Responding to Wednesday’s Mitigation and Gathering Guidelines

On Tuesday, in an effort to curb the rise in COVID-19 cases, Governor Wolf defined new mitigation efforts and guidelines for all residents. These new mitigation efforts and guidelines include a limitation on travel to certain states, new limitations of twenty-five gathered for indoor spaces, and more. While a constitutional religious exemption applies to all places of worship, we are all asked to do our part in this strange and unfamiliar time. This week we followed this developing news and wanted to respond.

We recognize that in our church community there are a lot of differing viewpoints on the pandemic, mitigation efforts and our reopening plans. As leaders, we are tasked with finding what works for our wide span of ideals, while being faithful to God. Faithfulness includes being spiritually responsible for the wellbeing of those gathered and faithfully gathering as the church so that we can be equipped and encouraged. It also includes honoring our governing authorities. These areas can often present great tension. We considered our options in light of these tensions this week.

For now, we have decided that we will continue to meet and gather as we have done over the past few weeks. We believe we have mitigated well and acted faithfully and responsibly. Please continue to follow our plans, protocols, and procedures to ensure that we can continue to meet, and that we create a safe space to gather. This is not a question of faith or liberties, but honor in community. If you have been around someone who has tested positive or is being tested for COVID-19, we ask that you make the hard decision to stay home. This should also be the case for anyone that is showing symptoms that mirror COVID-19, even if you do not believe it is COVID-19. Also, we ask that you follow the rules of quarantine for travel and the mitigation efforts for public space as outlined by our governing authorities. Thank you for continuing to pray for us and each other in this difficult time.

Plans, Protocols, and Mitigation Procedures

• We ask that you wear a mask if you plan to worship through song with us.
• We will limit the amount of singing we do for some time.
• We will have masks available for guests who wish to sing with us.
• We will have the carport entrance unlocked and propped open.
• We will have windows in the sanctuary slightly raised for fresh air circulation.
• We will use donation boxes, rather than passing an offering plate.
• We will ask that you sit distanced from non-family members.
• We will use prepackaged communion.
• We will have additional sanitizing stations.
• We will not be using handouts of any kind (bulletins, children’s, etc.).
• We will continue practicing social and physical distancing.
• We will store Church Hymnals and Bibles for safety.
• We will have messages recorded on video and available online by Tuesday.
• We will have no Library for the unforeseeable future.

Thank you,

Reopening Team (Josh Buser, Jonathan Kilheffer, Jeff McLain, Derrick Stoltzfus)