Cornerstone Services & COVID-19

We have waited as long as possible to make announcements concerning this coming Sunday Services as it seems that the landscape is constantly changing.  Please know in advance that the information contained in this email is for this particular weekend and could still change.

Over Christmas break, I sat down and outlined the sermons and series that we would cover each week for thru October.  Little did I know that God had planned this week’s message for exactly the circumstances that we are facing.  We are in week two on our message series “Pax Romana” talking about the importance of being people of Peace from the book of Romans.

After consulting with other churches, our staff, and deacons we are setting this modified plan for this weekend:

First and foremost, we believe that church exists for community, not necessarily content.  We are striving to ensure the best member care while not sacrificing the biblical mandate for church to be about community.  Therefore, we have decided that this weekend will go ahead as planned with a few alterations.  We will be having both the 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. services. These services will be modified to only include nursery for infants and toddlers up to 3 years of age.  We will also be suspending coffee service, so you may want to bring coffee from home.  In addition, we will not be passing the offering plate, but will station them in the back for you to drop off connection cards and your tithes.  It goes without saying that we will be asking our greeters to open the doors so that you do not have to touch the handles, and asking everyone to refrain from any greeting that may include touching.

Secondly, as is our already standard practice, we will disinfect the nursery between each services and are adding additional volunteers to disinfect all hard surfaces between the services. 

Third of all, we are asking you to watch online and forego attending in person if:

·         You would prefer watching online due to the current COVID-19 circumstances.

·        You are exhibiting any cold or flu symptoms or if anyone in your household is exhibiting symptoms.

·        If you are at a greater risk of infection due to preexisting condition.

·        If you have traveled outside of the country in the last 14 days.

Fourth, we are working to create additional avenues for you to participate in the service online.  In addition to our Live Feed from the church Facebook page, we will be creating a YouTube channel to host the services.  This will act as a backup should Facebook get overloaded. 

Fifth, we anticipate attendance to shift online and therefore it is important for all of our members and friends to set up online giving.  Currently we receive half of our weekly offering in the plate during the services.  In order to remain strong and to minister to the increased needs of our community, we are asking everyone to be regular and generous in your giving.  We anticipate greater than normal needs arising from closures to the parks and cancellations of tourist travel.  We plan to do more ministry in our community, not less.

We have a great opportunity right now to show love to our neighbors and increase our witness to those far from Christ.  Even as Disney closes, all of our cast members have 2 weeks of paid leave to participate in a local mission trips in their own neighborhood.  It is this mindset that will help us share the name of Christ!