May 28, 2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters in our Lord Jesus,

We thank God for you, and we look forward to regathering for the public worship of God this coming Lord’s Day, May 31. While there is joy in this return to public worship, there is also grief, for there are still restrictions placed upon us.

As you know from previous communications, we will be holding services with attendance of 50 people. We believe three services will be sufficient for everyone to be able to attend public worship. Please continue to be patient as we work through the many practical details of reopening.

As you know, there is a level of risk associated with congregant settings. We shall follow CDC guidance, and Restarting Maine’s Economy: COVID-19 Prevention Checklist Organization Guidance for Religious Gatherings, issued by the Governor’s office on May 22, 2020. (We have attached a copy of this document.) We understand that individuals and families will need to make their own decision about attendance based on their own assessment of risk. Of course, if you are feeling ill, please do not attend services.

We will be posting this information on our website, as well as distributing through our usual email list. Our building has had little use over the last few weeks, and it has been thoroughly cleaned.

The following are practices that we are establishing for the first few weeks. We will make changes as circumstances change and as information is updated.

Worship Service Information

• Services will be limited to 50 people.
• Three identical services will be held (9:30 am; 11:00 am; and 6:00 pm).
• We request that you sign up each week. (Contact Peter in the church office at lakeview@ne.twcbc.com, or tel. 207-594-2264).
• If you are able to occasionally vary your time choice, that would be appreciated; we understand that not everyone can do so.
• Every other pew will be used to follow 6 ft. distancing.
• There will be no organized nursery until further notice.
• The library and some rooms downstairs will be available for families to use (these rooms have a speaker).
• Hymnbooks and Bibles have been removed from the sanctuary; scripture text and hymns will be printed in the bulletin.
• We will not be singing for a period of time.
• Offering plates will be at the back of the sanctuary to collect our offerings either as you enter or leave.
• We are still considering how to observe the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.
• There will be cleaning of surfaces between each service.
• Out-of-state visitors are welcome to attend if they have followed the governor’s quarantine recommendations. Visitors should sign up for a service.

FAQS:

• Regarding face masks, the state guidance is as follows: Cloth face coverings must be worn by all attendees when physical distancing is difficult to maintain, such as when coming and going, except for children under the age of 2. (We understand this to mean they can be removed once seated).

• Regarding singing, the state guidance is as follows: Communal singing also increases risk of respiratory transmission of COVID-19 and is not recommended at this time.

The elders will regularly review our practices. We thank you for your prayers. We know you will be patient as we navigate these strange days. We have confidence in God that he will glorify his name.

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (Jude 24-25)

With much love in Jesus,

Pastor Stephen Tracey, on behalf of the Session.