Update on Worship - November 16th, 2020
Dear Members of Peace, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John 4:11 During the pandemic this year, Peace has been focused on loving our neighbor. For example, wearing a mask is not for your good, but for the good of those around you. We are called to sacrifice ourselves for the good of our neighbor.
As the number of cases of COVID in our community continues to rise, the hospital is close to not being able to accept patients, and ECDHD has moved “the dial to red” indicating a major outbreak, we will be making a number of changes here at Peace.
First, our Wednesday evening Refuel and confirmation classes are being suspended through the end of December. Confirmation classes will continue on-line, and we are looking at ways to provide resources, such as the Jesse Tree, to help families teach the faith at home.
Second, services will continue with the current schedule. Social distancing and face coverings will be required throughout the services. Also, the 6pm service will continue to be transmitted via 98.7FM for those who wish to listen from their car in the parking lot. We will also continue to live-stream at least one service each weekend.
Third, each meeting and event scheduled at Peace will be reviewed to ensure those attending are taking the proper precautions at the meeting or event. Your patience is greatly appreciated as together we work our way through this pandemic. I will try to provide regular updates as needed. If you have any question or concerns, please contact me at the church office.
In His Peace,
Pastor Cory Burma
Update on Worship - August 20th, 2020
As the COVID situation continues to evolve, we are continuing to research and review our COVID response policy as needed. We have again reassessed the policy and will continue to REQUIRE face coverings for the weekend sanctuary services as well as for weddings and funerals at Peace (for those not participating). Social distancing will be required for the non-family attendees, while the families will have the option of social distancing or sitting together.
· The Monday night drive-in service is ending on August 31st.
Starting September 5th, the Saturday drive-in service will begin offering an area for lawn chairs and blankets in front of the stage area (socially distanced of course). Bring your own lawn chair or blanket and plan on parking in the west parking lot. Or, continue to join us from the comfort of your own car listening on FM 98.7, parking in the north lot. We hope to see you there!
Sanctuary Worship Returns June 6-7! Update on Worship - June 4, 2020
As returning to worship at Peace is considered, care is being taken for the health of all people. Some of the precautions may seem over-the-top to some, yet are necessary to keep everyone save. Loving our neighbor at this time includes doing things that are uncomfortable to us in order to protect others from the virus while allowing them to be part of the congregation in worship. With that said, it is recommended that those over 65 or with underlying health problems continue to stay home until the pandemic is over. However, any one in this group is coming to worship, they are asked to attend the special Saturday 4pm service, or one of the Drive-in services offered.
Services:The following is the schedule for worship services effective June 6th.
Please understand that these are subject to change at any time.
Precautions:The following precautions will be taken for all services in the sanctuary.
As the number of cases of COVID in our community continues to rise, the hospital is close to not being able to accept patients, and ECDHD has moved “the dial to red” indicating a major outbreak, we will be making a number of changes here at Peace.
First, our Wednesday evening Refuel and confirmation classes are being suspended through the end of December. Confirmation classes will continue on-line, and we are looking at ways to provide resources, such as the Jesse Tree, to help families teach the faith at home.
Second, services will continue with the current schedule. Social distancing and face coverings will be required throughout the services. Also, the 6pm service will continue to be transmitted via 98.7FM for those who wish to listen from their car in the parking lot. We will also continue to live-stream at least one service each weekend.
Third, each meeting and event scheduled at Peace will be reviewed to ensure those attending are taking the proper precautions at the meeting or event. Your patience is greatly appreciated as together we work our way through this pandemic. I will try to provide regular updates as needed. If you have any question or concerns, please contact me at the church office.
In His Peace,
Pastor Cory Burma
Update on Worship - August 20th, 2020
As the COVID situation continues to evolve, we are continuing to research and review our COVID response policy as needed. We have again reassessed the policy and will continue to REQUIRE face coverings for the weekend sanctuary services as well as for weddings and funerals at Peace (for those not participating). Social distancing will be required for the non-family attendees, while the families will have the option of social distancing or sitting together.
· The Monday night drive-in service is ending on August 31st.
Starting September 5th, the Saturday drive-in service will begin offering an area for lawn chairs and blankets in front of the stage area (socially distanced of course). Bring your own lawn chair or blanket and plan on parking in the west parking lot. Or, continue to join us from the comfort of your own car listening on FM 98.7, parking in the north lot. We hope to see you there!
