By Didi Bacon

If May is the ending of chapters, June is the start of the next chapter.

May is a month of transitions.  Finishing up the school year.  Graduations.  The weather changes from the cool of spring towards the warmth of summer. 

This year May marked the once-every-17-year emergence of Brood X Cicada. (As I write, I can see them flying around outside!)

Speaking about bugs (of the microscopic kind), this May also means changes in how we do things in our journey through this COVID-19 pandemic.  May has seen restrictions being eased. We are told June we will see them lifted.

Regarding our gatherings, this is what we will be doing beginning June 6.

For our Sunday morning worship services:

  1. Our facilities’ crew will continue their practice of sanitizing every room before and after services. 
  2. Masks are welcome to be worn. Everyone (Adults, Students, Children) who comes is encouraged to do what they feel comfortable with regarding mask-wearing. As I have said from the beginning, this has been an opportunity to demonstrate the principles of love for others laid out in 1 Corinthians 10:23-33.  
  3. We will no longer block rows of seats in the sanctuary, thus opening the room for full capacity.
  4. We will continue setting out communion in the individual prepackaged containers for pick up upon entry throughout June. Offerings and prayer request forms can still be deposited in the designated slot next to our Welcome Desk.
  5. We will continue to set up seating for those who wish to participate in the service in the foyer.
  6. We will stop registrations for Worship services for Adults, Students, and Children. 
  7. Children’s Ministry will no longer operate with class size restrictions. Please understand that we will need all our great Children’s Ministry workers back to operate at full capacity!
  8. Children’s Ministry will continue to utilize our security stanchion.
  9. Our Children’s Ministry team will continue to be uncompromising in their request that parents do not check-in children who have a fever or have a runny nose, etc.
  10. Our coffee makers will look to get back into action on Sunday, June 13.  We are still working out how we will start brewing and serving coffee for folks on Sunday mornings.
  11. Online services will continue.  We believe that Online services are here to stay and provided another way for folks to worship together.  It is where our small disciple-making gatherings can choose to connect with the rest of the body of Christ that calls the Mount Carmel Christian Church family their church home.

For gatherings in our building during the week:

  1. Masks welcome.  
  2. Our facilities crew will continue their practice of sanitizing every room before and after services.  They will also clean and sanitize after every meeting during the week.
  3. There will be no social distancing restrictions.
  4. Rooms will still need to be booked through our office, prioritizing Mount Carmel discipleship groups and ministry groups.

These are our plans for June.  What we have learned throughout this pandemic season is to take things as they come.  We will continue that practice as we move into July and let you know of any changes.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at office@mtcarmelchurch.org.