COVID-19 UPDATE

June 2021 UPDATE

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June 14, 2021

What a joy it has been to be together for the first two Sundays in June.  We want to thank the entire community for sharing in our life together.  A special thank you for wearing your masks and practicing social distancing here at Grace.  Please continue to share with others our worship schedule: 8:30 am in-person worship, 10:00 am YouTube worship, and 11:00 am in-person worship. For the first two weeks of in-person worship, we have had 102 and 83 at 8:30 am, and 175 and 121 at 11:00 am.  We have plenty of space for more to attend at each service. 

For all planning and worship execution elements, we will continue to look to the Washington Department of Health and the CDC for guidance as we move into this next phase in our life together.

Attending worship in person:

• There will be no pre-registration required for in-person services.
• If you worship in person, there will be an online link to click on your phone or home computer, to indicate you were onsite.  Please be sure to do this, to assist us in case we need to notify any Covid reporting issue. 
• Seating capacity will be 250 in the Sanctuary.  We will have plenty of room to spread out.
• Masks will be required, and we will maintain physical-distancing protocol.
• In June, the worship services will be planned for 40 minutes or less. 
• We will add more worship elements during in-person services as the weeks go on and restrictions are lifted.

Music:

• Phil will be the pianist at 8:30 am and at times we will have a soloist, small choral group, or instrumentalist, accompanying the service. 
• Dean will play for the 11:00 am service, with additional band members at times.
• We will continue to monitor the Washington Department of Health and CDC about the feasibility of congregational singing during worship and will adjust as appropriate.

PLEASE REVIEW THE FOLLOWING PRIOR TO ATTENDING IN-PERSON WORSHIP
Health Precautions and Guidelines for Attending an On-Campus Event

As a community led by Christ, we lean into the wisdom in 1 Corinthians 16:14, that whatever we do, be done in love.  

We ask that you do not attend on-campus worship if you answer “yes” to any of these questions:

1. Have you been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last month?
2. Have you had close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last 2 weeks?
3. Have you developed any of the following symptoms in the last 2 weeks?

New or worsening cough or shortness of breath?
Sore throat?
New loss of sense of smell or taste?
Do you have a fever of 100.4 degrees or more and/or have you taken medication to reduce a fever in the last 24 hours?
Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea?

FAQ

How does physical distancing work in GLC buildings for worship?

When you enter the Sanctuary or Lobby area, you should proceed directly to a physically distanced seating area by household.  Rows in the sanctuary will be clearly marked with leaving a row open between each sitting section.

Are masks required?

Yes. As a campus that includes a child care center, school, and church community, we will require masks in all GLC buildings. Children under the age of 2 do not need to wear a mask. As the accessibility of vaccines for children and youth increase, and the vaccination rate overall increases for the general population, we will adapt.  Upon arrival, there will be hand-sanitizing stations along with face coverings available for those who don’t have one.

Will childcare be provided during worship?

No. We will not have childcare or children’s programming. As always, your children can participate in worship by sitting with you.

What are your cleaning procedures, and what does “Limited Building Access” mean?

Following every worship service, our cleaning team will be sanitizing areas of the building in preparation for the next worship service. There will be limited building access. The nursery, and other gathering rooms, along with the kitchen and fellowship spaces will be closed. If you would like to assist in cleaning after worship, please let an user know and you can jump in to assist.

What should I bring to the worship service?

Simple is better – but you will also need to wear a mask.  We will not be handing out paper items for worship – all information will be on the media screens.

What are we doing to stay safe during this time?

• All services will be as touchless as possible, and all high-volume areas will be sanitized between services.
• To minimize touchpoints;
  
  We will not be passing out programs, Bibles, or pens.
  
  Offering baskets will not be passed. We will place one in the front of the worship area where you can place an offering after worship – and there will be an offering plate at the back of the Sanctuary (middle-aisle area), but we do encourage to online giving if possible.
  
  No water fountains will be available.
  
  No food or beverages will be served.
  
  
• There are posted signs reminding of proper hygiene practices and to join us online if you have experienced symptoms or are at risk of COVID-19.
• Additional hand-sanitizing stations will be available throughout the building.
• No outside food or beverages are permitted.
• Our air ventilation units will be continually circulating air and have been outfitted with new air filters.
• Worship center doors will be propped open during all worship services.
• The front half of the Sanctuary will be asked to exit the front left door and then down the stairs to the lower parking lot – the back half of the Sanctuary will exit into the lobby area and then out the exit doors to the upper parking lot.
• We will ask all to exit to the parking lot right after worship for any personal conversation with other worshippers.  Please do not linger indoors for conversations.  This allows another layer of safety and allows us to clean the area for the next group.
• We have three nurses in the congregation who will rotate at the Welcome Center in the month of June.  They will ensure that all are safe, that we are following guidelines, and will recommend any adjustments that may need to be made. If you have any question or concern while here for worship, please talk with Sybel Johnson, Nola Irish, or Barbra Johannsen.  We thank them for their expertise.