What to Expect
The nature and feel of public gatherings may be informed by the guidelines set forth by Federal, State, County and local authorities. We do believe that our ability to gather in the way we were before the pandemic will be a reality for us again soon. The journey toward that day will require us to be bold and courageous to meet in ways like we’ve never met before. Courage to walk together slowly and patiently in the face of limitations that we’ve never before faced, and courage to be resolved to make every effort to meet together, even if it looks very strange and is very difficult for us to do so!
The CDC has set forth guidelines for communities of faith. In their official publication (as of the date of this drafting) states the following pertaining to their guidelines: CDC offers these suggestions for faith communities to consider and accept, reject, or modify, consistent with their own faith traditions, in the course of preparing to reconvene for in-person gatherings while still working to prevent the spread of COVID-19. (Visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/faith-based.html for more information)
Lumber City Church leadership will do our best to ensure the safety and comfort level of everyone that joins our gatherings. But, we may not be able to fully enforce the strictest of CDC guidelines, as our faith practice often requires personal and physical closeness. (Mark 10:16, Luke 4:40, Acts 8:17)
The Code System
The best way we see for there to be clarity for what to expect as we gather together publicly at The Hope Center is to follow a system of color defined “Codes”. Codes will be defined later in this document, and communicated on a weekly basis. The code system will allow us to adapt should the governing authorities’ directives vacillate as they react to COVID-19 case numbers if they begin to rise again or as they fall. Our hope is that we will not revert back to higher limitations. Each Code description includes optimistic and conservative timeline estimates.
Methods of Meeting in Larger Gatherings
There will also be various “methods” to the way we meet beyond public gatherings at The Hope Center. Even when we reach full freedom to gather (Code Green). Lumber City Church will continue to provide content for digital engagement for Church Online into the future. That digital content will also be a resource that can be used in a variety of creative ways to meet together.
Cleaning and Sanitization Standards
The good news is that Lumber City Church has always kept our facilities to the highest standards of cleanliness and sanitation. Our standards continue to be higher than even the mandated standards of virus mitigation set forth by authorities in this season. We will also be creating additional safety measures, like hand sanitizing stations and safety teams that will systematically sanitize common touch surfaces. CDC Guidelines for cleaning and sanitizing will be followed and are printed directly from their website and posted at The Hope Center. For more visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/disinfecting-building-facility.html
Ways You can Cooperate
We will all need to make sacrifices during this process. We’ll ask for you to strongly consider what you’re willing to do to consider your fellow brothers’ and sisters' wide array of opinions regarding virus protection and mitigation practices and be willing to “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” as we are charged by Ephesians 5:21. We believe that mandate leaves the responsibility of compliance to CDC recommended virus mitigation practices up to each individual that attends any Lumber City Church meetings. Anyone attending any one of our services will be responsible for their own compliance with health and safety guidelines.
Be WISE! Stay home and join Lumber City Church Online If you are:
- Sick or symptomatic, with a fever or any other symptoms of COVID-19
- Are in a high risk category for COVID -19 comorbidity complications or if you are immunocompromised
- If you feel unsafe gathering in larger groups
- If you have a strong opinion about opening and are opposed to public gatherings.
Do the FIVE!
- HANDS - Wash them often
- ELBOW - Cough/Sneeze into the bend in your arm
- FACE - Avoid touching your face
- FEET - Give people their space
- FEEL - Stay home if you feel sick or anxious
The Lumber City Church Safety Level Code System:
Code Red: Full Pause
- In code Red there are no public gatherings and Lumber City Church will be 100% online
Code Blue: Off Site Gatherings
- In code blue there are no public gatherings other than smaller, offsite gatherings, when gatherings of 20 or less are allowed. Lumber City Church will still be online.
- Begin to encourage hosting of “Watch party” gatherings in homes or any approved public spaces for those that feel comfortable and able to do so under the direction and resourcing of LCC Leadership and following the guidelines of the governing authorities. (For groups of up to 20)
- Continue Sunday online for those participating from home
- Encourage In-Person Team Meetings and Support Group Meetings for those that feel comfortable and able to do so following the guidelines set forth by governing authorities.
- Limitations / Modifications
- All gatherings should adhere to the latest CDC Guidelines for virus mitigation practices.
- Optimistic Forecast: May 2020 / Conservative Forecast: June 2020
Code Yellow: Off Site Gatherings and Strictly Limited Public Gatherings
- Code yellow allows for the addition of “limited” larger public gatherings with restrictions as directed by governing officials, offsite gatherings will still be encouraged. Services may still be pre-recorded or a hybrid of live worship and/or preaching.
- Sunday gatherings will be facilitated with capacity limitations and guidelines set forth by governing authorities.
- Location may vary determined by capacity restrictions.
