This morning I want to start right away with some exciting update from the Board of Deacons: 

"We're excited to announce that we will be reopening and beginning to welcome people through the doors of RiverCross on Sundays, beginning July 19th.  We will begin our reopening by holding worship services in our worship centre.  These services will occur on Sunday mornings at 10 am (at the same time our online services begin) as we participate in live elements of worship as well as pre-recorded portions.

We are able to welcome back 100 people each Sunday to worship services.  While this is great news, obviously it means not everyone can come back at once.  Therefore, you will have to register in advance to attend a Sunday service. We will be giving priority each week to those in our congregation who have not had access to our online services over these last four months.  The remaining seats will open to the rest of the congregation (including children) who have pre-registered online on a first come first serve basis.  We will announce more details on the registration process soon.  We realize some of you are not ready to return to in person gatherings, and so our online worship services will continue, exactly as they have been, each Sunday, and available throughout the week as well.  

When you return to our facilities, Provincial protocols will be followed as well as our “RiverCross Covid-19 Operational Plan for Reopening.” Everyone will be asked to use hand sanitizer when they first arrive, and you will notice our foyer has arrows to ensure physical distancing.  We will be asking all of our volunteers and staff to wear masks as much as possible while conducting ministry (other than onstage or when seated in a socially distanced area) as a statement that we care about the health of others.  We will ask you to wear a mask when you cannot physically distance.  We are required to take the names, contact info, and ask travel related questions of everyone who attends a service.  It will take some time for us all to adjust, so we would ask for your patience as we figure this out together.  

We’ve missed you.  We're looking forward to being able to start Celebrating, Connecting and Contributing face to face again.  The welcome back period is just beginning and will be a slow and gradual start as we navigate the weeks and months ahead."

Blair Thompson & Melissa Hetherington, on behalf of the Deacons Board:

Here are a few other updates and reminders:

Thanks everyone, we pray for you each week, asking God to meet any specific needs in your life.  We are looking forward to being able to worship together, in person soon.