Worship Service Updates – Sunday, July 5, 2020

by | Jul 4, 2020 | Message from Pastor Devon, Wintergarden Presbyterian Ongoing Updates

Good Afternoon Wintergarden Family near and far!

As the number of people testing positive with COVID-19 in our county and state increases, we are also experiencing more and more people we know are being tested and testing positive and negative. Many are testing positive and didn’t have any symptoms. And some already have the anti-bodies for COVID-19. 

The session has discussed many different options on how to move forward. It is very difficult because we have a huge desire to gather together and at the same time a huge desire for everyone to be well. 

In May, we had the Air Oasis Purification System installed on all of the AC units in the building. An image is below on what this system is proven effective against. 

We also recognized that after worshiping outside for the past month in the garden, it has just become unbearably hot and buggy. With those two pieces, here is how the session is comfortable moving forward for worship on Sunday, July 5, 2020:

1. Sacred Space will continue OUTSIDE in the Garden. BUT worship will begin at 8:30 am. In addition, we will require everyone to do a better job at physical distance as well as require everyone to wear a mask. This service will still be shared on Facebook Live. 

2. Our traditional service will resume INSIDE the sanctuary at 9:30 am. In order for us to do this, everyone who joins us for worship must agree to the following:

a. Everyone will be required to wear a mask inside the building. Please bring your own mask or wear a mask provided for you at the doorway. 

b.Please enter through the double glass doors and exit through the single glass door by the office. 

c. Chairs will be placed in the sanctuary to honor physical distancing. You can sit next to each other if you live in the same household. 

d. We will not be singing, passing the peace, or passing the offering plate. 

e. Worship will last around 45 minutes. This will give us time to clean the sanctuary together and have little interaction with passing other groups using the building.

f. We will not have coffee or food for fellowship. And we are asking for you not to linger in the building. You are encouraged to linger and talk outside of the building. 

g. If you do not feel well, please do not come to worship. We want everyone to continue to be well during this period. 

h. If available, we will take everyone’s temperature before entering worship. 

i. Also, a written attendance will be taken.

We recognize this is going to be a challenge in many different ways for all of us. Our hope is to worship together in a way that everyone is respectful of everyone else. I know we all have different thoughts and opinions on what is happening with COVID-19. Our goal is to protect and care for the least of these…and we don’t always know who they might be. 

In all of this, if the numbers of positive COVID-19 cases continue to increase, we will stop gathering for in-person worship until there is a steady decline. As of right now, we will make that decision on a week by week basis. Please stay tuned for these weekly announcements. 

Please let me know if you have any questions! 

Love to you all, 
Pastor Devon
941-525-6671
revdev08@gmail.com