- Gathering numbers inside The Hope Center and The Garden Church may be regulated with multiple “overflow” room venues.
- Some ”Watch Parties” may continue to meet in smaller groups off site.
- Lumber City Church Online will still be available for those participating from home
- In-Person Team Meetings and Support Group Meetings are encouraged for those that feel comfortable and able to do so following the guidelines set forth by governing authorities.
- Limitations / Modifications
- There will be no nursery or children's ministries.
- Volunteers and congregants will be encouraged to practice best virus protection and mitigation practices.
- Optimistic Forecast: June 2020 / Conservative Forecast: July 2020
Who should “Stay Safe” and ’Stay Home” and Join us ONLINE during CODE YELLOW:
- Individuals who are at higher risk of COVID-19
- Families with children that may be tough to contain (There will be no children’s ministries)
- People over the age of 65
- If you have been in contact with someone that has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days
- If you or someone in your household has COVID-19
- If you have symptoms of COVID-19
What to Expect when you come during CODE YELLOW:
- The Hope center will continue intensive cleaning and sanitizing.
- Face Masks and Hand sanitizing stations will be available.
- Traffic flows will allow for proper social distancing.
- Everyone must practice safe social distancing.
- Signs are posted as reminders of virus mitigation practices and to help traffic flow
- There will be no congregating in doorways, hallways, etc.
- There will not be rows of chairs. Chairs will be set up per social/family unit in proper distance as they arrive
- People will be encouraged to stay in their social/family unit.
- Physical contact with people outside your social/family unit is discouraged
- Tithes and offerings will be in one central location. Online giving is encouraged.
- Satellite rooms may be opened to regulate crowd capacities.
- Some rooms, including the gym may be closed.
Please remember: We are entering uncharted waters. Please remain flexible. Practice grace, submission to others and to the leadership of the church.
Code Pink: Off Site Gatherings and “Fully” open Public Gatherings with restrictions.
- Code pink will see a move from limited attendance capacity to the possibility of full capacity. It continues to include off site gatherings. Code Pink will move from pre-recorded services to live band and preaching.
- Sunday gatherings will be facilitated with possible capacity limitations and guidelines set forth by governing authorities with a move toward allowance toward denser gatherings in less venues.
- Location may still vary determined by capacity restrictions.
- Some ”Watch Parties” may continue to meet in smaller groups off site.
- Lumber City Church Online will still be available for those participating from home.
- In-Person Team Meetings and Support Group Meetings are encouraged for those that feel comfortable and able to do so following the guidelines set forth by governing authorities.
- Limitations / Modifications
- There will be no nursery or pre-K ministries. Lumber City Kids Church will resume Sunday gatherings with strict personal distance practices in place.
- Volunteers and congregants will be encouraged to practice best virus protection and mitigation practices.
- Optimistic Forecast: August 2020 / Conservative Forecast: September 2020
Who should “Stay Safe” and ’Stay Home” and Join us ONLINE during CODE PINK:
- Individuals who are at higher risk of COVID-19
- Families with children that may be tough to contain (There will be no children’s ministries)
- People over the age of 65
- If you have been in contact with someone that has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days
- If you or someone in your household has COVID-19
- If you have symptoms of COVID-19
What to Expect when you come during CODE PINK:
- The Hope center will continue intensive cleaning and sanitizing.
- Face Masks and Hand sanitizing stations will be available.
- Traffic flows will allow for proper social distancing.
- Everyone must practice safe social distancing.
- Signs are posted as reminders of virus mitigation practices and to help traffic flow
- There will be no congregating in doorways, hallways, etc.
- There will not be rows of chairs. Chairs will be set up per social/family unit in proper distance as they arrive
- People will be encouraged to stay in their social/family unit.
- Physical contact with people outside your social/family unit is discouraged
- Tithes and offerings will be in one central location. Online giving is encouraged.
- Satellite rooms may be opened to regulate crowd capacities.
- Some rooms, including the gym may be closed.
Please remember: We are entering uncharted waters. Please remain flexible. Practice grace, submission to others and to the leadership of the church.
Code Green: Fully open Public Gatherings without restrictions.
- As close as we can get to Lumber City Church gatherings as they were pre-Covid 19.
- Sunday gatherings will be facilitated without capacity limitations.
- Gathering numbers inside The Hope Center and The Garden Church will only be regulated by regular capacity restrictions
- Everyone will be encouraged to meet together in Sunday Meetings
- Lumber City Church Online will still be available for those participating from home.
- Team Meetings and Support Group Meetings will be held at the discretion of LCC Leadership.
- Removal of Limitations / Modifications
- Nursery, Toddler, Pre-K and Kids Church Ministries will be open
- Lumber City Coffee will be open
- Hugging, Handshakes and Holy Kisses will be encouraged
- Optimistic Forecast: October 2021