May 31, 2020

May 31, 2020 Williams Worship on the Web

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• This is the final Williams Worship on the Web (for now), as we will be returning to “in-person” worship next week. 
• Services next week will be at 9:00 AM and 10:30 AM. Your family’s deacon should be communicating with you about what time works best for you. 
• Join us for “Virtual Vespers” this Wednesday at 6:00 PM. You’ll find it on our Facebook page (even without an account): here. 
• Sunday School classes are encouraged to keep up with each other. Your class may choose to meet virtually via Skype, Zoom, social media, etc. or through keep connected over the phone.
• You may mail your tithe/offering, drop them in the “Drop Box” outside the rear entrance (this box will be checked daily), or give online at the link below. 
• If you have any needs throughout the week, be sure to contact your deacon or leave a message with the church office.
• Here is our plan for rejoining “in-person” worship next week. We will be working out the “kinks,” so patience is appreciated as we adjust as needed.
  • We will gather for corporate worship next Sunday, meeting in the CMC to allow space for social distancing, with two services at 9:00 AM and 10:30 AM.
    • This will give us plenty of time to coordinate how many people we will be able to accommodate in each service. We will be discussing how to determine who comes to which service.
    • We will be limiting the access points to the church and ask that you park in the rear lot and enter by the Glass Doors in the rear. As needed, additional entrances will be opened. If a hallway or area is closed off, we ask that you not enter that area. This will help us to more easily clean/disinfect after services.
    • We will respect social distancing during these services, with chairs being placed in groups for immediate families/households and those groups placed at a distance from others following social distancing guidelines.
    • I encourage you to wear a face mask/covering. We will have masks available for those who would like one but do not have their own.
    • Hand sanitizing stations will be around the CMC and entrances.
    • Deacons will assist with seating and recession following the service to help keep social distancing practices.
    • We will aim to keep these services a bit shorter.
      • This will help reduce risk.
      • Create more time for cleaning/disinfecting between services.
    • Baskets to receives tithes/offerings will be placed at the entrance/exits and gifts can be placed in them upon arrival or exit.
    • There will be NO CHOIR and very little congregational singing. Music will be mostly soloists, instrumentalists, etc. 
• We will continue streaming our services on Facebook and posting the videos on YouTube. 
  • If you do not feel comfortable attending in person…
  • If you are in a “vulnerable” or “at-risk” group…
  • If you’re sick, think you may be sick, or have been sick…
  • If you have been around those who have been sick…
  • STAY HOME!  When in doubt, SIT IT OUT! Our first priority is to keep one another safe. 

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May 24, 2020

May 24, 2020 Williams Worship on the Web

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• We will continue online worship for the rest of the month of May. 
• All meetings are suspended until further notice or may be moved to a virtual format (i.e. Skype, Zoom, Facebook Messenger), group texts, or phone conferencing.
• Join us for “Virtual Vespers” this Wednesday at 6:00 PM. You’ll find it on our Facebook page (even without an account): here. 
• Sunday School classes are encouraged to keep up with each other. Your class may choose to meet virtually via Skype, Zoom, social media, etc. or through keep connected over the phone.
• You may mail your tithe/offering, drop them in the “Drop Box” outside the rear entrance (this box will be checked daily), or give online at the link below. 
• If you have any needs throughout the week, be sure to contact your deacon or leave a message with the church office.
• As for coming back together for corporate worship, here is a tentative plan that the staff and deacons have been discussing.
  • You should have heard from your family’s deacon this week about the following plans. If you have not heard from them yet, contact them directly.
    • We will gather for corporate worship on June 7, with two services meeting in the CMC to allow space for social distancing.
      • This will give us plenty of time to coordinate how many people we will be able to accommodate in each service. We will be discussing how to determine who comes to which service.
      • It will also give our Daycare ample time to find their rhythm in their own use and cleaning of the building so we are not creating more work and liability issues for them or the church.
      • We will be limiting the access points to the church and ask that you park in the rear lot and enter by the Glass Doors in the rear. As needed, additional entrances will be opened. If a hallway or area is closed off, we ask that you not enter that area. This will help us to more easily clean/disinfect after services.
      • We will respect social distancing during these services, with chairs being placed in groups for immediate families/households and those groups placed at a distance from others following social distancing guidelines.
      • I encourage you to wear a face mask/covering. We will have masks available for those who would like one but do not have their own.
      • Hand sanitizing stations will be around the CMC and entrances.
      • Ushers/deacons will assist with seating and recession following the service to help keep social distancing practices.
      • We will aim to keep these services a bit shorter.
        • This will help reduce risk.
        • Create more time for cleaning/disinfecting between services.
      • Baskets to receives tithes/offerings will be placed at the entrance/exits and gifts can be placed in them upon arrival or exit.
  • More specific information will be released as we get closer to the date.

