WHAT DOES NEW JERSEY STATE OFFICIALS CURRENTLY ALLOW FOR IN-PERSON GATHERINGS? (effective 5/19/21)
- No Limits on Outdoor gatherings
- Indoor gatherings for houses of worship are allowed 100% capacity or 250 people, whichever is lower, while still maintaining social distancing
- All participants must:
- properly socially distanced
- Wearing masks
- hand-washing/sanitizing procedures in place
- Disinfect any common areas
- For more State Guidelines, please find them by clicking HERE.
WILL THERE BE GRADUAL PHASES/STAGES AS SEEN IN MANY REOPENING GUIDELINES?
We are currently moving into PHASE 3 as of May 19, 2021. We planned 4 phases/stages as we begin to reopen our facilities for services and ministries. Details are below.
PHASE 1
- Only pre-registered people will be allowed into church
- We will begin with a maximum of 25 people by invitation only–leaving space couple spaces for guests
- All worship volunteers and staff will be Covid-19 tested ahead of time
- No fellowship, no bible study, no children services
- Bathrooms will be available on an emergency basis only
- Children under 12 not advised to come
- Services will continue to be live-streamed
- Upon arrival:
- Everyone must wear masks at all times, gloves optional
- Maintain social distancing of 6ft at all times
- Ushers will direct you to and from your chair
- Encouraged not to touch anything including door handles
- Each person’s temperature will be measured
- Each person will be asked a short questionnaire
PHASE 2: What will change?
- We will incrementally increase attendance in accordance with state regulations
- We will adjust worship space accordingly
- Bathrooms will be made accessible
PHASE 3: (CURRENT PHASE) What will change?
- PRE-REGISTRATION WILL NO LONGER BE REQUIRED but attendance will be tracked
- Additional protocol provided for Youth and Children ministries to begin
- More elements of worship will be added
- Seats will no longer be designated
PHASE 4: What will change?
- Church will resume gradually with almost full capacity
- Sunday fellowship will resume
WHAT WILL BE DONE IN PREPARATION FOR AN IN-PERSON GATHERING?
- All Volunteers and participants will wear masks at all times indoors
- Doors will be left open for proper ventilation
- Seating will be separated with proper 6 feet distancing
- All participants will be temperature checked and be pre-screened prior to entry into the church on Sunday
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT WHEN WE ARRIVE AT CHURCH FOR AN IN-PERSON SUNDAY GATHERING?
- After you leave your parked car, you will be greeted at the door by an usher that will check your temperature, ask you pre-screening questions, and make sure you have a mask on prior to entry
- Hand sanitizer will be offered for hands prior to entry
- Upon entering the building, an usher will escort you into the building and to your social-distanced seating
- Everyone will keep their masks on for the duration of our worship except for the worship leader and the preaching pastor
- There will be no more than 50 in one room at a time. As restrictions loosen, the number will increase.
- Bathrooms will be open for usage with a 2 person limit at one time.
- At the conclusion of worship, ushers will encourage you to exit the building to the parking lot where fellowship can happen.
- Masks will not be required outdoors for those who are fully vaccinated
WILL PARTICIPANTS BE ALLOWED TO SING DURING CONGREGATIONAL PRAISE?
- With proper masks and physical distancing, worship participants will be allowed to sing or voice out the words of songs.
WHAT ARE THE PROTOCOLS FOR THE YOUTH AND CHILDREN AT CHURCH?
- All protocols set for the adult worship will be in place for the youth and children’s Sunday worship and schools
- A separate single-use bathroom sanitized weekly will be made available for GROW Elementary
- Masks will be required for children at all times and for youth that are not vaccinated
WILL WORSHIP PARTICIPANTS NEED TO BRING THEIR OWN MASKS OR WILL IT BE PROVIDED?
- All participants will be encouraged to provide their own mask or face-covering, however, masks will be readily available if needed.
WILL I BE ABLE TO USE A BATHROOM FACILITY IN CASE OF EMERGENCY?
- In case of emergency, bathrooms will be made available for participants with a 2 person limit at one time.
THE STATE GUIDELINES SET NO LIMITS FOR OUTDOOR GATHERINGS. WHY NOT HAVE OUTDOOR SERVICES?
- Outdoor Services are being considered for upcoming weeks but on certain occasions
- The Reopening Team considered the option of outdoor worships, but we have decided to limit such gatherings for the following reasons:
- our church is located in a heavily residential area so any amplified noise may cause a disturbance to our neighbors
- though we can plan a special outdoor event in a public park, it is very difficult to repeat on a weekly basis
- with summer weather (heat and thunderstorms), scheduling appropriately will be troublesome
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