Join us this Sunday, socially distanced.

10am | Indoor Service

After following closely our plan for slowly re-opening for public worship services, we are excited to get to worship together corporately. Although our worship center can normally fit close to 400 people, we have determined that our maximum capacity for a single service, where strict social distancing guidelines are enforced, is around 150 people. Please take a look at our current worship guidelines below to help you prepare for worship. We have not had any issues with overcrowding at this time, and all are welcome.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this legal?

Yes. Although currently state and local governments advise against any personal groups of more than 10 people, this recommendation does not apply to places of worship, nor to spaces where social distancing can be appropriately maintained.

It is wise to meet at all? Shouldn’t we do the thing that is always the least risky?

As previously mentioned, Biblical wisdom fears God, sees the world rightly, and makes decisions accordingly. Our first step in seeking Biblical wisdom should be to search our hearts and in prayer and ask God to reveal any sin, unhealthy fear, or impure motives. Next, we seek to view the world through a healthy and Biblical lens. We live in a world full of risk and potential dangers. Until a vaccine is discovered or enough of the population develops immunity to COVID-19, there is always going to be risk involved in meeting with others. This risk comes into play in all aspects of life, and should not ultimately be the sole influencer in our decision making. At the same time, we live in a world where our actions impact not only us, but those around us. We must be careful not to haphazardly and foolishly endanger those who are vulnerable. Using biblical wisdom, we can take steps to mitigate risk to ourselves and others, while also fighting against unhealthy perspectives that place our desire for personal safety over our commitment to one another. Your pastors believe that Biblical wisdom in this situation means 1) we should obey any government restrictions or recommendations that we deem are for the public good and help protect the vulnerable; 2) we should desire to meet together as long as we are thoughtfully obeying these restrictions; 3) we should be prayerful and not hasty in making decisions, and fight for unity among diversity of opinion.

When should I stay home?

Please consider staying home if you are over 65 or have pre-existing health conditions like: chronic lung disease or severe asthma; severe obesity (BMI of 40 or higher); diabetes; chronic kidney disease; serious heart conditions; or if you are immunocompromised (many conditions can cause a person to be immunocompromised, including cancer treatment, smoking, bone marrow or organ transplantation, immune deficiencies, poorly controlled HIV or AIDS, and prolonged use of corticosteroids and other immune weakening medications). Please stay home if you have experienced any symptoms of respiratory illness in the last week, such a severe cough, fever, or trouble breathing.

What kind of restrictions will be in place when we start meeting again to help mitigate risk of spreading COVID-19?

We will be mandating strict social distancing from entrance to exit. Each family will have their own individualized row or section of chairs with an exit point that does not require contact with others. Every individual or family will enter in one at a time to the building, and will be immediately led by an usher to their designated seats. Bathrooms will only be available for one individual at a time. Masks and gloves will be worn by all ushers, and masks will be recommended for congregants. Communion will be pre-prepared and individuals or families will come to gather their elements one at a time. You can find more about our worship guidelines here.

What about my kids?

We care deeply that your family is able to worship Jesus together in a meaningful way, as free from distraction as possible. However, during this time we are unable to provide a nursery and all kids will be required to remain with their parents at all times. Children are a blessing, not a burden, but we know babies make lots of noise and older kids can have trouble sitting still during a worship service. So don't feel bad if your kiddos aren't perfectly quiet. Ask an usher for some resources like kids notes that may help older children stay engaged. Try as we may, meltdowns do happen. We get it! If you need a place to get away with your child or children at any point during the service, simply get up and ask an usher to direct you to one of our quiet rooms. These will be private areas where your children can play and you can listen to the service via the livestream. If you need to get up just for a second to calm your child, but would like to stay in the sanctuary, there will be a designated place in the back where you can stand and still listen and participate in the service. Keep in mind as we work to serve our families well, our plans for our kids may change as we further identify needs and creative solutions.

Will a livestream still be available?

If you are healthy and able to attend our corporate worship, we strongly encourage you to do so, as livestream is never a substitute for the gathering of the body. However, if you are sick, part of a high-risk group, or have other reasons for not attending, we will still be offering a livestream at this point to help care for you and your family and provide you with Biblical teaching.

Can I join a Community Group right now?

Yes! All of our community groups are in different stages of meeting together, either virtually or in small groups of under 10 people. If you would like to be involved in a group, or just want more information, simply fill out this short form.

A FINAL WORD

This was not an easy decision to make, church. And we anticipate that in the coming weeks and months we may have to pivot our expectations and our plans. It may be quite a while before we can return to what we view as “normal”, when we can hug one another warmly and not worry or be fearful that our intentions of love might actually carry consequences of pain. We will have to learn how to hold fast not to timelines and buildings and gatherings and embraces, but to Christ. Remember always, God’s plans are not shaken up. He sets every date and ordains every day towards the eternal arch of his glory and the good of his people. Trust that in Christ he is building his church, piece by piece, and in the Spirit he is sustaining his church, day by day, until the day where no sadness or sickness exists to stop us from worshipping together forever.

We love you and are in this with you.

The Pastors of Grace Church