Dear Faith Family,
We, your Session, are very thankful for your thoughtful and gracious care for one another as a faith family during this global pandemic. Due to the grace of God and your diligent efforts, we have been able to gather for in-person worship since last June, and our desire is to continue to do so. Fortunately, gathering in a safer way looks different now than it did then!
Due to measurable improvements in community spread and infection rates, and recent adjustments to the CDC recommendations for gatherings, we have updated our safer worship protocols. In doing so, we recognize the presence within our faith family of a variety of views on what constitutes safety. Therefore, one of our goals is to enable everyone to make their own choices related to public interaction while simultaneously showing kindness to those with differing views. These adjustments will go into effect May 30, 2021 and are subject to change at any point, should our current COVID-19 trends shift. We will continue monitoring our local community situation closely.
Worship Services
- Please continue to monitor your health and stay home if you are running a fever or feel sick.
- Please continue to utilize the hand sanitizer available throughout the building.
- Masks: We continue to recommend masks for use in the sanctuary, but only for those who are not fully-vaccinated or who have a compromised immune system. As always, we ask you to show grace to both those who choose to wear masks and those who choose to abstain from wearing them.
- Seating in the sanctuary: For those who prefer socially-distanced seating, one section of pews will continue to have cordoned off rows. The other sections will have free seating. Bulletins will be available at a table in the foyer. Viewing rooms will only be available with reservations.
- Sacraments. We will continue to celebrate the Lord’s Supper in the same manner. We are investigating ways to return this celebration to a more communal experience beginning in October.
Gatherings
- We will be transitioning back into our monthly meals with Celebration Sunday on August 22. A boxed lunch type of meal will be provided by the church on that day. Monthly meals together will then continue to be held on the first Sunday of October, November and December, as well as the night of Hanging of the Greens.
- We are in the planning stages for post-worship service activities for children, youth and adults in the fall. Plan on joining us for these important fellowship times.
As always if you have a question or suggestion, please contact any one of us. And thank you for your collaboration with us in making our times together worshipful and safe.
With continued hope in Christ,
The Longview EPC Session
Doug Ashley, Buck Birdsong, Cindy Brelsford, Kathy Diamond, Shawn Frazier, Shelley Kral, Michael McMahon, Matt Yost, and Lisca Van Zyl
