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Weekly Update

Click here to access the Sunday bulletin blog site.
The Northern Illinois Food Bank is hosting their annual a Golf Fundraiser on August 25th, 2020.  Four of our congregation members, Dave Buchanan, Mike Rosier, Jack Buchanan and Jeff Rosier are currently looking for sponsors so that they can meet the $1000 entry fee for playing in the fundraiser.  All proceeds go to benefit Northern Illinois Food Bank and its mission (The golf course has been donated by Cantigny).  If you are interested in sponsoring our foursome, you can make a donation online here (select golf outing).  Any donations in excess of our $1000.00 goal will be given to Northern Illinois Food Bank at the golf outing.  If you'd rather make a donation by check, please see Dave after church or mail it, payable to the church, to 327 Hamilton Street, Geneva.  Thanks in advance for supporting Northern Illinois Food Bank!
Danièle Gibney is looking for some additional prayers for her friend Pam this weekend.  Pam is in need of a new kidney, and has been on the donor list for six years.  Her heart has started to deteriorate a little bit though, so the doctors are going to reevaluate (on Monday) whether she can stay on the donor list or not.  If she cannot stay on the donor list, her only recourse is a direct living donation, which she has not been able to find yet.  Any and all prayers are appreciated, by both Pam, Danièle and her three kids.  If you are interested in learning more about directed live donation, call or email Lynnly, it's really easy to do.
The church council has been busy working on a new set of Health and Safety protocols for the church building and its members.  You can find the current version here if you want to read through the whole thing, or on our website.  The website also has a summary of the protocols for easy reading.  The protocols not only cover the situation we find ourselves in now, with the 2019 corona virus, but into the future for any health situation in the church or community.  We are currently at an Orange Action Level.  The church building is open, and we are holding services, but other activities are limited or moved online.  The protocols are subject to change, as most things in life are, but we hope they are currently flexible enough to give us an easy resource for action no matter what situation we find ourselves in in the future.
If you have been coming to church in the last couple weeks, or if you just got online and read our new Health and Safety Action Protocols, you will know we've started using a colored band system for personal choice communication.  The bands are intended to make it easy, and not involve a long conversation or uneasy feelings, to let individuals show other people how they are feeling about social distancing and protecting their health.  A green band means that you are fine with hugs or hand shakes, as well as standing closer than six feet if necessary.  A yellow band means that you don't mind being closer than six feet if necessary, but you'd rather not participate in hugs or hand shakes yet.  A red band means that you are sticking to a six foot distance and will move on to hugs and hand shakes later when we return to normal.  While we doubt there are any people in our congregation that would question you telling them to back up a little, we hope the band system will make everyone more comfortable about communicating how they feel right now.  Wristbands are sanitized every week, so just leave them where you got them when you leave.
Just a reminder that we are back in our church building and practicing recommended social distancing protocols to make sure we keep everyone safe. 

A few things you should keep in mind going forward:
  • Please plan to bring a mask with you to church.  Masks should be worn inside the building.
  • We will have hand sanitizer available at the entrance to the church, as well as disinfecting wipes, for you to use while in the building.
  • The collection plate will not be passed.  Instead, it will be on a table at the entrance to the sanctuary.  If you'd rather skip the collection plate all together, you can access our online giving portal here.
  • Please sit in your same household groups, and make sure that you maintain a six foot space (in all directions) between you and other household groups.
  • Please do not use the first three rows of pews.
  • It is recommended that church members do not sing during the service, even with a mask on.  
  • We will not have Sunday school or nursery care until a vaccine is available, so your kids need to stay in church with you.  Please feel free to let them bring a phone or tablet and headphones so they can watch a movie or play games.  When school starts again in the fall, we will be trying a variety of different online Sunday school options, which we are still working through.
  • Coffee hour will be outside, as usual, weather permitting.  If you are staying for coffee hour, please bring your own coffee and snacks.  As long as a six foot distance is maintained between families outside, you do not need to wear your mask.
We look forward to seeing anyone who feels comfortable.  If you feel safer enjoying service at home via the bulletin blog, we will continue to have that available every Sunday for at least the next 12 to 18 months.  If you have any questions or concerns, please call or email Lynnly or reply to this email.

Please note, we will go back to online services only if Illinois should experience a second wave of virus and shut downs.  In the event of a re-closing, we will notify everyone via telephone and email.
It's probably been the farthest thing from your mind lately, but keeping up with your annual pledge is actually unbelievably important for the church right now.  We are coasting along on occasional donations and the Payroll Protection Program from the federal government, and it would really help us out if you would check and make sure you're up to date on your pledge.  If you find you can't meet the pledge you originally made, please let us know.  If you can, now would be a great time to do a little catching up.  Every little bit helps!  You can make your donation online, in person, or by mail.
If you want to make your pledge payments online, you can access our online giving portal here.
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