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May 17, 2020

May 17, 2020 Williams Worship on the Web

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• We will continue online worship for the rest of the month of May. 
• All meetings are suspended until further notice or may be moved to a virtual format (i.e. Skype, Zoom, Facebook Messenger), group texts, or phone conferencing.
• Join us for “Virtual Vespers” this Wednesday at 6:00 PM. You’ll find it on our Facebook page (even without an account): here. 
• Sunday School classes are encouraged to keep up with each other. Your class may choose to meet virtually via Skype, Zoom, social media, etc. or through keep connected over the phone.
• You may mail your tithe/offering, drop them in the “Drop Box” outside the rear entrance (this box will be checked daily), or give online at the link below. 
• If you have any needs throughout the week, be sure to contact your deacon or leave a message with the church office.
• As for “Re-opening,” here is a tentative plan that the staff and deacons will be discussing Sunday afternoon.
  • We will “Re-open” on June 7, with two services meeting in the CMC to allow space for social distancing.
    • This will give us plenty of time to coordinate how many people we will be able to accommodate in each service. We will be discussing how to determine who comes to which service.
    • This will also give us time to prepare the CMC for holding, live-streaming, and recording worship services, including repairing some A/V connections, etc.  
    • It will also give our Daycare ample time to find their rhythm in their own use and cleaning of the building so we are not creating more work and liability issues for them or the church.
    • We will respect social distancing during these services, with chairs being placed in groups for immediate families/households and those groups placed at a distance from others following social distancing guidelines.
    • We will be limiting the access points to the church and ask that you park in the rear lot and enter by the Glass Doors in the rear. As needed, additional entrances will be opened. If a hallway or area is closed off, we ask that you not enter that area. This will help us to more easily clean/disinfect after services.
    • You are encouraged to wear a face mask/covering, as this is a very real sign to show others that you care for their health and not just your own (masks protect others more than they protect us).
    • Hand sanitizing stations will be around the CMC and entrances.
    • Ushers/deacons will assist with seating and recession following the service to help keep social distancing practices.
    • Baskets to receives tithes/offerings will be placed at the entrance/exits and gifts can be placed in them upon arrival or exit.
    • We will aim to keep these services a bit shorter.
      • This will help reduce risk.
      • Create more time for cleaning/disinfecting between services.

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May 10, 2020

May 10, 2020 Williams Worship on the Web

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• All buildings on the church campus are CLOSED until further notice. 
• All meetings are suspended until further notice or may be moved to a virtual format (i.e. Skype, Zoom, Facebook Messenger), group texts, or phone conferencing.
• Join us for “Virtual Vespers” this Wednesday at 6:00 PM. You’ll find it on our Facebook page (even without an account): here. 
• Sunday School classes are encouraged to keep up with each other. Your class may choose to meet virtually via Skype, Zoom, social media, etc. or through keep connected over the phone.
• You may mail your tithe/offering, drop them in the “Drop Box” outside the rear entrance (this box will be checked daily), or give online at the link below. 
• If you have any needs throughout the week, be sure to contact your deacon or leave a message with the church office.
• This week’s Moment for the Younger Church (i.e. Children’s Sermon) is a part of the worship video. 
• We will continue to worship online through the month of May. Church staff and lay leadership will be meeting in the coming weeks to create a safe, gradual plan for “re-opening” the church. 

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May 3, 2020

May 3, 2020 Williams Worship on the Web

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• All buildings on the church campus are CLOSED until further notice. 
• All meetings are suspended until further notice or may be moved to a virtual format (i.e. Skype, Zoom, Facebook Messenger), group texts, or phone conferencing.
• Join us for “Virtual Vespers” this Wednesday at 6:00 PM. You’ll find it on our Facebook page (even without an account): here. 
• Sunday School classes are encouraged to keep up with each other. Your class may choose to meet virtually via Skype, Zoom, social media, etc. or through keep connected over the phone.
• You may mail your tithe/offering, or drop them in the “Drop Box” outside the rear entrance (this box will be checked daily). While we are able to accept online giving via PayPal, we are able to more readily access gift given directly to the church.
• If you have any needs throughout the week, be sure to contact your deacon or leave a message with the church office.
• All buildings on the church campus are CLOSED until further notice. 
• All meetings are suspended until further notice or may be moved to a virtual format (i.e. Skype, Zoom, Facebook Messenger), group texts, or phone conferencing.
• Join us for “Virtual Vespers” this Wednesday at 6:00 PM. You’ll find it on our Facebook page (even without an account): here. 
• Sunday School classes are encouraged to keep up with each other. Your class may choose to meet virtually via Skype, Zoom, social media, etc. or through keep connected over the phone.
• You may mail your tithe/offering, or drop them in the “Drop Box” outside the rear entrance (this box will be checked daily). While we are able to accept online giving via PayPal, we are able to more readily access gift given directly to the church.
• If you have any needs throughout the week, be sure to contact your deacon or leave a message with the church office.
• Information concerning “re-opening” the church will be sent via email and social media in the coming days. We will release the plan for gradually returning to worship, steps we will be taking for sanitizing the building, etc., and other information regarding our “re-opening.”

