• We will suspend Sunday Morning Small Groups, Nursery or Kingdom Kids for another Sunday on January 10th. The reason for this is that though we have many precautions in place, each of these ministries mix family units, often in smaller rooms. Also, we will have several volunteers out this Sunday, which will make it difficult to hold all these ministries.
• Additionally, the restart of our Children and Youth Mid-Week Ministries are still on schedule to return on January 13th.
• Lastly, we will transition our upcoming Children’s Ministry event this Sunday at 4:00 p.m. to a drive-thru only. RoseMary will be sending out more information soon. The reason here is that, again, family units would be mixed together and a big part of this even was going to be a meal.

• We will suspend Sunday Morning Small Groups and Nursery for the next 3 weekends (December 20th, 27th, and January 3rd). The reason for this is that though we have many precautions in place, each of these ministries mix family units, often in smaller rooms. FYI—Kingdom Kids are already scheduled not to meet on these Sundays.
• Additionally, the restart of our Children and Youth Mid-Week Ministries will be pushed back to January 13th. Again, with the mixing of family units and meeting indoors in smaller spaces is a concern.
• Lastly, we will transition our upcoming Children’s Ministry event this Sunday at 4:00 p.m. to a drive-thru only. RoseMary will be sending out more information soon. The reason here is that, again, family units would be mixed together and a big part of this even was going to be a meal.

• Masks still required for those 10 years old and up as they do provide some extra precaution
• Chairs in pews removed, but social distancing still encouraged and every other pew will still be left empty
• Kingdom Kids will return for kiddos 4 years old through 2nd graders
• Order of service will be adjusted so that one song will be sung prior to sermon so that Kingdom Kids workers get to participate in more of the worship service
• Services will remain 45-50 minutes in length.

• Masks required for all adults and children who are in 3rd grade and up. The reason for having younger children wear masks in small groups when they don’t in the worship service is because children will not be with family only and distancing will be more difficult in smaller rooms.
• Some groups will meet outside, some inside, some groups will combine and where possible windows will be opened and where this isn’t possible we will have HEPA air filter machines. More details on groups can be found HERE.

The Response Team discussed the current situation and feel it is best to continue doing only only for the rest of July. We will meet the middle to latter part of July to make a determination on August. FYI–Youth Camp, Kids/Family Retreat have both been canceled and we are monitoring the situation to make a decision on VBS (August 4-6).

The Response Team has decided that we will not meet for in-person worship the next two Sundays. Why? Because numbers are increasing at a pace we’ve yet to see with three more added in just the last 24 hours. We had already decided to cancel Youth Summer camp and will be making a determination on the Kids/Fam. Retreat soon.

You’ll still be able to worship with us online at www.FBCKenedy.org/live-stream, directions to FB and our online platform which will no longer be tape delayed by a week.

The office will go back to having no foot traffic, but we will be open for your calls and staff will be going about our work Monday-Thursday from 8-4 pm.

No one wants to take a step back, but we want to be prudent, which is the exercise of cautious wisdom. The team and I certainly are aiming for that as many of you are as well. 

We need each other during this time. Call someone. Small Group Leaders and Deacons, reach out to those you serve.

Lastly, we need God in times of uncertainty because He is certain. We we don’t know what to expect, we can expect God to be in control. We we don’t know what to trust, we can trust that He is wise and loving. When we don’t know where to turn, we find God present to us 24/7. So reach out to him and remember that no matter the time or place, no matter the season, life is short, but eternity is long and because we’ve trust in Jesus we can look forward to a glorious future with him that will know of no pandemic, sadness, death and the like. There will simply be joy unending. For that we can give thanks, move forward in joy, and never lose hope. 

Look forward to seeing you online tomorrow at 11:00 a.m.

• Resume Nursery on Sunday Mornings with temp checks for workers and kiddos and limit the number to 8 total in the room (2 workers and six little ones).
• Invite Small Group Leaders to meet in their home if they would like to do so.
• Plan summer activities with Youth and Children.