Sanctuary Worship Returns June 6-7! Update on Worship - June 4, 2020
As returning to worship at Peace is considered, care is being taken for the health of all people. Some of the precautions may seem over-the-top to some, yet are necessary to keep everyone save. Loving our neighbor at this time includes doing things that are uncomfortable to us in order to protect others from the virus while allowing them to be part of the congregation in worship. With that said, it is recommended that those over 65 or with underlying health problems continue to stay home until the pandemic is over. However, any one in this group is coming to worship, they are asked to attend the special Saturday 4pm service, or one of the Drive-in services offered.
Services:The following is the schedule for worship services effective June 6th.
- Saturday, 4pm – Open only to those 65 and over and with underlying health problems in the Sanctuary
- Saturday, 6pm, in the Parking Lot as a Drive-in Service
- Sunday, 8am, in the Sanctuary
- Sunday, 10:30am, in the Sanctuary
- Monday, 7pm, in the Parking Lot as a Drive-in Service
Please understand that these are subject to change at any time.
Precautions:The following precautions will be taken for all services in the sanctuary.
- The only doors that will be open are the two leading into the narthex – the south double doors and the handicap accessible doors to provide for proper screening.
- Brief Health Screenings will be completed at the entrances for all attending services. This screening will be taking temperature, asking questions about symptoms, exposure, etc. Anyone not passing or refusing the screening will not be allowed to enter the service.
- Everyone will be asked to wash or sanitize their hands upon entering church.
- Personal contact (shaking hands, hugging, etc.) is STRONGLY discouraged.
- Doors that are being used will be left opened if possible.
- Facemasks will be required at all times for everyone over 2 years of age. Pastors, musicians, and readers are excluded for the part of the service they are leading.
- Social distancing will be maintained at all times. Pews will be marked with tape to indicate proper distances. Ushers will seat each family from front to back (with exceptions).
- Bulletins will not be available as we ask every person to use the screen.
- Singing will be led by a cantor or small group each service. During the songs, we request that you quietly sing into your mask due to the difficulty singing in a mask, and the fact that germs are more likely to spread when singing out loudly.
- Hymnals, Bibles, and everything else have been removed from the pews
- Offering will be taken at the door with the plates on stands
- Children stay in seat during children’s message. KidsKoins will be collected at the door and counted mechanically or AFTER the pandemic has resided.
- Pastors will have masks on when greeting people before and after service and will not shake hands.
- Ushers will dismiss from back to front.
Update on Worship - May 11, 2020
During this time of separation, the staff has been working hard to keep our congregation connected to God’s Word though our recorded worship services and daily video Bible study.
Currently through September we offer several Worship options with the addition of our Drive-in services (Throguh Sept)! These services will be held in the north (main) parking lot of Peace at the following times:
Volunteers: We are in need of the following volunteers for each service.
Thank you, and to God be the glory for the great things He is continuing to do for and through each of us!
Currently through September we offer several Worship options with the addition of our Drive-in services (Throguh Sept)! These services will be held in the north (main) parking lot of Peace at the following times:
- Saturday at 6:00 pm
Volunteers: We are in need of the following volunteers for each service.
- Ushers/Traffic Control – Four per service would be best (2 at least). Detailed instructions are available at training.
- Offering Collector – one person who will have an offering box for those driving in to place their offering.
- Attendance takers – right now, only one person per service, simply counting the number of people in the cars for a total head count.
- Sound – 2 people would be best. One in a car listening and giving instructions (more piano, less Pastor Burma, etc.) to the one at the controls.
- Set-up – 2 people present about an hour before hand to help get sound, staging, parking stuff all set up.
Thank you, and to God be the glory for the great things He is continuing to do for and through each of us!
Update on Worship - May 2, 2020
While the governor has stated that places of worship can open beginning May 4th, we will open when our community has entered phase one of the White House’s plan to reopen America, which happens when the number of cases of COVID in the community has stabilized. Our community cases are still on the rise and have not yet stabilized. Therefore, we will NOT be worshiping in the sanctuary on May 9-10 as hoped. This will be a week by week decision as to the date when the sanctuary will open.
As returning to worship at Peace is considered, care is being taken for the health of all people. Some of the precautions may seem over-the-top to some, yet are necessary to keep everyone save. Loving our neighbor at this time includes doing things that are uncomfortable to us in order to protect them from the virus while allowing them to be part of the congregation in worship.
To see the complete document, please download the pdf file below.
As returning to worship at Peace is considered, care is being taken for the health of all people. Some of the precautions may seem over-the-top to some, yet are necessary to keep everyone save. Loving our neighbor at this time includes doing things that are uncomfortable to us in order to protect them from the virus while allowing them to be part of the congregation in worship.
To see the complete document, please download the pdf file below.
| returning_to_worship.pdf |
