Detail of process and expectations from the leadership group 8/3/2020
Philippians 2:4 Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others
We want worship to be a positive, safe and joyful experience for allregardless of whether you worship in person, virtually, or listening on the radio. Where you worship is not a measure of your faith. It is all worship when we gather together in praise and prayer with our God.
We recognize that some people will not be ready to gather for in-person with worship with others and so we will continue to offer options for everyone to worship, pray and gather in groups.
• We will continue to live stream both our 8:30 a.m. contemporary service as well as our 10 a.m. service. (at this time we are only able to have one in-person service to provide for cleaning and volunteer needs.) • You will still be able to listen to our 10 a.m. on the the FM station for
those who drive up.
• We will begin to have in-person worship in the sanctuary as we record our ‘virtual live’ 10 a.m., Traditional Services, starting August 16th, 2020.
Who Should attending In-Person Worship Services?
• People who are well (not running fever or having flu like symptoms) • Clergy, worship team, and volunteers who feel ready to be present with
others.
• People who feel it is the right time to attend.
• People who are willing and able to follow all of the safe sanctuary guidelines and hold others accountable to them.
What to expect for attending in person gathering in the Sanctuary:
• When you arrive on to the campus it is expected you will wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth at all times and that you will remain 6ft from those not in your family unit.
• You will be asked to provide your name and have your temperature checked before you enter the narthex. Your temperature needs to be under 100 degrees to be inside the building.
• Smile and greet each other with nods, waves or hello!
• Please keep distancing as you arrive, our volunteers will do their best to move you quickly through the process.
• We will open the sanctuary 15 minutes before the service and ask that you walk into a designated seat as instructed by our ushers.
• We will also have ushers guide you as exit us row by row.
• We will have bulletins, prayer cards and offering plates at each door with sanitizer.
• There will be no congregational singing as it is shown that the spread is greater and farther with singing. Sing with your heart!
• For those who choose to listen in their car an usher will bring a bulletin and take up the offering.
• We will be seating only 25% of our capacity so if we run out of seats you will be invited to listen on the radio in your car.
• Caution: The state of Florida still recommends that person 65 and over avoid large gatherings. Each person and family must use their own discretion in planning to attend in person worship. Cases in Florida are still increasing. Our COIVID task team will meet regularly to review our guidelines and our ongoing ability to meet in-person. For a more detailed list of our processes you can go to
our website.
We will use Wesley’s 3 simple rules to guide our conversations: 1) Do no harm 2) Do good 3) Stay in love with God.
We care about all of God’s people and so we will maintain the virtual experience
and our FM drive up options. This allows each person to worship in the ways they
feel are safe as the virus continues to impact our community.
MORE DETAILS OF THE GUIDELINES
1) Our ushers will guide you to a seat and keep count as people arrive. If we meet our capacity for safe seating, then they will invite you to remain in your car and listen on the car radio. Note: we will reserve some spaces for first time guests, and they will receive priority seating.
2) Our service time is approximately 35-40 min long and at the end of the service we will ask people to exit one row at a time.
3) In order to maintain safe space, there will be no congregational singing or passing of peace that involves touching others.
4) Communion will be offered on the first Sunday of the month. We will use prepackaged communion elements. You may also choose to bring in your own bread and juice for communion.
Preparation for Decision Making:
• We will continue our multiple ways of worship:
o Virtual worship: Contemporary and Traditional o Drive up worship on the FM station 95.7
o You can have a paper bulletin/sermon outline mailed to you if you don’t have access to the internet.
• Small groups may begin to gather with guidelines
o Limit to 15/20 in the fellowship hall only or outdoor space and scheduled with the office. Limited groups each day.
o Masks and 6ft distance in all areas o Temperature check when enter the CLC o Clean area when you leave
• Gathering in the sanctuary:
o Sanctuary will be in compliance with any federal/state/local/UMC orders regarding distancing, gathering and sanitation.
o There will be enough cleaning supplies on hand so that common areas are sanitized during and after each worship service. (3-month supply) o All chairs will be removed from the narthex to prevent sitting before,
during or after service.
o Reasonable accommodations will be provided for comfortable worship while still complying with social distancing requirements. Pews will be clearly marked with tape, skip rows, etc. but still allowing pews for larger families and special seating for especially high-risk individuals. o Prepared communication with clear, proactive guidelines to ensure that
congregants are aware of the safety and wellness practices that will be/are employed (e.g. email, website, Facebook, signage at church) o Greeters/ushers will be present at the services to assist with
directions.
o Everyone will enter through the Narthex and exit that same way. Ushers will be dismissing folks from the back to the front and the folks should continue walking until out of the Narthex.
