Dear Calvary Family,
I want to update you on what’s happening at Calvary in light of the concerns regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) in our area. Like you, I’ve been following this evolving story with great interest. I’ve also spoken with the other pastors in our area to gain perspective on what they are doing as we all move forward. Please read through this entire email as it contains detailed plans for keeping our campus safe, and how you can help.
At this time, officials are not recommending the cancellation of public events or Sunday church gatherings. So, Calvary will remain open and we will continue to have Sunday School and Service on Sundays and the midweek Awana programming. We will actively keep you updated about any changes through our Website, Facebook, Email, and texts from your Home Gathering Leader.
During this time, here’s how we are committed to keeping our campus clean: 1. We will sanitize highly touched surfaces before Sunday service such as doors, handles, tables, water fountains, etc…. 2. We ask our Home Gathering volunteer teams to wash their hands frequently and stay home if they are sick. 3. We will provide hand sanitizer stations near the sanctuary for everyone to use. Please feel free to bring your own hand sanitizer to use as well. 4. Offering plates will be relocated to the back of the sanctuary so we don’t need to pass them down the row.
We are making a few changes in our Morning Service Time as well; 1.During our greeting time we will ask you to NOT SHAKE HANDS but rather greet with simple hello or an “AIR HIGH FIVE.” 2.For Communion we will have families and individuals come to the front to partake rather than passing the elements, and we will provide only mozza bread, no soft “Communion Bread.” 3.We have decided to NOT have formal nursery care for a period of time. If you desire to take your children into the nursery and watch the service there you are welcome to do that. We know this is an inconvenience and we believe it is also the best course of action for now.
During this time, we are asking you to help prevent the spread of the virus in the following ways: 1. Stay at home when you or a family member are sick. 2. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. 3. Cover your sneeze or cough with a tissue or your arm. 4. Get in the habit of NOT touching your face so often. 5. Forgo shaking hands at church for a wave or a friendly smile. 6. If you or someone you know tests positive for COVID-19, please let us know so we can find a way to help, pray for everyone involved and take any necessary precautions here at Calvary.
Calvary Online: If you or a family member are sick or need to stay home during this time, we invite you to watch Sunday service online. A couple of ways you can help: 1. Pray – Pray for those impacted by the virus, as well as their families and loved ones. 2. Questions or concerns? If you’d like to share thoughts, concerns, questions, and ideas with us as we navigate our response to this situation, we’d love to hear from you. Your input and feedback are truly important to us. Please contact any of the Council Members (ELDERS:Aaron Fite, Craig Bryan, Brian Fite, DEACONS: Jason Brown, Jr. VanDusseldorp) during Pastor Dave’s surgery and recovery.
While we cannot control the virus, or the spread or the impact it has in our church, we’re doing everything we can to make our campus as safe and clean as possible. We appreciate your cooperation and commitment to help us do just that.
We must also remember that God has not called us to live in fear but in faith. As the apostle, Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power ,and love, and discipline.” My prayer is that God will fill all of us with these three gifts, no matter what comes our way, and as we respond to the current and ongoing health concerns that we will represent Jesus well.
Please continue to Passionately Pursue Jesus,
Pastor Dave
on Behalf of the Elders and Deacons
Calvary Baptist - Platte, SD 