Dear Church Fam,
On June 8th, 2020, the Ontario Provincial Government announced that it will be allowing churches to operate at 30% capacity starting Friday, June 12th!
Needless to say, this is exciting news. The capacity of our building is 140 people, so we can allow up to 42 individuals into the building for Sunday Service. However, we want to reopen in a manner that is both safe and smart.
Right now, myself, CGCC ministry leaders, and our sending church (Summerside) are all actively discussing a solution that may see us coming together again by the end of this month. Stay tuned, we will be updating everyone what this will look like as we work out the details.
For now, here are the things we do know:
- Our Online Sunday Service will continue until we are up and running at the church, after which we will likely move to a live streaming option for those who are unable to attend church in-person.
- Children’s Ministry will be suspended for the time being until restrictions are lifted for daycare services to begin operating as normal. We have a lot of kids at our church (a good thing), and if social distancing is a restriction we need to have in place, it extends to our children as well (a hard thing). Meagan, our Student Ministries Director, is currently coming up with some creative ways to engage with our kids, so stay tuned for that too.
- Hand sanitizers and masks will be available for those who are able to attend church in-person. Hand sanitizer is certainly recommended, but the masks will simply be there should you feel more comfortable wearing one while in public, they are not mandatory.
- We’ll be taking a break from offering snacks and coffee in the community room before or after service for the foreseeable future, but you are more than welcome to bring your own.
- Although we would love to swing our doors wide open, we need to navigate this carefully. We are exploring a system whereby all our members will have a chance to come into the building for worship, but we still want to be able to save some space for community members who venture in off the street. Your understanding in this matter is appreciated!
All in all, things will look a little different, but this is a step forward!
We would also like to hear from you, our beloved Church Fam! At the bottom of this page is a quick, 5-question survey. The info you provide will help us in this planning stage. All your responses are completely anonymous.
In closing, I have to say….
It has been incredible to see the strength of our bonds as brothers and sisters in Christ during this lockdown. While some churches have experienced drop-offs in online attendance, ours has gone up! While some pastors have complained about losing touch with congregants, I feel even more connected to all of you.
Chelsea Green Church, serving as your pastor is both a privilege and a blessing for me. Thank you for your grace and patience throughout this season.
God has, and will continue to sustain us! Praise Him!
Pastor Pete
Comments 2
God is good!
Thanks for asking. Our faithful God will continue to guide us.