Dear First Christian Church Family,
We have begun the phased reopening of the First Christian Church of Pittsfield according to the Eldership’s recommendations. I was delighted to hear of our Governor’s decision to lift restrictions on Illinois churches after a challenge from the U.S. Supreme Court. The Illinois Department of Public Health has issued a lengthy series of guidelines for churches reopening. The guidelines were roughly in line with the planned phased reopening that the Eldership recommended on May 26.
The phased reopening recommendations from our Eldership were as follows:
- Encourage families to worship from home in groups of 10 or less for the next several Sundays.
- Those who are unable to stream from home are welcome to view the 8 a.m. service stream in small groups of 10 or less at the Crossroads Center and Church fellowship hall during the 8 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. service time. (Call the office to reserve a space.)
While streaming in groups of 10 or less is the safest method to begin the reopening process (thus recommended by the elders), we also realize that there are those within our church family who feel strongly about worshiping together in our sanctuary. While we want to honor and celebrate our 1st Amendment right to Assemble in Worship, we want to do so in a responsible way. We ask that you share the Love of Christ by being considerate of those who are at risk by adhering to the following guidelines if attending service in the sanctuary:If you have a fever, are feeling ill, have traveled to an infected area, or have been in contact with someone who has been diagnosed with Covid-19, we ask that you be responsible and self-quarantine for 14 days.
- Wash your hands thoroughly for 20 seconds. (Sing the chorus of your favorite hymn while you wash your hands!) Use Hand Sanitizer of at least 60% alcohol, wet thoroughly, and allow to air dry.
- Practice social distancing by maintaining a 6-foot distance from others, and 10 feet while singing. (This is no reflection on your singing!)
- Please wear a mask, especially when less than 6 feet from others. (While this may be the most uncomfortable guideline to follow, wearing a mask will provide the greatest protection. It is not for you…it is for others. Consider the elderly and at-risk around you.)
- Please be Gracious…remember that this is a work in progress. You may feel that these guidelines are excessive, but adhering to them will allow more people to gather for worship safely.
- We are asking those choosing to worship in our Sanctuary at 8 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. to bring their own facemasks, communion supplies, and coffee as we continue to work out the process of worshiping together while respecting the new guidelines.
We certainly hope to be able to loosen these guidelines as we continue to recover from this pandemic. While Covid-19 has not hit Pike County in a substantial way as of yet, were it to come, it most likely would spread throughout churches. We want to be sure that this does not happen. In light of the recent mass gatherings for Memorial Day at the Lake of the Ozarks, as well as gatherings for protests of the callus killing of George Floyd, we feel that a gradual return to worshiping together is prudent. Should there be spikes in Covid-19 cases in our area we may amend these guidelines. We ask everyone to be responsible and consider the safety and health of themselves and others. While we cannot guarantee everyone’s health and safety, we can all strive to do our best to protect one another, thus showing the Love of Jesus Christ.
To assist us in our transition to meeting together, we are planning an outdoor service at 10:30 on June 14. Meeting outdoors affords us far more freedom and flexibility. More details will follow.
With our beginning the process of methodically and cautiously returning to worshiping together, we will only be live-streaming our 8 a.m. service (which will then be uploaded to watch on the church’s Facebook page or YouTube channel at your convenience). I will also only be doing Fireside Chats on Tuesday mornings for the next few weeks, not Thursdays.
This is a very fluid situation, but if we are all responsible, respectful, gracious, and loving, we will grow together in Christ through this time. We ask for your patience with us as we strive to provide a safe and authentic worship atmosphere.
Loving you all,
Michael