COVID-19 Service Update
Family Worship is now inside! Two services are offered, one at 11:15am and the other at 6:00pm. Both services are the same and we ask that you practice social distancing when attending.
Gathering Again
A Plan For Union 3 Baptist Church from Pastor Joey
INTRODUCTION
Since March 15th, we have relied on electronic and other creative methods to meet together as a Church. We’ve used tools like Zoom, Facebook Live, YouTube, and drive-in events, letters, texts, emails, and even regular phone calls!
We’ve all been waiting for the time when we can gather again as the U3B family in our facilities. I know that we need to make a responsible decision to gather, but due to our size it makes it more difficult to come together responsibly and maintain a safe atmosphere.
With that being said, we will continue to do Drive-in Church on May 17 and May 24 with a tentative date in mind to begin service inside on MAY 31ST. That will give us two weeks to be as prepared as possible to welcome our church family and guests back to our campus. I find it very wise to always lean to the side of caution and do what is best for our church as a whole.
Beginning May 31st we will have two opportunities for family worship, 11:15am or 6pm and we are asking each family to commit to one of the two services so we can provide a safe environment. Both services will be exactly the same. The 11:15am service will be live stream on Facebook and there will be an FM transmission if you want to sit in your car. There will also be an overflow in the pavilion and other areas throughout the church, if needed.
Our goal is to create a safe atmosphere so that each family can experience a live worship service, in person, on the Lords day. We are taking every effort to honor the Lord and each family in our decisions.
The plan we have developed is a:
-MEASURED plan. We will use caution and be aware of and follow the recommendations of national, state and local leaders and agencies.
-PRIORITIZED plan. We will determine our priorities regarding which services and ministries we will provide immediately and which services and ministries will remain electronic or suspended for longer periods of time.
-FOCUSED plan. As we reopen facilities, we will focus on the mission our Lord Jesus has given us.
FACILITIES
As we plan to reopen our facilities, we know that extra care must be given to make people feel comfortable after this time of stay-at-home orders and continued social distancing. Added precautions will be taken to ensure the safety of our guests and members. We will follow the guidelines of federal, state and local leaders and agencies as we reopen our facilities.
GENERAL CLEANING/SANITIZING
We will:
Regularly wipe down surfaces with disinfectant, especially those surfaces that would likely be touched. These include tables, pews, counters, door hardware, light switches, electronic equipment and so on.
Clean carpets and deep clean the church, especially restrooms.
Clean/wipe down restrooms between services and between Connection Groups and worship.
Install hand sanitizer stations throughout the church.
Work to make the church as “touchless” as possible by:
Propping doors open with greeter stationed six feet outside or six feet inside.
Placing offering boxes around the auditorium and throughout the campus at each exit instead of passing the plates.
CONTACT MITIGATION
We will:
Discourage any physical contact such as handshakes and hugs.
Honor the six-foot social distancing guideline and work to keep a safe distance between family groups.
Have children and students sit with their families.
Not offer Preschool or children’s connection group classes in the early stages.
Not initially provide bulletins and other handouts. As things improve, we will reintroduce them in a way that reduces contact.
Offer multiple worship options, including multiple times, multiple venues (auditorium, pavilion and other locations) and continue to live stream in order to mitigate personal contact.
Encourage handwashing and hand sanitizing and only allow limited numbers of people in restrooms at one time.
Designate some hallways, aisles and doors as one-way to help with traffic flow and contact mitigation.
MAINTENANCE ISSUES
We will:
Take advantage of the opportunity to refresh the building and upgrade some of our facilities.
Utilize the skills and expertise of volunteer members.
Use professionals for larger projects or projects that require more skill.
WORSHIP
When we reopen for corporate worship on our church campus, we will have to adjust to comply with the guidelines given to us by federal, state and local leaders and agencies. In the process of seeking to comply with all the guidelines, we will focus on the awesome God we serve. We will celebrate and worship Him. He is worthy of all our worship!
We will:
Utilize a small praise team rather than a choir in the early days of reopening.
Offer multiple services and provide access to worship spaces by using assigned parking areas with signage and specified entrances for the worship spaces.
Ask families to sit together.
CONNECTION GROUPS AND OTHER MINISTRIES
Because of the uncertainty of when Connection Groups and other ministries will be allowed to relaunch in person, we must be willing to start slowly and incrementally. As we engage with others in these meaningful relationships, we will have to comply with the guidelines from federal, state and local leaders and agencies. This will necessitate the continued use of online platforms and the development of new ways to minister to current members and guests.
We will:
Maintain social distancing guidelines for every Connection Group and ministry.
Prioritize cleanliness as Connection Groups begin to gather by cleaning and sanitizing before, during and after all gatherings.
Continue to utilize virtual gatherings and provide materials and curriculum through at home delivery.
Continue to address the needs of those who are not technologically engaged and feel isolated and lonely.
Maintain virtual Connection Groups and Preschool and Children’s classes for a longer period
Continue to follow health and safety guidelines for Community Missions and other outreach ministries
Slowly encourage Connection Group gatherings in homes if safety guidelines can be followed.
Emphasize connecting with people over gathering, so ministry needs can be discovered and met.
Focus mission efforts locally for a season due to travel restrictions.
Utilize meeting areas that allow for proper social distancing as we begin to return to normal.
FINANCES
This unique time has certainly created an uncertain financial picture for our nation, families, and churches. Throughout the time we have been unable to meet, the Lord has been faithful, and our church family has been generous. Our giving in March and April has been good, and our expenses have been lower than budget due to less activity. As we will gather once again, we must evaluate our resources, make wise decisions and be good stewards of all that God has provided.
We will:
Update the U3B family on giving and expenses over the past two months
Continue to offer multiple giving options including online giving, mail in giving, and drop-off giving.
Ask our Finance Team to continue projecting long-term giving trends and forecast the impact of these giving trends and recommend budget adjustments as necessary.
Consider funding of cleaning and contact mitigation efforts that will be an ongoing expense that is most likely beyond current budget planning.
Identify new ministry opportunities and adjust our budget to capitalize on those opportunities.
Encourage families who have not been significantly impacted financially to consider being a blessing to those in need in the church.
Assist those families in need through benevolence ministries and resources to help with family budgeting and stewardship principles.
Consider increasing our missions giving as we hear from Southern Baptist Convention entities such as the International Mission Board, North American Mission Board, our seminaries, etc.
Consider how we can help sister churches in our area who have been significantly impacted by the crisis through resource sharing (curriculum, facility use, video recording, etc.) and even financial assistance in conjunction with the Etowah Baptist Association
Continue to support our missions in Peru and Uganda by prayer, Counseling and Giving as needed