The In-House Worship Experience

In-house worship gatherings are presently suspended.   When we assess it is safe to resume in-person worship, the following applies.  Drive-in and outdoor services are offered periodically.   Scroll down to learn about the Drive-In and Garden Worship Experiences.
  • You may choose from two worship times each Sunday: 9 am and 11 am
  • Please, if you feel unwell or are in a high-risk category, we urge you to remain at home and worship with us online. We will continue an on-line worship presence through a live-stream to our YouTube channel (the 9 am service) for those who are not able or ready to attend a public worship service.
  • Two entrances to the building will be used (Church Street and Branner Avenue entrances); these will be staffed by greeters/ushers.
  • Each worship attendee will wear a face mask and practice social distancing within the facility. Social distancing markers will be visible on the floor to help guide entry and exit traffic.
  • Check-in / attendance registration is required (this in case contact tracing is needed) and will be available at a staffed kiosk just inside the sanctuary doors
  • Cleaning teams will be in place to assure facilities used are sanitized before each service
  • Sanctuary seating will be limited to every-other pew to allow for social distancing between family groups.
  • Areas of the church not associated with worship or entry/exit will be off-limits
  • Restroom use will be limited to single person at a time
  • No hospitality coffee, food, etc will be offered.
  • Our worship will be without singing (which is considered to risk virus spread); all hymnals, pew Bibles, and attendance pads have been removed from the pews so that we can have a no-contact experience; but there will be worshipful music. The sanctuary screen will be used for liturgies and announcements [no paper bulletins]
  • At this time, there will be no nursery service, children’s service, nor Sunday School in the traditional sense.
  • Plans will evolve to include drive-in worship and use of our space for other events and meetings—but that is the next phase.
  • We will continue to monitor local virus spread and the health of our surrounding community and commit to remaining nimble in our planning.

 

mask

Masks are required

Remember our objective of holding in reverence the lives of those around us.   Masks have proven effective to stop the spread of the coronavirus and not only adds some protection to the wearer, but to those with whom he/she comes in contact.   Please bring your own; but if you forget, come in anyway.   We’ll have both disposable and cloth masks available at the door for you.   Just ask an usher.

6ft stand

Social Distancing — standing/walking

We know you want to run and hug friends and church family members.  But restrain yourself and maintain 6 feet between family groups.    Wave and gesture welcomes across that space, but please respect it and the lives around you.   The church floors are marked with reminders.

Seating

Keep 6 feet between family groups when seated in chairs or in the pews.  Our friendly ushers will help guide you to and from a safe seating location.   
 
 

 

Check In
Register your family’s attendance with the greeter/usher at the sanctuary entrance.   This is more important than ever so that we may notify you in the unfortunate event one of the folks in attendance are later confirmed with the virus.  We will work with the health department to assure each person in attendance is notified.  

The Drive-In Worship Experience

Drive-in worship services will be held ocassionally.   With added social distancing, the venue may be just what you are looking for to blend your worship with a sense of community.   Here’s what you can expect:
  • On Sundays of drive-in service, only one time is offered–10 am
  • Please, if you feel unwell, we urge you to remain at home and worship with us online. We will continue an on-line worship presence through a live-stream to our YouTube channel for those who are not able or ready to attend a public worship service.
  • We encourage vehicle occupancy to be limited to a single family, or your social “corona pod.”   If it is necessary to have more than one family in a single vehicle, we encourage masks to be worn.
  • To park, you will be directed to the lot entrance on Old AJ Hwy.   For traffic flow, only that entrance is available  on “drive-in days.”
  • The lot will be staffed by ushers who will direct you to an appropriate parking location.   Note, for service, all vehicles will park facing the church building, will an approximate distance of 6 feet between vehicles (normal parking lines will not apply)
  • Each worship attendee will remain in his/her vehicle throughout the service.   The building, including restrooms, will not be open; please plan accordingly.   
  • Check-in / attendance registration is required (this in case contact tracing is needed) and will be offered by a greeter who will approach your vehicle after it is safely parked to check in the occupants.  
  • The worship service will be broadcast on an FM frequency, so be sure your car is equipped with an FM radio.   
  • We ask that the vehicles park with engines off (no idling), to minimize emissions.   If your FM radio is built into your vehicle, please use it in accessory mode.
  • At this time, there will be no nursery service, children’s service, nor Sunday School in the traditional sense.
  • All vehicles will exit onto Branner, through the small lot to Church Street, or the alley to Manning.  Your opportunity to support the ministries of First Church and/or provide your tithe to God will be to pause at the exit to drop your offering with the usher staffing that exit.
  • We will continue to monitor local virus spread and the health of our surrounding community and commit to remaining nimble in our planning.

The Garden Worship Experience

Worship services in the prayer garden will be held ocassionally.   With added social distancing, the venue may be just what you are looking for to blend your worship with a sense of community.   Here’s what you can expect:
  • On Sundays of garden service, only one time is offered–10 am
  • Please, if you feel unwell, we urge you to remain at home and worship with us online. We will continue an on-line worship presence through a live-stream to our YouTube channel for those who are not able or ready to attend a public worship service.
  • Please bring your own outdoor seating.  Family units may be seated in a group, and each group should set up at least 6 feet from others.
  • The garden will be staffed by ushers who will assist you.
  • The building, including restrooms, will not be open; please plan accordingly.   
  • Check-in / attendance registration is required (this in case contact tracing is needed) and will be offered by a greeter who will approach your group after you are settled.
  • The worship service will be amplified; the pastor and other participants will be located in the southeast corner of the garden (near the intersection of the porte-cochere and public sidewalk.   
  • At this time, there will be no nursery service, children’s service, nor Sunday School in the traditional sense.
  • Your opportunity to support the ministries of First Church and/or provide your tithe to God will be to pause at the exit to drop your offering with the usher staffing that exit.
  • We will continue to monitor local virus spread and the health of our surrounding community and commit to remaining nimble in our planning.