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UPDATE: July 9, 2020

Preparing for Sunday, July 12 2020

Hi everyone: I hope you are enjoying the sun these last couple of days. It sure has been rainy. But maybe we’re finally through all that. We are excited to begin gathering together again starting this Sunday. We plan to have an outdoor service in the church parking lot. If it rains, instead of canceling the gathering, we will plan to go inside the sanctuary. If we are going to move the service inside, we will decide by 915 AM Sunday.

If you are attending in person, please plan to arrive early. Everyone needs to go to the welcome table and sign in because of COVID protocol. This will take some time. At the table, you will collect song sheets; a mask if you don’t have your own; kid’s packets and individually packaged communion items. Then Serge, Gayleen or Holly will direct you to a spot where your family can set up.

If you are watching from home, will have the Lord’s Supper on Sunday. So please plan for that in your homes.

Finally, let us show grace to one another. Let us show grace to those who have differing opinions about how to respond to COVID. Let us show grace to those who choose to attend and those who choose not to attend. We ask you for grace as we try our best to offer an inviting and safe environment for those who want to participate.

So looking forward to seeing you on Sunday – in person or online. Keep watching Facebook or the church website for updates going forward.

Thanks, PT

 

Dear SVBC family:

This past Tuesday, your SVBC leadership met in a joint meeting to discuss relaunching our in person worship services. It was a productive time of sharing perspectives, listening to one another and praying. From that meeting, I am pleased to announce that the joint leadership agreed to a phased reopening of SVBC’s worship services over the summer.

A primary reason for this decision came from Hebrews 10:24-25 – “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” We are concerned that not meeting together in person might become an ingrained habit. We are also encouraged by the government’s loosening of restrictions up on worship services with no upper limit placed on indoor gatherings.

This does not mean that everything will go back to normal. Gathering will be very different with physical distancing, hand sanitizing, no hugging or shaking hands, restrictions on our singing, sign ins, pre-registration for attendance, protective measures and equipment, no coffee fellowship, no nursery or children’s ministry until Sept 6. But we believe that gathering, for those who desire to do so, is a very important component of our spiritual journey. We will continue to livestream for those who choose to or cannot attend at this time.

We would ask for your patience and grace as we take this step of coming back together. The staff and leadership are working hard to rethink how we do in person ministry in light of this new reality. We will do our best but we will also learn as we go. So we would appreciate your prayers as we step into this.

Therefore, we aim to follow the schedule below in a phased relaunch.

  • Sunday, July 12 – 1045 AM – Outdoor Service in Church Parking Lot with Livestream
    (More info on this will come out in a separate communication)
  • Sunday, July 19
    • 945 AM – Training and rehearsal for ushers/greeters/anyone willing to help with:
      • Sign in.
      • Asking COVID 19 screening questions.
      • Directing people to a designated physically distant seating area.
      • Guiding people to exits.
      • Before, in service and after service cleaning of high touch areas.
    • 1045 AM
      • In person worship service attended by ushers/greeters/volunteers.
      • Livestream
    • Sunday, July 26 – 1045 AM - In person worship service for those pre-registered along with livestream.
  • Evaluation of in person worship/adjustments.
  • Sunday, August 2, 9 (Possibly outdoor), 16, 23, 30 – 1045 AM
    • In person worship service for those pre-registered – Livestream.
  • Sunday, September 6 – Full relaunch with Children’s ministries.

Please note that these plans are tentative and subject to change should there be any new directives from Alberta Health or the government. But we move forward with cautious optimism asking for the Lord’s guidance.

If you have any questions or comments, please send them to the church office and we will try to answer them or get back to you as soon as we are able.

In the meantime, we look forward to seeing those of you ready to try returning sometime this summer. For the rest of you, we will continue to connect via livestream, phone, email and zoom.

May God bless you all.

Sincerely,
Pastor Tom