In-person Worship Information

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As we've said since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, our first priority has been the health and safety of our membership and those attending worship with us.  The discussion around if/when to have in-person worship is a regular conversation at Ad Council with decisions being driven by Michigan UMC guidance, state/local health department regulations, and local transmission data.

Based on the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are planning a return to limited in-person worship for Sunday, February 28.  (If there are significant changes in any of the local metrics between now and then, we will revisit this decision.)

A few important things to note:

• As with all activities, there is a risk of COVID-19 exposure when attending service as Belleville FUMC.  While we are taking all recommended safety precautions, we cannot assure you that you will not be exposed to COVID-19 while attending church.

• Online worship will continue to be available via our church website, app, Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/Belleville-First-United-Methodist-Church-2003531846606503), or YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCB8rc-UUYpHeGcmHLruZ33Q).

• Attendance at in-person worship will be limited to 50 participants.  All individuals attending in-person worship will need to sign-up in advance to ensure that we do not need to turn anyone away at the door.  Details for sign-up will be coming shortly or you can sign-up by calling the church office.

• All individuals attending in-person worship will be required to wear a mask.  Even if you have been fully vaccinated, masks will be still be required as they are a key measure of preventing the spread of COVID-19.  (Face shields may also be worn as extra protection but are not a substitute for a mask.)

• The in-person worship experience will not be the same as it was pre-COVID-19.  Worshipers will not be participating in singing (you can sing in your heart!) and some music/portions of service may be pre-recorded.  

• Worshipers are asked not to approach the front of the church before/after service in order to make sure that Pastor Mary and our accompanists stay safe.  Additionally, please do not congregate in the narthex before or after church.

 

How can you help?

• Please be sure to sign-up for attending worship in-person if you plan to attend.  Please do not arrive at church hoping to attend worship if you have not signed up.  We don't want to have to ask you to leave if we don't have enough space.

• At the beginning of the pandemic, we received a number of generous donations for extra masks at the church but our supplies are running low.  If you are able to donate masks (either cloth masks or one-time-use masks), please drop them at the church office.  

• If you are able to help with the cleaning of the sanctuary each week between services, please let me know or contact the church office.  We are looking for one or more cleaning crews that take on this responsibility.  We will provide training on the appropriate/safe way to clean our sanctuary for use.

 

There will be more information to come as we work toward this transition.  In the meantime, thank you for all you do (wear masks, wash hands, stay home when possible) to keep us all safe so that this return to in-person worship is an option.  If you have any questions, please let me know.