Re-starting In-person Worship with Grace

What will it be like to worship together indoors on July 4th and beyond?

As we prepare for in-person indoor worship, I wanted to let you all know what worship will be like and the plans that we have to ensure folks feel safe, welcome, and prepared for some of the changes we will see. 

 Our first priority is safety and our second is to provide a gentle re-entry for everyone. We understand that some of us will be eager to be together and hug and sing and worship. We also recognize the anxiety it may bring to be indoors with others. As such, we will have the doors open and will be sure to allow space for those who need their space.

What will be the same?

The loving, welcoming, participatory nature of worship at PoP. We will have in-person communion, with modifications. We will have opportunities to sing, stand, pass peace and bask in the joy of live music with people and love. Our ushers will be ready and prepared to help direct folks. Coffee hour will be raucous and joyful, with lots of hand sanitizer and folks to talk to
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The nursery will be open and staffed for our kids ages 4 and under. All our nursery workers will be fully vaccinated and masked, and emphasize playing outside in the fenced area. Kids under two do not have to wear masks if they are not able to.
  
What will be different?  

All worshipers will be asked to mask due to the reality that young children are not yet vaccinated. If anyone is unmasked during worship it is for the sake of hearing and projecting. Our pastors may be unmasked when they preach and our choir/soloists may as well. All the staff at PoP are fully vaccinated as are our musicians/choir. We will not be asking folks if they are vaccinated in order to attend worship. We will, however, require masks inside for everyone else. When outside, no need to mask unless you are in proximity to a child.
 
Children: Kids are welcome in worship as always. To keep them safe, we will have an area in the back of the sanctuary (near the joy room, far from choir) for kids and parents. All of the doors will be open to the outside and our AC ventilation running. Parents and kids are welcome to be in the narthex, in the sanctuary or anywhere else they feel safe! In addition, during the big kids sermon through until communion, there will be three adults in the courtyard running a game/faithful teaching time for the kids ages 5 and up in the courtyard. During communion, all are invited to come back into the sanctuary to share the meal.

If you have any questions about what July 4th and beyond will be like, please reach out. If you experience anything during worship that feels unsafe, please also let us know. Indoor gatherings are fluid situations, and your staff are monitoring closely all of the best practices for indoor activities such as singing and speaking.
  
We truly hope that when you feel comfortable that you will join us for in-person indoor worship. Please know that we will still have online worship available but it will probably not be available to view until Monday. We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible in the weeks ahead. Also if you are interested in helping in any of the ways to make worship happen including serving as reader, altar guild, coffee host, coffee treat bringer, etc please email Anne and she can get you signed up. Of course, if you are already signed into Breeze and know how to use it you can also sign up that way!