Return to Service
06/09/2020
Hello Church,
One of the greatest attributes of a church that is alive, is the fellowship between Christian believers. On Sunday mornings we have shown or passed our love to one another as we shake hands, hugged each other and sometimes even kiss the cheek of our brothers and/or sisters. In the second Chapter of Acts we read about the beginning of the Church and it is very evident that togetherness was an act of the Holy Spirit:
The Fellowship of the Believers
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
For years I have worked to recreate the creation of the first Church in each of the churches I have served. I have always considered a church that is devoted to the teachings of Christ and to Christian fellowship, as well as the breaking of bread and prayer, as a healthy church that has the ability to move mountains. However, as we prepare to reopen our church doors I realize that what Sunday morning use to be is simply a thing of the past, just as selling all of our possessions and giving them to the church is a thing of the past.
You need to know where I, your pastor, stands on all these changes and the best way to describe that is to say; I do not believe this is a government conspiracy nor do I believe this is something to be laughed at and then forgotten. I believe it is a very real concern and especially for those who have underlying health conditions or small children. I also do not believe we, in Blue Ridge, need to live under the same rules and regulations as those that live and/or worship in the mega churches in Dallas, TX. However, we also need to be more cautious than those that worship with my Brother, Donny Haywood, in rural Nocona, TX. I am by far more concerned about spreading the virus, than I am afraid of having it myself.
With all this being said, Sunday church will not be the same as it was before COVID-19. It probably couldn’t be the same even if we didn’t make some changes, because many of us have changed. We’ve changed regarding the way we feel about a hand-shake, a hug, someone not wearing a mask, or even standing within six feet of another. For instance I will be refraining from holding small children during service because I know that some parents would not be comfortable with that, especially if I went around the church greeting everyone with a handshake or a hug prior to holding their child.
The Trustees of the church have met and discussed our reopening and here are a few of the things that we feel the need to implement when we open the doors for our first Sunday back. These changes were developed from the guidelines of the Texas Minimum Standards for Church Reopening, which can be found at the Texas Department of Health Services website:
Some of these changes may seem extreme to you, but we ask that you remember that they are not only for keeping you safe and healthy, but your neighbor as well. We have no idea what health issues other individuals or families might have gone through in the past or what they might be going through currently. It is our goal as well as our hope that when we all gather again we won’t be worried about a virus or anything other than entering the presence of Christ our Lord.
As we get closer to our reopening I will once again communicate with you, about some of what you might experience on your first Sunday back. Until then, stay safe & healthy and give God the glory for the blessings you have encountered!
Blessings,
Pastor Chuck
Hello Church,
One of the greatest attributes of a church that is alive, is the fellowship between Christian believers. On Sunday mornings we have shown or passed our love to one another as we shake hands, hugged each other and sometimes even kiss the cheek of our brothers and/or sisters. In the second Chapter of Acts we read about the beginning of the Church and it is very evident that togetherness was an act of the Holy Spirit:
The Fellowship of the Believers
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
For years I have worked to recreate the creation of the first Church in each of the churches I have served. I have always considered a church that is devoted to the teachings of Christ and to Christian fellowship, as well as the breaking of bread and prayer, as a healthy church that has the ability to move mountains. However, as we prepare to reopen our church doors I realize that what Sunday morning use to be is simply a thing of the past, just as selling all of our possessions and giving them to the church is a thing of the past.
You need to know where I, your pastor, stands on all these changes and the best way to describe that is to say; I do not believe this is a government conspiracy nor do I believe this is something to be laughed at and then forgotten. I believe it is a very real concern and especially for those who have underlying health conditions or small children. I also do not believe we, in Blue Ridge, need to live under the same rules and regulations as those that live and/or worship in the mega churches in Dallas, TX. However, we also need to be more cautious than those that worship with my Brother, Donny Haywood, in rural Nocona, TX. I am by far more concerned about spreading the virus, than I am afraid of having it myself.
With all this being said, Sunday church will not be the same as it was before COVID-19. It probably couldn’t be the same even if we didn’t make some changes, because many of us have changed. We’ve changed regarding the way we feel about a hand-shake, a hug, someone not wearing a mask, or even standing within six feet of another. For instance I will be refraining from holding small children during service because I know that some parents would not be comfortable with that, especially if I went around the church greeting everyone with a handshake or a hug prior to holding their child.
The Trustees of the church have met and discussed our reopening and here are a few of the things that we feel the need to implement when we open the doors for our first Sunday back. These changes were developed from the guidelines of the Texas Minimum Standards for Church Reopening, which can be found at the Texas Department of Health Services website:
- First and foremost! If you or a family member do not feel well PLEASE do NOT come to church. We ask that you please join us online.
- Second we want everyone in church that wants to be in church, but if you feel that you or any of your family members are “at risk”, please join us online.
- We will be monitoring the temperatures of those wanting to enter the building. If someone is running a temperature they will be asked to join us online rather than entering the building.
- Please adhere to the social distancing guidelines of standing at least 6 feet from others and not shaking hands or hugging.
- There will be one (East) door used to enter the building and one door (North) door for exiting the building.
- If you feel the need to wear a mask and or gloves, we ask that you bring your own. But, we do plan to have gloves and masks available.
- We will be supplying hand sanitizer and we encourage you to use it as often as you feel it necessary.
- We will NOT be using hymnals. Songs and Hymns will be displayed on the overhead screens.
- We ask that any printed materials that you receive here at church be taken home and disposed of.
- We ask that any trash that you might have, be placed in a trash receptacle or taken home with you.
- We will no longer use Offering Plates to pass through the entire congregation. There will be containers in the sanctuary to place your tithes/offerings. You may also continue to mail your tithes/offerings, drop them by the church drop box or use the Tithe.ly app.
- Children’s time will be different, but we are not sure how it will be accomplished.
- We will not be opening the nursery, BUT PLEASE KNOW CHILDREN ARE ALWAYS WELCOME IN CHURCH! We hope to be able to open the nursery in the near future.
- At this time, we will no longer be serving coffee. However, we invite you to bring your own coffee or drink. Just please dispose of your trash, as you leave.
Some of these changes may seem extreme to you, but we ask that you remember that they are not only for keeping you safe and healthy, but your neighbor as well. We have no idea what health issues other individuals or families might have gone through in the past or what they might be going through currently. It is our goal as well as our hope that when we all gather again we won’t be worried about a virus or anything other than entering the presence of Christ our Lord.
As we get closer to our reopening I will once again communicate with you, about some of what you might experience on your first Sunday back. Until then, stay safe & healthy and give God the glory for the blessings you have encountered!
Blessings,
Pastor Chuck
