For the past year and half, despite the continuous in-person services and events, there have been no cases of coronavirus transmission within the church nor has there been a case of someone going through hardship because of COVID-19 within our community. I thank all of you for putting in the effort; I also thank the Lord.
Vaccinations have become almost complete for members of our church above the age of 12. Within our church, we can say that 96 percent of our congregation above the age of 12 are vaccinated. We will adapt to the changing situation with COVID-19. However, we will not hasten making changes in our policy.
In our church, we have decided to keep the following policies below for the duration between June 20 (Sunday) and July 11 (Sunday). The next step will be announced in the second week of July after further discussion.
1) Indoor Regulations
Starting from Sunday June 20, we will not assign seats anymore. (Hence, it is also no longer necessary to make a reservation for the service in advance). Still, please keep a one or two seat distance within groups.
a. We will make available the ‘social distance seat assignment’ for those who need it; there will be a separate section of the sanctuary reserved for those who wish to have socially distanced assigned seats. Please contact Mokyeo Jamie Yeo or Pastor Choi by Saturday noon.
b. Masks (dental masks or above) need to be worn indoors. Additionally. There will be no eating indoors. The plexiglass wall will still be installed, the windows will continue to be open for ventilation, and we will continue to sanitize the church before and after the service.
2) Outdoor Regulations - At outdoors, you can both eat and take off your mask.
3) Sunday school will resume for children
a. Children must wear dental masks or above indoors
b. They will be with their parents at the Korean service until the praise ends
c. The children will gather at the lobby and move to children’s service during the offering praise
d. Social distance will be maintained during Children’s service; a youth pastor will give a 10-minute sermon to the children.
e. After the service, each group will (usually) do an outdoors activity or a crafts project indoors while maintaining social distance.
4) Tree of Life (English Congregation)
a. We will continue to use the ‘social distance seat assignment’ (it is still necessary to register beforehand)
b. We will allow vaccinated children of ages of 12 and above who have had their immunity start to form to decide themselves whether they should wear a mask or not (This is because the number of service attendees are small compared to the size of the sanctuary; social distance is naturally enforced).
c. Masks will continue to be required indoors after service ends.
5) Mokjas are free to decide how their Mokjang meeting will resume. Nevertheless, we recommend opening up gradually toward in-person meetings.
We will continue like this for a month and make adjustments based on the individual opinions of the members of our congregation. I pray that we understand each other’s differences in how fast we should open up the service, and walk in the same direction.
pastor, JiWon Choi