Guidelines
Re-opening Plan for NHCC
In order for us to safely come together for in person worship, the Re-opening Team recommends that New Horizons Christian Church follow the Ohio Risk Level Guidelines for social gatherings. If Summit County is at a Level One or Level Two, we will hold in person worship in the Sanctuary. If Summit County moves to a Level Three or a Level Four, then there will be no in person worship that week. Every week, no matter what level we are there will be an online worship option available. Online worship is here to stay for good.
Although the Re-opening Team is doing our part to put best practices in place to create a safe environment for worship, everyone needs to help and do their part too. The responsibility falls on all of us using safe practices to keep one another safe and healthy. And everyone is encouraged to make the best decision for themselves about whether or not they attend any kind of social gathering, including in person worship. You need to make the best decision for you.
These are the following guidelines we have put into place for all of us to follow when we return to in-person worship. If you have attended any of our Drive-In Worship services this summer, many of these practices will be familiar to you. As always, we are learning new things and may need to make changes to this at some point. If or when that happens, we will be sure to communicate that as quickly as possible.
NHCC return to in-person requirements:
-Assess your own health before attending worship. COVID19 symptoms, which include fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, muscle aches, or a new loss of taste or smell. If you experience any of those symptoms, or are uncertain about your health, please do not come to the church for worship.
– EVERYONE entering the church must wear a face mask. We recommend you bring your own mask if you have one. Masks will be available when you enter the church if you do not have one.
– When entering and leaving the building, please practice social distancing from anyone outside of your own household. Please, no hugging or handshakes. A friendly wave is the best alternative.
-Hand sanitizer will be available in various places throughout the church. Please sanitize your hands after entering the building, before leaving the building, and whenever it might appropriate for you to do so.
-Every other pew will be blocked off for distancing requirements.
-Hymnals and Bibles will be removed from all the pews in the Sanctuary. Please bring your own Bible if you wish to do so.
-No offering plates will be passed. Offering plates will be sitting on a table right inside the Sanctuary where you may place your offering either before or after worship.
-Communion will be served via individual, prepackaged wafer & juice sets. These will be available for you to pick up prior to entering the Sanctuary.
-No congregational singing. Studies have shown that singing is the equivalent of a cough, and propels the virus 12-18 feet, compared to only 3-6 feet for ordinary speaking.
-For the foreseeable future, there will be no Children’s programming offered on Sunday mornings. Children will need to remain with their families during worship. Alternative methods to share the Worship and Wonder stories will be available online once a month.
-For the foreseeable future, there will be no child care person available to watch babies or toddlers in the Cry Room during worship.
-The church office is closed on Sunday to everyone other than our staff members. Please respect that space.
Again, as we navigate through this pandemic, we are always learning new things which can often lead us to make changes when and where we need to. As of right now, these will be our guidelines as we come back together for in person worship this fall.
Worship Schedule for the Coming Months
September
6 – Online Worship on YouTube. Story: “The Boy who wanted to be Tall”
13 – Evening Vesper Service Outside – Bring You own Dinner at 6PM, Worship Starts at 7PM, The end of our summer camp series
20 – Online Worship on YouTube- The beginning of our fall theme “Dream Big” – Inspired by the writings of Bob Goff
27 – Drive in Worship at 10AM
October – Shift to New Time: 10:45AM
4 – Online Worship On YouTube (“Dress Rehearsal for Indoor Worship”)
11- Drive-In Worship at 10:45AM
18 – Online Worship on YouTube (“Dress Rehearsal for Indoor Worship”)
25 – Last Drive-In Worship at 10:45AM
November – Indoor Worship Begins
This is our plan for the next few months. Please let us know how it sounds to you, and if you have any ideas that might make it better.
A few more bits of news
Great News: The blessing box has been discovered and is helping to feed our neighbors. And families are also benefiting from the harvest of our Community Garden.
Our sanctuary is open on Tuesdays from 10AM – 2PM for prayer and meditation.
New Horizons Christian Church 