Since January the Elders and Trustees have been eyeing a time to return Sunday morning worship from the CLC to the church building. Procedures and precautions have been figured out so that we return to the house of our Lord on February 14.

What to expect:

• Service times are still 8:00 and 10:00
• Masks required
• Entrance will be the elevator/handicapped door on the southwest corner of the building
• Rows will be roped off for social distancing but changed between services to reduce shared surfaces (so 8:00 sits in one row and 10:00 in a different row)
• Keep two chairs open between households
• Hymnals will be in the pews but will not be necessary as we continue to utilize the projector and a portable screen for liturgy and hymns. The CDC has reported that hymnal use is safe and not proven to be a source of spreading COVID19.
• Service format will be the same as we have done in the CLC with reduced liturgy and singing; distribution of Holy Communion at the end of service
• Regarding the distribution:
  • We will follow our normal practice of continuous distribution, but please keep 6′ between people as you are ushered out
  • The bread/body and wine/blood will be served by Pastor and Elder(s) wearing gloves and masks. This is a change from the practice in the CLC where the elements were on tables for communicants to serve themselves.
  • The dismissal blessing will be reduced to “Depart in peace.”
• Exit the building the same way you entered via the elevator/handicapped entrance. Railings and surfaces will be wiped before and after services. Use hand sanitizer if you have contact with any surface or person.

As we experienced in the CLC, we will likely adapt things as we go along for a few weeks as we learn what works or not and where bottlenecks occur. Please be patient, kind, and helpful as we gather in God’s house again.

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD!” (Psalm 122:1)