• Our greeters will be standing outside the sanctuary doors to welcome you in, point you to a hand sanitizing station and show you were you can pick up a face mask if you did not bring one with you. These masks are reusable and are for you to keep. We are encouraging everyone to wear one during the worship service for the time being. The staff will do the same, only taking them off when on stage.
• When you enter the sanctuary you’ll notice that some pews are not available for use. They will be marked off with a white sign on the end of either side of the pew. You’ll also notice that pews that are available will have a middle section marked off by a choir chair. These chairs can be moved to accommodate the group size. This is to help spread everyone out. Please sit only with those in your household and six feet apart from those who are not.
• Larger families will want to come early to find seating in the middle pews. Smaller families, couples and individuals are asked to sit in the shorter pews on either side of the middle section, particularly toward the front or back of the sanctuary where the pews are even shorter. If we run out of space there will be overflow seating in the Christian Life Center Fellowship Hall.
• In order to limit the sharing of germs we will not pass the offering plate, we will limit singing, we will not have a traditional invitation and we ask that you use the restrooms and cry room only if absolutely necessary. If you do need to use these facilities, there will be sanitizing spray or wipes available for you to use once you’re done. Please spray or wipe down all surfaces that you touched while in the facility (door handles, toilet lid/handle, faucet, changing table, etc.).
• Once the service is over everyone will be dismissed by section and row by one of our ushers. This will help us keep proper distance as we exit the building.
• Lastly, if you are sick, been in contact with someone who was sick, are high risk or have serious pre-existing conditions please continue to worship with us online for the time being.

• First, on location for the worship service. I think it is best to return to the sanctuary. Even if we return to our average attendance, we’d be at 50% capacity and that is the Governor’s recommendation for communities that have experienced 5 or less cases (which describes us). And the time and energy spent on figuring our alternative meeting space can be put into other ministry opportunities (like what we’ve been doing by providing food for families in need, snack bags for school aged children, the Easter parade, the upcoming Mother’s Day Gram and more). Plus this keeps us from having to make yet another transition down the road back into the sanctuary from meeting in the gym or outside. There are other reasons, but these are the main ones.
• Second, on having multiple services. This could be done down the road if needed. For now we could set up the fellowship hall as an overflow space in case we hit capacity. I don’t foresee this being an issue, but this way we’ll be prepared. Then, if we have to continually use the overflow room we can simply expand to two services. Either way we’ll need to recruit and train more volunteers.
• Third, on temp checks. I’m still uncertain about this one. If there isn’t a compelling reason to do it, I’d rather just remind people of the symptoms to look out for and encourage them to stay home if they are symptomatic. But, again, I would defer to our medical folks on this one.
• Fourth, on streaming services online. We will continue streaming on FaceBook and on our online line platform (which will need to be tape delayed by a week like our radio broadcast). We are working on a plan to place a camera closer to the stage to improve the video quality. We’ll need to work out kinks on the audio.
• Fifth and finally, on procedures for services. There are multiple issues here.
  • • 1.) We’re working on a plan to space folks out in the sanctuary. I think it would be helpful if we had ushers who knew the layout and could help folks find a seat.
    • 2.) We need a few volunteers to help monitor bathroom use and cry room use and disinfect after those rooms are occupied.
    • 3.) We won’t have handouts (no bulletins, activity folders for children, passing offering plate, etc.)
    • 4.) No nursery or Kingdom Kids for now and because of this we will shorten the service to about 45 minutes.
    • 5.) Limit singing to three songs instead of the typical six.
    • 6.) We will dismiss congregants by section and row.
    • 7.) While I don’t think we should require masks, we can simply ask folks to wear one and provide one for them if they do not have one. Staff’s plan is to wear one until service begins and we’re on stage. Then we’ll put it back on when we’re not on stage and/or after service.
    • 8.) We still need greeters outside to welcome folks as they enter. They can ask them to use the hand sanitizer stations and point them to where they can pick up a mask if they need one.
    • 9.) We’ll also post the signs for social/physical distancing guidelines.

I have failed to mention who is on our “Coronavirus Response Team” and why. So let me rectify that! In addition to the staff, I’ve invited the following folks to be on the team:

• • Dennis Duniven is the chair of the Deacon Body and their care and service in our church is important.
  • Bob Alexander is the chair of the Properties Committee, which has also taken on the role of safety/security in the church.
  • Larry Klien is the chair of the Personnel Committee and this situation is most certainly effecting the staff’s work.
  • Lillian Vickery & Erin Fudge are both involved members and they both work in the medical field, so their expertise is a great help.
  • Ron Hyde is the Church Treasurer and this situation is most certainly going to impact our finances.