First ARP Church Statesville

                                    Plan for Reopening the Church for worship.

Dear Friends,

We are excited to return to worship at First ARP Church on Sunday, September 13, 2020.

Below is the information agreed upon by the session to ensure a safe return for everyone. In time, we hope that we will all be able to worship freely without fear of illness. Please understand that this plan may be subject to changes as needed to protect everyone.

• Doors to the sanctuary will open at 10:30.

• The courtyard door under the breezeway, near the elevator will be the only entrance and exit because it is handicap accessible. A church officer will be at the door to greet you and answer any questions you may have. All doors will still be utilized in case of an emergency.

• Worship will begin at 11:00 am in the sanctuary. There will not be Sunday School at this time.

• There will not be a choir or congregational singing, but several choir members have agreed to sing solos as part of the worship service.

• There will not be an offering plate passed during the service, but an offering box on a table as you enter the sanctuary for your gifts to be given.

• Pews will be marked to adhere to practical and safe social distancing requirements. Families may sit together.

• We will have our church officers assist you with seating. At the close of the service you will be assisted with exiting the Sanctuary. We can connect with each other in the courtyard following the service.

• The balcony will be closed at this time. There will be no nursery available.

• Communion will be served at a time to be determined. The session is exploring ways to administer communion in the safest way possible.

• Limited hand sanitizer will be available to you if we have access to a supply.

• We ask that you please wear a mask. This is a requirement to attend worship.

• We also ask that you please refrain from hand shaking hands and hugging currently. We hope to be able to resume this in the very near future.

The session wishes for everyone to feel safe and comfortable as you return to corporate worship. If you do not, we certainly understand and want you to know you are loved and missed greatly! Our worship service will continue to be posted on Facebook Live at 11:00 am. You can access this by seeking FirstARPStatesville on Facebook. A YouTube version will also be posted later in the day on their website. The audio of the service can be found on the church website.

We are grateful to God for His faithfulness and His sustaining grace to each of us and the First ARP Church Family. Please know you are loved and being prayed for during this challenging but faith growing time.

In Christ,

Pastor Phil

“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord,

and he will repay him for his deed.”