Return to In-Person Worship

Beloveds,

At our June Church Council meeting, we set parameters for when we would feel able to gather indoors for worship without endangering our community. Those parameters were a 14 day downward trend in cases, and a county positivity rate at or below 5%.

We still have not met those specific measures, however, we have spent nearly a month with a stable number of cases and a positivity rate hovering right at the 5% mark. Additionally, we have been so pleased with how conscientiously you as a community have followed the guidelines for outdoor worship to maintain the safety of all present. Given all of this, we have decided to proceed with our return to indoor worship. We will do so with great caution.

Worship online will continue to be available at 10:45, but will be live-streamed rather than pre-recorded. We continue to encourage every household to make decisions that are safe and comfortable, and to join us in the way that is best for them.

If you wish to worship in the building with us, here are some important details you will need to know as we proceed: 

• We will ask that you pre-register for worship, but of course, we will also have a process to welcome those who join us on Sunday morning without pre-registering. 
• Household units will be seated together, and distanced no less than 6ft from other household units.
• For mutual protection, masks will be required, hand sanitizer will be widely available, and good hygiene practices will be encouraged.
• We ask that you show love and care for one another through non-contact greetings.
• You are encouraged to dress for comfort, as some windows will be kept open for ventilation.
• You will notice other changes in the sanctuary. Pew cushions have been removed for more efficient cleaning. Song books, pew bibles and attendance pads have also been removed to reduce contact points.
• All those who are physically able to use the front entrance (up the outdoor stairs) are asked to enter this way. We will provide a “drop-off” area along Grove Street for those who need it. We ask that you leave the lower level entrance for only those who need to use the elevator. This will maintain a more uniform flow of traffic and make social distancing easier.
• When you arrive: If you pre-registered, a greeter will confirm your attendance. If you did not pre-register, the greeter will gather contact information. Whether or not you have pre-registered, you will be asked to confirm that your household is symptom free and without known contact with a positive/suspected case of COVID-19. An usher will then help you find your seats.
• Offering plates will be positioned at the doorway of the sanctuary, and electronic giving information will be available on the screen.
• Services will be short- only approximately half an hour and will not include congregational singing. However, music will continue to be part of how we worship.
• Communion will continue to use elements prepared for each household. Masks may be briefly removed to consume communion. We will continue to make elements available for at-home worshippers upon request.
• Children will ALWAYS be welcome at BFUMC, and we trust that parents will make wise decisions about their children’s ability to abide by social distance guidelines and masking for those over 2 years of age. We will have Wikki-stix (moldable wax coated yarn sticks) available for any children present, and after use, they may be taken home or thrown away. These will replace our pew bags. We will not have children’s church or children’s time, but efforts will be made to offer ways for every generation to be engaged in our worship.
• Bathrooms will be closed, but not locked. Use of them is discouraged, but available in an emergency. Please practice good hand washing if they are used. 

Let us know if you plan to attend our first worship together (August 30th, 10:45-11:15 a.m.) by registering here!

 May peace and joy be yours, 

 Rev. Amanda Baker