An Invitation to Hybrid Worship
Updated May 7th, 2021: Hybrid Worship Registration is no longer required.
Updated March 31st, 2021: Hybrid Worship Registration is Mandatory. Please, visit this link to signup. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0a48aaad2ca2ff2-draft
Dear First Church Friends:
It is with great excitement that the Executive Committee shares with you their intent to move to a hybrid system of worship on April 11th, one where we continue streaming the service live AND welcome a limited number of folks into the sanctuary. Naturally, we will proceed with caution, and Church Council members have been invited to work through the kinks by being guinea pigs for a couple of weeks in March. But with increased vaccination and decreased infections, the Executive Committee thought it was time to finally welcome folks back into the church. However, the worship service will NOT be the same. Here are some things the hybrid service will demand……
- There will be no hymn singing, music, and taped anthems yes, but no singing.
- We will be limited to filling 12 pews with household units. Each pew can fit anywhere from a single person to a household of four folks in one of twelve pews. This means we could have anywhere from 12 to 48 people in the sanctuary for a worship service in addition to the team facilitating the service.
- Hybrid service with a limited number of people will begin April 11 th. Sign-ups will be through a Sign Up Genius on our webpage or by calling Doug in the church office at 802-878-5745. We hope to have this signup live on fccej.org by Easter.
- We must have Ushers to screen and ensure everyone moves safely from the parking lot to the pews and back. WE WILL NEED 2 EACH WEEK to safely enable services. This is a vital task to ensure that we follow mandated safety protocols and well-conceived movement plans. If you have been vaccinated and would like to serve in this role as an usher – please call the church office as soon as possible to let our administrator, Doug Ovitt, know by emailing welcome@fccej.org or call 1 (802) 878-5745.
- Everyone will still need to wear masks throughout the entire service and stay in their respective pews.
- Many parts of the service [Deacon’s Prayer, Anthems and Hymns, Scripture] will be pre-taped and shown up on the front wall of the sanctuary like we used to do for special occasions.
Despite these restrictions, we are excited to have people back in our beautiful new sanctuary, listening to our ministers preach or pray, and talking with folks after the service outside on the way to their cars. It is a first step as we move to a day when everyone is welcome to come to church and we continue live-streaming the service online.
Blessings and grace to you all as we continue to live into our new reality.
The Executive Committee
Maureen Evans
Cathy Shearer
Dan Petherbridge
Alison Wermer
Christine Sinkewicz
Josh Simon
Mark Mendes