COVID-19 Update- Return to Church Guidelines
(May 18, 2020)
SFBC Family:
These last several weeks have seemed like an eternity. I have missed you and I have missed being together each week. While I am grateful for the technology that enabled us to continue ministering online and at drive-in church over the last several weeks, neither can take the place of meeting together in person for corporate worship. With that said, I am excited to announce that we will be resuming our in-person gatherings at church on May 31st at 11am. To ensure the safety of our family and friends, we will be implementing a 3-phase system as we make our return to church and to all the ministries we are accustomed to having at SFBC. The 3-phase system will be outlined in detail below.
3-phase system
-
Phase 1 – Effective May 31. Sunday AM Worship only through the end of June (No SS or children’s activities)
-
Phase 2 – Effective July 5. Sunday AM Worship and Midweek Service (no children) through end of July
-
Phase 3 – All regular services (including SS) and activities (including all children ministries) resume Sunday, August 2, 2020
Worship Services
-
As we plan to gather together again on May 31st, please note the following precautions and procedures in place to ensure the safety of our friends, family, and community:
-
In order to adhere to the recommendation to continue social distancing in large gatherings, we will be seating families together as you arrive.
-
Our Fellowship Center will be open and available as an overflow each Sunday morning as we gather to worship. You will be able to watch the service from the sanctuary “live” from the television set up inside the Fellowship Center.
-
We will have a place for you to drop off your tithes/gifts each week as you enter/leave the Sanctuary or Fellowship Center so there will be no need to pass the offering plates at this time.
-
We will have hand sanitizer at each entrance/exit at both the sanctuary and Fellowship Center and ask that everyone please use these upon entering/exiting.
-
We have masks available for you and your family should you wish to wear one each week when we gather.
-
At this time, we ask that everyone avoid handshaking and hugging to ensure the safety of our friends and family. I know it will be difficult but please be patient as we slowly progress through each phase.
-
If you have recently had a fever or not feeling well, we politely ask you to refrain from worshiping in-person until you are well for at least 2 weeks.
-
We understand that some may still find the idea of worshiping together a bit unsettling at this time and that’s ok. If you don’t feel comfortable meeting corporately at this time, we will continue to post our services online each Sunday morning at 11am on our church Facebook page and on our church Youtube channel.
-
Whether you worship with us in person or online, you can continue to give your tithes and additional financial contributions online at www.sneedvillefirst.org/online-giving (click on the "give online now" link) or you can find a link to online giving on our church website.
Additionally, if you prefer to mail your tithes/offerings to the church you can do so by mailing them to: P.O. Box 757 Sneedville, TN. 37869
How to Help?
Your church leaders and I continue to seek and develop outreach opportunities to help meet the needs of our community while abiding by the latest updates provided by the CDC and other local, state, and national governments. Please stay tuned for more information as this situation is ever changing.
Remember, you can always see our latest updates and announcements by visiting our website or on our church Facebook page. We will also be utilizing the Remind Messaging system to inform you of needs when they arise.
Thank you for being so flexible and supportive during this unprecedented time. Our faith is in God. We know He will provide for us every step of the way. He has proven that He is faithful, dependable, and reliable. One day we will look back on this moment – and with unity and love – we will celebrate God’s goodness and faithfulness.
As we transition back together, may we continue to love and serve each other, our neighbors and our community like never before! Lastly, pray. Pray for unity. Pray for our leaders and for one another. May God prepare us for what He is going to do in the days to come!
​
“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” – Mark 12:30-31
Love you and can’t wait to worship with you soon!
Pastor Dustin