Dear FPC members and friends,
After diligent prayer, research, and discussion, Session approved the revised FPC Phased Reopening Plan, including details of safety protocols for gathering in person for worship. I am pleased to let you know that our staff and leadership will be working to have these in place with the goal of offering an in-person option for worship in the sanctuary beginning Sunday, October 4, World Communion Sunday. Of course, these plans are dependent upon requirements from local and state health officials as the virus situation evolves.
We understand that for many of you in high risk categories - or in regular contact with those who are higher risk - this will not yet be the best time for you to return to in-person worship. For this reason, in addition to the positive response we have received from so many of you about the live-streamed worship services, we will continue to offer these on Facebook Live on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. as we have done since March. You will now regularly have two options for gathering as a faith community – online or in person.
For those who will choose to worship in person, please know that we will have safety protocols in place requiring face masks, social distancing, agreeing to a Gathering Covenant, and modifications to the way we interact with one another. To ensure that people feel comfortable joining us, we will require that there be no physical contact, no singing, no coffee hour, and for now we will ask that you bring your own Communion elements (bread, cracker, juice box). At this time, our Sunday school will remain virtual only, following plans of the local schools, and we will carefully work to gradually add in other elements of our church life together.
Remember that we are the Body of Christ in the world and individually members of it. When we love our neighbor as Jesus teaches, this necessarily means that we consider their wellness and safety as well as our own. It will be a joyful celebration when we can all safely gather again, and we believe that these are smart first steps towards making that a reality. Please refer to the Phased Reopening Plan information sheet and the Gathering Covenant for important details about participating in in-person worship.
Please know you and your families remain in my prayers as you settle into a fall routine, and I am certain that God will continue to do vital ministry in us and through us to be a blessing to the world. Please reach out to me with any questions about our plans or any pastoral needs you may have – 908-782-3227, ext. 11.
Yours in Christ,
Rev. Amy Lincoln