First Baptist Swansboro's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Deacons and the Pastor have agreed to re-engage on Sunday, July 12, 2020, for contemporary and traditional worship at 9am and 11am respectively. As a staff, we are excited and very much looking forward to resuming in-person worship with you all! To ensure the safest possible experience, we are encouraging the following guidelines:

BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME, CONSIDER THIS:

Are you sick?  Please review the information about Covid-19.

• If you are sick, please remain home and participate in worship online. 
• In consideration of others, please do not attend if you have uncontrolled allergies, a common cold, or any other infirmity that would display the same symptoms as the coronavirus.

Are you high risk?

• Those who have underlying health conditions and those showing symptoms—or those who have been exposed to others showing symptoms within the last 14 days—are encouraged to remain in their homes and participate in worship online.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

• Hand Sanitizer will be available at all entrances and sanitation stations.
• Social distancing and face coverings will be practiced in the facility for the protection of all. 
• Worship will be planned for the entire family, so families with children will remain together in the Worship Center for the entire service. 
• A kid’s interactive sermon notes page will be provided. However, no clipboard or color pencils will be handed out. Bring your favorite pencils, pens, or crayons from home. 
• Childcare will not be provided. 
• Sunday School and other activities will continue with online formats. 
• We will not be serving any coffee or donuts for the time being

DURING WORSHIP:

• Chairs may be moved as necessary to accommodate larger families.
• Social distancing will be practiced, as family units will maintain six feet of space between themselves and the next worshiper. 
• Please, no hugs and no handshakes.
• No bulletins will be handed out. 
• At this time, there will be no Choir to lead during service.  They will begin rehearsing/leading when it is deemed safe to do so. 
• Congregational singing will be limited due to aerosolization. 
• Your offering will be collected through containers at exit doors.
• In case there is a need for additional seating, the second-floor walkway will be opened. 
• Eventually the Reception Hall will be available for overflow and family space once the technology is updated.

AFTER WORSHIP:

• Sanitizing teams will disinfect “high touch” surfaces between services.
• Feel free to utilize any of the Family Life Center’s three exits. 
• Please do not stay longer than 10 minutes after the service's conclusion to allow sanitation teams to clean.

Thank you for wading through all this information, but it was necessary. To announce a date for our re-engagement of worship required us to offer some direction on how we would manage it, given the desire to keep everyone safe.

As the situation changes, we will keep you informed. So make sure you read anything you receive from the church. Thank you for being the people you are; and one day very soon, we will be resuming our effective and comprehensive ministry posture!

Other activities will resume in the future.

Looking forward to seeing you Sunday, July 12!  God bless you all!