HOW GREAT THOU ART – July 14th Update
Well, it’s official. Grace is reopening August 2nd……. Praise God!!!
For some, this has been a long time coming. You have been eager to get back to worshiping and fellowshipping together. For others, this causes some anxiety. Understandably you may choose to wait just a little bit longer to return. I want you to know that we understand. We get it. We love you and we have every intention of recording our messages so you can be a part of things on-line.
Now, what will our service look like? That is a great question! First, having reviewed the guidelines, it becomes apparent that we need to email all members and adherents an invitation through event-brite. This will be done weekly for every service. If you plan on attending you will need to RSVP so we have a list of who is coming and how many as to avoid exceeding the 30% of building capacity that we are allowed to have. This is also how we will be assigning seats to ensure we maintain the 2m social distancing that is required. Family units will obviously sit together but social distancing must be upheld between yourselves and others. So, having said that, when you arrive at the church you will find some lines on the pavement telling you where to stand as you wait to enter. The usher will open the door and greet each family. That family, following the (traffic flow) arrows on the floor, will then move to the hand sanitation station and take a mask if they do not already have one. From there you are asked to work your way up the center aisle, past the offering box, to your assigned seat which will be labelled. (seating will be in alphabetical order). Because we are not singing, you may remove your masks when seated if you so desire. However, know that someone else may be moving past you in close proximity to get to their seat. This means you may choose to keep them on. The choice is yours.
As usual, we will aim to start the service at 10:30. There will be a couple of songs played for our enjoyment but at this time, we will not be engaging in any singing. After this, we will have announcements, (no bulletins will be passed out as the handling of community materials is prohibited at this point). After announcements, we will have the message, a closing song to meditate on (again, we will not be singing) and the pastor will dismiss each row separately. Individuals are to exit towards the windows, down the side aisles and outside. There will be arrows on the floor to assist us in the direction we are to go. I do need to inform you that we are encouraged not to socialize at the church. If you would like to catch up with someone or spend some time with them, which is important, please invite them over to your home. This will be the general order of our morning service. Unfortunately, there will not be children’s church or nursery. However, there will be lapboards and activity packs for the kids to enjoy in the pews. I know this is a challenge for our younger ones but while you may worry about them becoming a distraction we do not. Our children are a blessing and I personally look forward to seeing them. Of course, you might wonder…what about a washroom? Yes, there will be the use of bathroom facilities and we do have individuals who will clean them after every use. I know this may seem like a lot of detail but we will also aim to have a video made and sent to you all before our first service.
Now, I know this is not what we are used to and for the many who long to enjoy some fellowship; again, I will encourage you to do that in your homes. Having said that though, we do have a couple other things planned that I would like to share. On August 28th, there will be a drive-in movie night at Grace Baptist Church. Again, this will be done by invitation and an RSVP is needed. We need to uphold social distancing guidelines and such. This does not mean you can’t sit outside of your car. It just means we will be setting up the parking lot to ensure safe practice. Once we establish the number of individuals we can host we will be able to send invitations to friends and family members who are connected to you in some way. Third, we are working to modify our corn roast. At this time, it may become more of a concert and box lunch. If permitted by that time, we will look at potluck. These are opportunities for us to come together and begin to do life and ministry in the new norm. I know some of you may have questions. Some may be willing to help where help is needed. Please feel free to call me (Pastor Mike) and I will do my best to answer questions and get you involved where we can.
Now, let us rejoice in our God. For He is great and greatly to be praised (Psalm 145:3)
Stuart Keene Hine wrote:
O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
And when I think of God, His Son not sparing
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing
He bled and died to take away my sin
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And lead me home, what joy shall fill my heart
Then I shall bow with humble adoration
And then proclaim, my God, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Love in Christ
Pastor Mike