May 11, 2020
Dear Friend,
I hope you are doing well. We give thanks to God for his sovereign love over our church during this time. I want to thank everyone for watching our online services and I hope they have been helpful and encouraging to you. Also people have been so faithful in giving during this time and we now have the option of giving online at wrbcfamily.org.
As you know, the Governor had placed restrictions on gatherings of more than 10 people in order to slow the spread of the Coronavirus. This, of course prevented us from having in-house church services. On Friday, May 8, the Governor announced the removal of these restrictions effective May 16, 2020.
So, I am writing to let you know of the steps WRBC will take in regards to our church opening back up.
We will seek to "open back up" carefully and slowly as we watch for changes in the Coronavirus situation. We realize things may change over the days and weeks ahead that may necessitate adjustments to these plans.
Beginning May 17, 2020, we will have an 11:00 a.m. in-house worship service. There will continue to be NO in-house Sunday night or Wednesday night services at this time. All Sunday School classes, Bible Study classes and D-Life groups will continue as they have been meeting.
The 11:00 a.m. Sunday Service will continue to be posted on Winchester Road Baptist Church’s Facebook page and also the service will be available on 90.3 FM on your car radio. You will need to be in the church parking lot to hear the service on the radio. This will allow people to "come to church" and hear the service live without actually coming inside. We will continue to offer a Wednesday night service online.
I want to inform you also of the steps that we will take to provide a safe environment for those who come to the in-house service on Sunday mornings. I want everyone to understand that even though we can take safety measures to lessen risks, there is no way we or anyone can eliminate all risks.
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There are risks involved in everything and all risks cannot be removed but the following are steps that we are taking:
1. There will be no nursery provided for this service.
2. We will practice social distancing while at church and we expect everyone to do so and respect one another in this: No handshaking, no hugging; every other row of chairs will be blocked off and people must allow 2 empty seats between themselves and the next person. Families are allowed to sit next to each other.
3. Bulletins will be placed on the round table in the foyer. They will not be handed out but worshipers may pick one up themselves.
4. We will not pass an offering plate. Instead there will be a receptacle at each exit of the sanctuary for you to drop your offerings as you leave the service.
5. We will not have a "come forward" invitation but ask those making a decision to mark the information card in their bulletin and place it in the offering receptacle as they leave.
6. Worshipers may wear gloves and/or masks to the service if they choose.
7. We will clean frequently contacted surfaces like door handles and knobs. Again, there is no way to eliminate all risks but these are the steps we will be taking.
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Worshiping our Lord together is so very important to us as Christians but we understand that during this time each person must decide for themselves the best mode of worship.
We all look forward to the time when this Coronavirus is over and we all can worship together as a church family.
Until then,
Pastor Hal