Gathering for Worship
After much discussion and discernment, and in collaboration with our Safety Task Force, the session has approved outdoor worship gatherings at First Presbyterian Church.
Date, Time, and Location
We will begin meeting on Sunday, October 4 at 10:30 a.m. and will continue meeting weekly as long as weather and other conditions allow for us to do so. We will meet in the church pavilion, with the church parking lot as a backup/overflow space. Any last-minute changes will be shared via email and/or on our website, so please check ahead of time.
Please note: Online Worship will remain in place, concurrent with the outdoor service, at www.sylvapres.org. We encourage our congregation to do what they are most comfortable with and to use their own judgment as to whether or not to attend. Those with at-risk conditions or showing signs of illness are asked to wait until safety is more assured.
Safety Procedures
Participants should bring their own folding chair to sit on, and everyone will sit socially-distanced at six feet apart, and/or in family clusters.
The church building will remain closed to any traffic due to sanitizing concerns. (Please use the restroom ahead of time!)
Everyone will need to wear masks, except for Blake and other worship leaders while leading the service.
We will not sing together, hug, shake hands, or have any physical contact. (We recognize this will be difficult, as we have been apart for so long, but it is in the best interest of our safety and state guidelines.)
Blake will lead a brief service with prayer, Scripture, and sermon. Michael and others will play instrumental music and/or music will be projected via speakers.
Childcare will not be available as we begin meeting, but we hope to have activities for children on-hand and to consider providing childcare at a later date.
At this time, the Lord’s Supper will be limited to our first Wednesday church-wide Zoom meetings, but it may be added in-person at a later date.
At the end of service, we will exit as directed. Please do not remove your masks until clear of the area where others are still exiting.
We encourage you to do your best to follow these guidelines and to encourage younger children to follow them as well. Thank you in advance for your cooperation!
Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to notify Blake or a member of the session.