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April 26, 2020

April 26, 2020 Williams Worship on the Web

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• All buildings on the church campus are CLOSED until further notice. 
• All meetings are suspended until further notice or may be moved to a virtual format (i.e. Skype, Zoom, Facebook Messenger), group texts, or phone conferencing.
• Join us for “Virtual Vespers” this Wednesday at 6:00 PM. You’ll find it on our Facebook page (even without an account): here. 
• Sunday School classes are encouraged to keep up with each other. Your class may choose to meet virtually via Skype, Zoom, social media, etc. or through keep connected over the phone.
• You may mail your tithe/offering, or drop them in the “Drop Box” outside the rear entrance (this box will be checked daily). While we are able to accept online giving via PayPal, we are able to more readily access gift given directly to the church.
• If you have any needs throughout the week, be sure to contact your deacon or leave a message with the church office.
• As we are hearing more about the possibilities of “re-opening” Alabama, I (Chris) am in conversation with denominational leaders, colleagues, and (most importantly) health care professionals about what “re-opening” looks like for churches. When the time comes, we will re-open in the best ways that keep our members safe and set us up for the long-term. You will receive more information as I learn more and we begin to form a plan.

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April 19, 2020

March 19, 2020

Building Use

Following our monthly Food Pantry distribution on Friday, March 21, we will be effectively shutting down the church campus.

• There will be NO further on-site meetings of any kind until further notice.
• The church staff will be “checking-in” to monitor phone messages, check the mail, and any correspondence left in the “Drop Box” outside the rear glass doors. All staff will be working from home.
• All other activities are suspended, including (but not limited to): game nights, sports practices, basketball games, etc.

We are taking these measures in order to encourage the continued practice of “social distancing” (or “social respecting”), not out of any sense of fear or concern about the building or those who may seek to use it.

Worship & Other Services

The coming days and weeks are uncharted territory, so things will be in a relative state of experiment and transformation. Your comments and reflections will help us to craft more effective forms of worship, prayer, and study in this new paradigm.

• We are still in the process of compiling “Home Worship Resources” for use during this unprecedented time. The goal is to roll out a selection of resources prior to each Sunday. The resources for this coming Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 22, should arrive via email sometime tomorrow or Saturday morning.
• We will attempt to hold a virtual time of prayer and a brief devotion on Wednesday evenings at 6:00. This will be via Facebook Live. Those without a Facebook account should still be able to access the broadcast.
• We are also hoping to launch “Williams Worship on the Web” this coming Sunday, which will be a more “stripped-down,” intimate worship gathering, led by Chris. This service will be live-streamed via Facebook Live and posted later on our YouTube channel (links are included at the bottom of this email).

Contacts & Correspondence

In the coming days and weeks, contact between the church, our members, and each other will be vital. Therefore, we are taking a few extra steps to be sure everyone is “in the loop” and operations can be supported as close to usual as they can.

• By the end of this week, each family in the church should be contacted by their deacon. Our deacons will be the primary point of contact, especially when it comes to immediate updates, needs, etc.
• These emails will be a primary source of information from the church (future emails should be much shorter, needing less introductory info.).
• Periodic announcements will be made via social media.
• A “Drop Box” has been mounted to one of the brick pillars outside of the rear glass doors. Should you need to drop off a note, your offering, or any other correspondence, you may do so in the Drop Box. It will be checked throughout the day each day.
• Of course, you can still mail your offerings or other correspondence to the church office (5579 Nisbet Lake Rd., Jacksonville, AL 36265).

Look for more info regarding “Home Worship Resources” and “Williams Worship on the Web” in the next edition. In the meantime, if you have any questions contact the church office, reply to this email, or contact your deacon.

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March 15, 2020 – Pastor Chris Thomas informs the congregation of upcoming changes as we respond to the COVID-19 situation.

In summary, the following changes are in effect:

• All services are suspended until Palm Sunday, April 5, 2020.
• Maundy Thursday Service, scheduled for Thursday, April 9th, is cancelled.
• Home Worship Resources will be made available via Social Media, E-Mail, and our website.
• If we have to cancel services beyond Palm Sunday, all Holy Week Services will be cancelled and the Easter Sunday service will only be outside (Easter Sunrise Service).
• Please signup to receive e-mail updates from us (link above).
• You should hear from your family deacon by phone this week.  They will be your point person should you need anything during this time.
• Offerings can be mailed in or dropped off at the church (Wednesday-Friday)
• Meetings should be handled over the phone or at a in-home location (no meetings should be handled at the church)
• Slovakian Mission Trip Meeting will be rescheduled on Palm Sunday
• Food Pantry Distribution scheduled for Friday, March 20th will occur as scheduled
• Above all, be wise.  Stay at home if you do not feel well. Wash your hands for 20 seconds (while singing the Doxology), follow social respect (social distancing), and when in doubt sit it out.