Public Worship at Open Arms

Public Worship Services are Resuming!

Click here for a video of this message:  Open Arms Worship Announcement    

Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Thanks be to God, that by His mercy the risks of this pandemic are decreasing in our communities.  And so, we have some good news:

Open Arms will re-start weekly, public worship services Sunday June 14^th

First Service beginning 9:00 am

Second Service beginning 10:30 am

Both services will be the same in content and format and will include the celebration of Holy Communion.  Having two services will allow us to accommodate our worshipers in a safe and respectful manner, keeping required social distances between people and household groups who attend.  

Wearing of personal face masks will also be required for those who attend.  
More specific details about what you can expect are given below:

• We will have two worship services each Sunday morning:  beginning at 9:00 and at 10:30 am.  Each service will last about 45 minutes.
• Wearing masks is required at all times, for all worshipers and helpers.  You may not feel this is necessary for your protection or comfort, but for many of our members, everyone wearing masks is very important.  A small sacrifice on one's part for the comfort of a neighbor is a God-pleasing thing. (nota bene: Romans 14:20, and 1 Corinthians 8:9-13).  
• You may remove your mask at times during the service, but only during those times  when you are not speaking, singing, coughing, sneezing or moving around.  If you don't have a mask, or forget to bring yours from home, we will have masks available for you to wear.
• We intend to have a small number of musicians and singers to lead our congregation in singing.  
• All doors will be propped open, so that you will not need to touch anything until you arrive at your chosen seats.  Of course, bathrooms will be open for use, but social distancing and extreme attention to washing and wiping down touched surfaces must be used by all.
• All socializing must take place outside the building, whether before or after services.  If you choose to chit-chat, stand in the grass areas, six feet apart from other groups and from those entering and leaving the building.
• Inside, we will arrange groups of four chairs, each group being at least six feet apart from other groups.  Our maximum capacity for each service will be around 45 people.
• If your household group is smaller than four, just leave chairs unused.  If your group has more than four, pull chairs from a nearby group, keeping social distances if needed.
• On each chair you will find a bulletin, a disposable communion kit and a napkin.  If you do not use the communion kit, please place it under your chair for us to collect later.  When leaving, carry everything you used out with you, disposing of the empty communion kit and napkin in trash containers you will walk past.  This includes your bulletin, unless you choose to take it home with you.
• You will be able to place your offerings into a plate as you enter and/or leave the worship area.
• Chairs and bathroom surfaces will be wiped down and cleaned after both services.
• For any folks not attending in person, the 9am service will be recorded and posted online as quickly as possible.  

I hope this gives you a good understanding of the steps we will be taking.  We are working and praying that everyone who chooses to join with us will feel safe and respected during the entire experience.  If you have comments, questions or additional suggestions regarding these plans, you are welcome to contact me or your Elder to share them.

Thanks be to God for His mercy, that we can now safely gather together again!  Please continue to pray every day for the healing of many who are still sick, for the protection of many who care for them, and for the safety of all others.

In Christ's service, 

Vicar Mark

mobile:  248.881.7627

"How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!  How vast is the sum of them!” Psalm 139:17