What To Expect:
- We ask that you monitor your temperature and check for symptoms before you leave for church, and if you have any of the symptoms, or a temperature above 100.4degF, that you stay home that week.
- We ask that you maintain social distancing before, during, and after church, so please no hand shaking, or hugging. Waving or elbow bumps are fine. The chairs will be arranged to accommodate family groups and will be spaced more widely to allow social distancing.
- We will wear masks, except for those with a medical condition that prevents this.
- Our service will be live-streamed on both our website and Facebook page. The service recording will be available on Tuesday morning.
- You can expect that the church will be cleaned and sanitized twice a week, and that frequently touched surfaces will be wiped down more often than that. Prior to opening, all carpets, chairs and fabric surfaces were professionally cleaned. Please also restrict your access to the office area unless you have a very specific need to go in there as this will help to make the place safer for our staff.
- There are hand sanitizer stations in every room, as well as, some mobile ones, and plenty of soap and water in the bathrooms.
- During worship there will be no congregational singing at this time. We encourage you to raise your hands, tap your feet, and hum along. Singing significantly increases the dispersion of aerosols, which in turn greatly increases the chances of infection; for that reason, you will not see a large praise band for a while either.
- The stage will be considered the only non-mask/singing area, so folks leading the service can be intelligible.
- We will not be serving coffee and snacks, or having our monthly community meal at this time. The water fountains will, also, be out of service.
- Children are welcome to accompany you in the chairs. We expect to offer a children’s ministry sometime in the fall, probably once schools re-open.
- Offerings will continue to be preferred on-line, by check or in the offering box at the back if that is not possible. The box will be checked at the end of the service.
- We will not use friendship pads, but will have a sign-in desk where somebody will keep track of your attendance, so please make sure that you have been signed in. Additionally, we will take a picture of the congregation during the service, so that if necessary, we can support the health authorities with track and trace should there be a COVID incident. Your attendance at church will serve as permission for Grace Chapel to pass that information to a duly constituted health authority.
- A small number of bulletins will be available, but we would prefer that you either print your own or make notes. Bulletins will be distributed on Friday by e-mail and will also be projected.