Keene Seventh-day Adventist Church
COVID-19 Church Reopening Plan
With the current guidance from the CDC, Governor Abbott, and Johnson County Emergency Management Service, the Keene Church has established a plan to slowly open our church for in-person worship services. Our church board has voted to begin limited in-person worship beginning on Sabbath, June 13, 2020.
Please note that this is subject to change if conditions change.
It is important for our forever family to closely read, understand, and follow the guidance and restrictions listed in this document:
Service orders will be as follows:
1st Service: 8:30a-9:30a (in-person)
Elevate: 10:15am-11:15am (online only)
3rd Service 11:45a-12:45p (in-person)
4th Service 2:30p-3:30p (in-person, if needed)
For 1st service, masks will be required while in the church. For 3rd Service, masks are recommended but not required.
Entry/Greeting
Entrance to the church will only be through the north and south doors of the church. (The exterior doors in the education complex/gathering place will remain locked.)
We may queue people outside (with social distancing) if we have groups of people come at once to the church to avoid bottlenecks with people grouped too closely together.
Greeters will not open doors for our guests and will practice social distancing.
No handshakes or hugs.
We will not print bulletins. The bulletins can be viewed online on facebook or our website.
Tithe envelopes will be placed around the church in strategic areas such as the information desk and in the foyers.
Greeters will be counting and ensuring we keep to our capacity limit of 250 guests.
Worship Services
We have a reservation system on our website to allow your family to reserve space for a worship service in advance. You can also call the church office to have them place the registration in the system for you if you can not access the internet or our website.
The reservation system is only used to help us plan whether we need to offer another worship service in the afternoon.
The reservation will be valid for one month. At the beginning of the month, you will need to make a new reservation again.
Our worship services will be limited to 250 guests at a time.
If demand for in person worship is sufficient, we will offer an additional service at 2:30pm to accommodate another 250 guests.
We ask that families only attend one service.
Attendees will only sit in open pews (every two pews will remain empty).
Attendees can choose where they sit as long as they sit in open pews and are socially distanced from others outside their family.
The balcony will be open for seating.
Attendees will follow social distancing between families when sitting in the sanctuary.
If we reach capacity, we will have overflow seating in the Chapel to view the services. Chapel seating will follow social distancing guidance. The Chapel seating will be limited to 40 attendees at a time.
Families will be able to sit together, but there must be a minimum of 6 feet between other individuals and families.
Masks will be required for 1st service. Masks are recommended but not required for 3rd service.
No children will come forward during children’s story.
We will not collect tithe and offerings during the service. There will be offering boxes at the exits of the church to deposit offerings.
The church will disinfect and clean the sanctuary between 1st service and 3rd service and after 3rd service if a 2:30pm worship is needed.
The Family Room will be closed.
Hymnals will be removed from the pews.
Microphones will be disinfected after each use.
Dismissal
Deacons will dismiss our congregation by rows to ensure there is social distancing.
If people are sitting in the front section of the sanctuary, we will require these individuals to exit using the side doors in the sanctuary.
We will not collect offerings during the service. There will be offering boxes at the exits of the church. Online Giving is also available.
Sabbath Schools
No in-person Sabbath school classes (all classes will continue on Facebook, YoutTube, or Zoom.)
Facilities
Drinking fountains will not be available to be used. Please bring bottled water.
Do not leave any trash in the sanctuary. Please remove any bulletins, tissues, wipes, bottles, or other items you wish to throw away.
There will be no food served at church (breakfasts, potlucks, etc).
We will have hand sanitizer stations throughout the church.
Restrooms will remain open. Please wash your hands thoroughly for 20 seconds. We will be cleaning the restrooms throughout the worship services.
Sabbath School Material (Little Friend, Primary Treasure, Guide, quarterlies, etc) will continue to be available in the entrance room behind the Deacon’s room on Sabbath and throughout the week.
Meetings
Life Groups should continue to meet virtually through Zoom.
Meetings such as church board, finance committee, and business meetings will continue to be hosted through Zoom.
Your Health
Your health is our utmost concern. Please ensure you follow these guidelines.
People will be on heightened alert. If you are sneezing, coughing, have a runny nose, or have a fever, please watch our services from home.
If you have allergies, it may be best to stay at home. People will be on heightened alert and we do not wish to embarrass any member.
We appreciate your patience as we enter this next phase of worship. Please direct any questions or concerns to Pastor Rick Weaver.
We love each of you.