A Message About In-Person Services at Temple Baptist Church

A Message About In-Person Services at Temple Baptist Church

It is with great joy that we will be meeting in-person once again Sunday, May 24th! With guidance from the Whitehouse, CDC, the Georgia Governor's office and the Georgia Department of Public Health, we have put together a plan for keeping our members and visitors safe. The emergency response team at Temple has spent many hours and meetings developing a comprehensive plan to reopening in-person ministries and worship services. Some of these plans involve changes that are quite different than has ever been experienced at Temple Baptist Church. We understand you may not feel comfortable returning the first Sunday we begin in-person services and we understand. Our hope is that as you review the plan outlined you will keep an open heart and mind as it encompasses the church at large. 

If you are 65 years of age or older, or have an underlying health condition, we ask that you do not attend in-person church services until after June 12th. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says that these people are the most vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus. Governor Kemp recently extended the state of emergency shelter in place order for the vulnerable until June 12 and has asked churches to comply with the distancing protocols in place by the CDC. Additionally, many of our faithful volunteers fall into the vulnerable category. When we return to in-person worship, these areas of service will need to be filled by other members who are not in the vulnerable category. Individuals with serious underlying health conditions, including high blood pressure, chronic lung disease, diabetes, obesity, asthma, and those whose immune system is compromised such as by chemotherapy for cancer and other conditions requiring such therapy should avoid gathering in large groups, and when they do gather, should maintain strict social distancing until this pandemic has passed.

Temple has committed to the safety and well-being of everyone involved and therefore we will be implementing the following changes to our ministries:

Keeping the Church Informed

• We will continue to communicate with you through email, text message, and social media outlets such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

• Our church website will publish the latest updates and changes.

• If you have not signed up for email or text updates, you can do so by visiting the church website at www.tbcmoultrie.com and clicking the updates banner at the top of the page.

Preparing the Facilities

• Our janitorial team has been very busy preparing the church for your arrival. All areas have been deep cleaned and proper disinfectants have been used. During the service we will be sanitizing commonly touched items such as handrails, water fountains, doors, etc.

• All occupied spaces will be cleaned and sanitized after every service.

In-Person Worship Services, Sunday School/Life Groups and Events

• Each week, we will have one in-person Sunday morning worship service starting at 11:00 AM.

• The evening Sunday worship service will continue to be online only.

• At this time, all other in-person ministries and events have been postponed. Updates to this decision and returning to normal ministries will be provided as we progress forward.

• We will continue to broadcast all Sunday worship services and Wednesday night bible study online.

Greeters, Volunteers, and Entering the Building

• One of the first people you will see as you arrive will be our greeters. The role of our greeters will be to educate you as you enter the building. They will inform you of social distancing measures as well as other policies Temple has put in place for your safety. 

• Remember that greeting must follow social distancing measures of 6 feet and no contact. It's ok to simply smile and wave! Greeters will open the doors for you so that you can enter without touching the doors. 

• We will also have volunteers that will assist you in finding a seat. Because of seating restrictions, you may be placed in a location that you normally do not sit. Please give grace to our volunteers. 

• We ask that you follow our guidance and enter the sanctuary to quickly take a seat. 

• Areas in the church not in use will be closed with restricted access. 

• We also ask that you wear a mask (cloth or manufactured) when coming to Sunday morning worship service.

Worship Services – What to Expect

• During the service, we ask that you remain seated and wear your mask the entire time. A mask properly worn covers the nose and mouth at all times. 

• During the music service we ask that instead of singing out loud, you prayerfully commune with God in private while listening to our worship team or recorded song.

• The offering time will be different than normally expected. You will be given instructions on how to tithe and donate in person.

• Seating will be reduced and every other row will be blocked off. Please keep a safe distance from each other the entire time you are in the building. 

• When the maximum occupation in the sanctuary is reached, we will begin to direct people to our overflow areas. If you wish to go to an overflow area to allow others to sit in the sanctuary, thank you! You are more than welcome to do so. 

Nursery/Children's Church

• The nursery will not be available for childcare. Children's church also will not be provided at this time. We ask that your household sit together during worship services.

Amenities: Food, Beverages, Handouts, and Restrooms

• The kitchen will not be open and coffee will not be provided at this time. Please refrain from bringing food or drink to the church. 

• Bulletins and handouts will not be provided. All updates can be found at our church website or by calling our church office at 229-890-1156. 

• Restrooms will be restricted to emergencies only. Service times will be shortened, so we ask you refrain from using the restroom at the church unless the situation is unavoidable.

• Please remember to only bring items that you need for worship service. This will reduce the chance of an item being found that requires special handling and isolation.

We can't wait to see you! We hope that you understand our need for these changes, and pray that we can continue normal ministries at Temple Baptist Church in the near future. If you have any questions, concerns, or comments, please call our church office at 229-890-1156 or visit us online at www.tbcmoultrie.com and click "Contact Us". Our ministries may currently be virtual or over the phone, but we are here to help in any way we can.

In His Service,

Pastor Shane and the Emergency Response Team