in the balcony will be showing prayers and other instructions during the service.

Sunday, October 4 is World Communion Sunday. To maintain the social distancing protocols, there will be individual communion elements for everyone in your seating area.
Help Us Maintain a Safe Environment
If you are feeling unwell, please stay home.

Please wear a face mask at all times and maintain social distance.

Remember to stop by the sanitation station before entering the Sanctuary.

Follow directional signs and entry instructions.

Refrain from physical greetings (hugging, handshaking).

Follow the usher’s directions for exiting the Sanctuary safely after the service.

If after attending in-person worship, you are diagnosed with COVID-19, please contact the church office immediately.
Still Not Ready? That's Okay!
While some people are ready to return to in-person worship, we understand that may not be the case for everyone. We will be live-streaming the service at 11:00 am (click will be on the website home page) and the service will be recorded for viewing at a later time. You can find the live stream worship service on our church website at 11:00 am Sunday.

Last Sunday, our Church Council approved a motion by our Trustees to purchase new equipment for live streaming (cameras and hardware). The equipment will be installed sometime in November. Until then, please be patient with the quality of our online worship from our current technology.

You can also join us online Sunday evenings at 7:00 pm for our more modern worship, Sunday Night Live via the Tucker First YouTube channel.

We look forward to continuing the worship God together in whatever way works best for you.
Tucker First United Methodist Church
5095 LaVista Road, Tucker, GA 30084
770-938-3030