CitySalt Church,
We are coming upon the one-year anniversary of our first live-streamed service! Can you believe it was March 15th, 2020 that John, Dusty, and Mike sat at bistro tables in front of Dusty’s iPhone attempting our first Facebook live video? We have learned a ton since then, maybe more than we ever wanted to know about Zoom, live streams, and handwashing.
We would like to take this opportunity to update you on our current “when” and “how” plans for what we are calling a “hybrid” approach to CitySalt Sunday Services in the weeks ahead.
There have been many ups and downs this last year regarding churches, that include questions about the legality of limiting worship gatherings and the safety of meeting indoors. CitySalt has continued to opt to engage virtually for our Sunday services, knowing that our community is strong and that gathering in a common space, while wonderful and beautiful, is not the only means to worship Jesus.
That said, we do dream of the day we get to all worship together in the same space! We want to walk in-step with the Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA) recommendations for gatherings, sanitization, masks, and physical distance, as well as their analysis of positive COVID cases in our area. After all, we as the church can be the “experts” on loving God, loving our neighbors, studying scripture, and prayer; and we can let the epidemiologists study the spread of infectious disease and give guidance to mitigating any unnecessary risks associated with public gatherings.
As Lane County has regularly landed in the most extreme risk category for positive COVID cases per 100,000, we have all lived with restrictions on our regular routines. As of last week, we have moved out of this “Extreme Risk” category (>200 cases per 100,000) to the next category, “High Risk” (100-200 cases per 100,000). We started seeing restaurants begin to open for indoor dining, gyms increase their capacity, and even schools making arrangements to welcome students.
So what does that mean for CitySalt?
To the question of WHEN:
Our goal has been to begin Hybrid Sunday Evening Services when Lane County moves from “Extreme Risk” to “High Risk” categories according to the OHA metrics as listed above. Now that we have met this benchmark we will begin these services! Last Sunday (February 28th) we explored with the “walk through communion service” in our space, and this coming weekend (March 7th) our regular 5:30 Sunday Service will be in the “Hybrid” format. This is short notice. Our heart is to maintain our commitment to quality online services while welcoming folks to join in person at The Box.
These first “Phase 1” services will look different from the last time we worshiped together in person. And future phases of reopening will look different from this first phase. As we are a community together, we ask for your grace as we explore this new territory.
To the question of HOW:
Here is what to expect with our Hybrid Service Reopening Plan:
Service starts at 5:30, doors open at 5:15
Those in attendance will be documented, for the intent of contact tracing
Masks will be required at all times
Live-stream cameras will be on the stage area and around the room (you may be seen on the live-streamed broadcast)
Chairs will be arranged to accommodate household groups at least 6 feet apart
No Kids Ministry or Childcare will be provided during these services
If your child is interested in participating in the “adult” service and can remain seated with their mask on they are welcome to attend
If not, consider partners coming on alternate weeks so that the kids can stay home
CitySalt Kids Ministry will continue monthly zoom parties and other projects
No food or drinks will be provided
A cleaning team will sanitize with The Box with EPA recommended cleaners prior to the doors opening
Music -- Will still be a part of our services
Depending on who is leading worship, we may have teams live in The Box or live-streamed from home projected on the overhead screens
Worship leaders who are live in The Box will maintain a 20-foot distance from front row seats and may remove their masks while singing
The congregation is encouraged to sing while keeping a mask over the mouth and nose
Final Remarks:
We hope this outline helps you know “what” we have been watching for to initiate this new phase, and “how” you can expect the in-person portion of a worship service to look. It will be strange, it will be different, but there is no other church body we’d rather be taking on this challenge with than with all of you. Being the church, and worship itself, is a community endeavor. We are in this together no matter what room(s) we are in.
While some of us will be gathering at The Box, we will continue to prioritize our online participation. For those at home, please, continue to engage with Facebook comments, Big Table Sunday Zoom Fellowships, Kids Ministry Zoom Parties, and virtual small groups. You are absolutely a crucial part of our CitySalt body!
As the country makes its way back to normal and we get closer to the day we can safely gather in person, indoors, singing our hearts out without masks, and embracing each other with holy hugs. We are on a timeline that we don’t get to control, and we’ll phase back one step at a time--with grace, generous assumptions, and love for one another.
Grace and Peace,
CitySalt Church Leadership Team