Returning to In-Person Worship

Returning to In-Person Worship

To our Grace Church family and friends,

As promised, church council has been meeting every two weeks to review the possibility of returning to sanctuary services. We met again on April 8 and agreed to return to

in-person worship services on May 9. Selecting this date will allow us to accomplish a number of important objectives. While many of our members have been fully vaccinated, this date allows for many of the younger members of the church to complete the vaccination process. We want to make sure as many members as possible are fully vaccinated. Additionally, this date allows us time to spread the word that we will be returning to in-person worship, including a notice in the next newsletter. We are currently scheduling special music presentations for the online services. With a set date of May 9, we may also be able to schedule some special music for in-person services. Finally, setting the date of May 9 will allow us time to monitor the current trend of increasing case identifications and increasing hospitalizations. If we are indeed facing another wave of the virus, it would be irresponsible to provide one more venue for the spread of the virus. Pray that the increases are temporary and that numbers will allow us to return to in-person worship.

Please be aware that when we do return, we will still be following the safety protocols that were in place several months ago. Even with vaccination, safety issues still exist. We will be requiring masks in the church. We will be seating in designated areas to assure social distancing. We will be following our ushers into the sanctuary to designated seating, and we will be exiting by rows guided by the ushers. All the safety protocols will be outlined in the newsletter.

We are excited to finally have a set date for our return. The service may look different with adjustments to traditions like passing of the peace or the method of distributing communion, but we will be able to get closer to some normalcy…the new normal for Grace Church.

More information will be distributed prior to returning to in-person worship services as we address many issues surrounding our return. We hope that a set date excites you as much as it has us. We are so close. Pray that things for our church, our county, our state, our nation, and our world begin to move in more positive directions.

Be safe and well. We will be together soon. Blessings to you all.

Grace UCC Church Council