Dear Chapel Oaks Family,
Covid-19 has been a complex and trying ordeal for us as a church. I am truly grateful to our media team for keeping us virtually connected for corporate worship, but there is nothing like meeting together in person. Thankfully, we are now ready to take our first steps towards gathering for church service together in our building as we continue to live stream to those who cannot attend.
The special committee empowered by our church board is proposing opening the church June 27 for church service only, with a limit of 75 people (our easy reservations process will be explained below). Based on how social distancing works out for 75, we may be able to increase that number.
According to the survey, 51% of our members are currently willing to attend church so we may come close to accommodating all of you who wish to attend. If this initially prevents some of you from attending please be patient with us as we seek to honor your freedom and provide a reasonably safe environment. We do want to expedite the return of as many as possible.
I want to say a special thanks to Steve Kinser for organizing and leading the special committee and to each of our medical professionals and other volunteers who shared their expertise as we wrestled with this difficult issue: Darren Hayward, Dr. Daniel Berry, Reba Lucky RN, Shirlayne Kinser RN, Pastor Diego Silva, Pastor Fred DaCosta, David Enevoldson, Dr. Heidi Erickson, Sam Huenergardt, Dr. Lauren Kirkpatrick, Mandy Rebarchek RPT.
You will find a summary of our recommendations for reopening our building bulleted below and a complete committee report with the detailed recommendations attached.
- Social distancing will be practiced – only every third row of pews will be marked for occupancy
- As a courtesy it is requested – not required – that masks be worn when not seated in a pew
- All Sabbath schools will be online till further notice while we work out the social distancing complexities
- No paper bulletins
- Offering will be collected in a central box
- After services worshipers will be dismissed from the back and asked to please exit the building. Any socializing is to be done outside of the building.
- Our goal is to do our absolute best to protect the health of every attender and the vulnerable individuals they may in turn contact
- The reservations email will be emailed out at 3:00 p.m. on Sabbath afternoons from the church with a link to a simple form to make a reservation to attend church service the following week. Reservation opportunities will close on Wednesdays at 11:00 p.m. You will be notified by email within 24 hours of your reservation. If any member cannot manage an online registration you may contact Sharon Patterson, our communications coordinator, at 214-448-9091 and she will make the reservation for you.
- We certainly understand if you are immune compromised or are concerned about unnecessary risk to your health and choose to stay home and continue viewing our services online.
Please continue to pray for us as we try to deal wisely with this complexity.
You may read the complete report by clicking the button below:
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