Dear Christ Community Family,
As the NBA Season gets suspended, several major universities switch to an online/distance learning platform, and our president announcing last night a travel ban for 30 days from Europe to the United States, I have been praying about what our best response, action plan should be. As of today Thursday, March 12 at 2:00pm, there are 16 positive cases in Suffolk County, and 1 here in our Town of Islip. I want us to be mindful, not incite any fear, but be prayerfully prepared as a community of faith. Below you will see a "Level 1, Level 2, Level 3" response that our Church Council has agreed upon. The Church Council will announce via website, email, social media, and phone calls within your community groups if there any changes necessary before 8:30am Sunday Morning. But as of now, we are currently at Level 1 (You can see below for further details).
May we continue to be praying for our state, our nation and our world, especially all those who are affected and those in the medical field that are working around the clock. Please don't hesitate to reach out to the Church Council if you have any questions.
With love in Christ,
Pastor James
and Church Council
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Level 1
- Our Church will be mindful and prayerful of this fluid situation
- ALL CHURCH ACTIVITIES (Sunday Worship, Tuesday Bible Study, Saturday Bible Study, Prayer Gathering, Community Groups) will continue on as scheduled
- If you are feeling under the weather, please refrain from attending church gathering, but do please participate via Facebook Live if possible. Please also see a health care provider, if able.
- "Greeting Time" in the Sunday Service will not occur.
- Our Church will do their best to readily provide hand sanitizer (with over 60% alcohol) for each church gathering
- Our Church will do their best to ensure the sanitizing of various, important areas of the church campus
- Our Church will continue to encourage preventative measures like washing hands, etc.
- Our Church will continue to share any instructions given by the CDC, Suffolk County Department of Health, or the New York State Department of Health.
Level 2
- Our Church will be mindful and prayerful of this fluid situation
- ALL Church Gatherings outside of Sunday (Tuesday Bible Study, Saturday Bible Study, Prayer Gathering, Community Groups) will be cancelled until further notice.
- This includes ALL Fellowship Opportunities (such as Coffee Hour after service); which will be cancelled until further notice.
- Sunday Worship Service will continue WITHOUT the "Greeting Time" in our worship order.
- Our Church will continue to provide and encourage Facebook Live and an Online Offering Service for those that are under the weather or are uncomfortable of attending our Sunday Worship Service
- Our Church Council will launch a Special Visitation Team for those who need a pastoral care visit (esp. if one may be under quarantine, or unable to come to church). This can be a physical or virtual visit based on context and situation.
- Our Church will do their best to readily provide hand sanitizer (with over 60% alcohol) at each Sunday Worship Service.
- Our Church will do their best to ensure the sanitizing of various, important areas of the church campus
- Our Church will continue to encourage preventative measures like washing hands, etc.
- Our Church will continue to share any instructions given by the CDC, Suffolk County Department of Health, or the New York State Department of Health.
Level 3
- Our Church will be mindful and prayerful of this fluid situation
- ALL Church Gatherings (including our Sunday Worship Service, Tuesday Bible Study, Saturday Bible Study, Prayer Gathering, Community Groups, and other Fellowship opportunities) will be cancelled until further notice.
- Our Church Council will be mindful about cancellation and will provide all necessary information if needed.
- Our Pastor will lead a virtual "Facebook Live" or "YouTube Live" Worship Service, and Prayer Gatherings on Sunday and Thursday on the weeks/weekends that there will be no worship service.
- Online Offering Service will be shared and encouraged.
- Our Church Council will launch a Special Visitation Team for those who need a pastoral care visit (esp. if one may be under quarantine, or unable to come to church). This can be a physical or virtual visit based on context and situation.
- Our Church will do their best to readily provide hand sanitizer (with over 60% alcohol) at each Sunday Worship Service.
- Our Church will do their best to ensure the sanitizing of various, important areas of the church campus
- Our Church will continue to encourage preventative measures like washing hands, etc.
- Our Church will continue to share any instructions given by the CDC, or the Suffolk County Department of Health.
You can see the following links for further information:
- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/guidance-community-faith-organizations.html
- https://www.suffolkcountyny.gov/Departments/Health-Services/Health-Bulletins/Novel-Coronavirus
- https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/what-we-know-coronavirus/