§ We determined that 3 ushers would be needed per Sunday. One on the parking lot for the in-car worshippers and to manage the lobby and then 2 in the sanctuary to help people sit
appropriately. The parking lot usher would come into the Narthex at the end of the service open the outside doors and help people exit out of the Narthex.
o No one should be standing in the Narthex to talk or to visit. o Ushers to handle the deposits and/or collection plate based on
conference financial guidelines. o Choir is suspended until Fall or later.
o There will be no congregational singing as it is been shown that the aerosol spread is farther and wider with singing.
o The singing on the platform will be limited 20ft from front row o All individual items will be removed from pews and lobby - Bibles,
hymnals, pens, offering envelopes, attendance registers, salty servant cards, prayer cards, etc.
o When we are notified of a positive COVID case on the property, those attending will receive a phone call and all members, staff and
volunteers will receive an emails/letter
o Staff coverage will be in place if they have to be out due to quarantine or illness.
Safety Measures:
• At the beginning of worship guidelines will be read.
• For the 10:00 a.m. service, (or any service) refrain from arriving before 9:45 a.m. or remain in your car until it is open.
• No congregational singing.
• Guidelines will be posted for people to see as they enter sanctuary
• All attendees and volunteers must wear masks at all times. There will be a limited supply of one-time use masks if needed.
• Greeters/Ushers are prepared to not allow people to stay if they will not comply with the rules.
• There will be no socializing before, during or after services.
• An adequate number of masks and gloves will be made available for volunteers.
• Front doors will be propped open so that no one touches doors or handles both before and after worship.
• All surfaces that people come in contact with will be wiped down between worship services (doors, seating, bathroom doors, etc.)
• People will be asked to sit in front rows for early service to consolidate what pews need to be wiped down.
• Those attending worship must wear masks.
• Bulletins, Communion Cups, Prayer Cards, Envelopes: All materials will be available on tables to be picked up by congregants as they enter.
• Greeters will keep social distance and simply say “hello” and remind people to pick up bulletins.
• Two offering and prayer card baskets will be placed at rear of sanctuary. • There will be no meet and greet. No hand holding, or hand shaking. A
simple smile and wave can be done.
• No after church refreshments or socializing.
• No attendance pads. If the pastor desires, someone who knows the congregation could check off names as they enter.
• Everyone is encouraged to use online giving/EFT.
• No shared microphones – all AV equipment sanitized before, during (if needed) and after worship service.
• Anyone taking the money or prayer cards from the baskets should wear gloves as well as counters should continue to wear gloves when counting for safety.
• Please do not grab a chair and sit in the Narthex area prior to worship or between services.
Communion: Will continue to use the pre-packed elements. Trash cans will be
provided for empty containers as people leave.
Guidelines for office and CLC building during the week:
• We will ask you call the office to enter the building and your
temperature will be checked as you enter. Please do not enter the office space.
• When you enter the CLC for any reason, your group/meeting you will
check your temperature. Please remain outside of the office area in the hallway until that is completed. If you need assistance, a staff member can meet you out in the lobby area.
• When you arrive on to the campus it is expected you will wear a
mask that covers your nose and mouth and wear it at all times you are moving around inside the building.
• If for any reason you are not able to practice these guidelines, then it
is not the right time for you to enter into the building. We are happy to meet with you outside if you need to drop something off, please call when you arrive.
Sunday School: No Sunday morning Sunday School at this time.
Outside Groups: All must agree to comply with our safe sanctuary rules. Community Life Center: For the safety and protection of the church staff and
volunteers, the office will be locked at all times. Please call for an appointment to enter the building. You will be expected to wear a mask and have temperatures checked to enter the building when the office is open. If you are just dropping items off that staff can come meet you at the door,
In an effort to keep the staff area clear of visitors and for added safety and cleaning purposes, we have made the entry way a lobby to meet and drop off items. The individual offices are closed to staff only at this time.
Rummage Items: Rummage items can be delivered on Friday 8:30 - 11:30 a.m.
or an appointment can be set with Joan Mackenzie at 352-205-3672. No rummage will be accepted during the week unless an appointment has been made with Joan. 1 Corinthians 10: 23-24. Do All to the Glory of God. 23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are beneficial. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 Do
