Wednesday, May 28
Dear Branch Church Family & Friends,
In the last several weeks, we have monitored guidelines given by the State of Massachusetts for houses of worship. The state has given mandatory and recommended guidelines that we are committed to comply as we begin to meet onsite again. To make that possible, our Sunday morning services have been redesigned to create a sanitary and touchless environment that allows for social distancing.
At this time, Branch Twigs & Kids will not be available, but your entire family is welcome to attend church with you in the auditorium. For parents of small children – consider bringing coloring pages, phones, tablets or toys that do not make any noise to keep your child entertained. We realize this is not ideal but this will only be temporary until we can provide child services again.
We will begin meeting on Sunday, June 14th at 11AM. And yes, we will continue to livestream our Sunday morning service through Facebook Live.
Timeline:
•Sunday, June 14th - Outdoor service at the church parking lot at 11AM.
•Sunday, June 21st - Indoor services begin at the church at 10AM.
During Phase 1 this is how church will look:
• The auditorium will be setup to maintain social distancing of 6 feet between households.
• We will limit the auditorium capacity to 30% and everyone must RSVP through Eventbrite. You can RSVP through the Eventbrite link on our Facebook page, website and/or our app. Screening questions will be asked before you RSVP. If you answer yes to any of the screening questions, we ask that you attend Branch Church Online.
• Everyone’s temperature will be taken before entering the building with a touch-less thermometer. This includes all volunteers and congregants.
• Everyone 6 years and older will be required to wear a mask in the building. We will have masks available if anyone needs one.
• We will not collect an offering during the service but will have offering buckets at the auditorium doors. If you prefer to give during the service - offering envelopes and pens will be available as you exit the auditorium. You can drop your offering in the buckets as you exit but please do not lick the envelope.
• We will have 4 sets of hospitality volunteers stationed outside, at the entrance doors, the auditorium doors and a volunteer stationed to wipe down the bathroom door handles and water fountain. Each volunteer will open each door to maintain a touchless worship experience.
• Additional hand sanitizing areas will be placed in various locations.
• No connection cards will be passed out during phase 1.
• No shaking hands or hugs during phase 1.
• No Branch Twigs/Kids during phase 1.
• No coffee or treats will be offered but you can bring in your own coffee.
How you can help:
• If you don’t feel well or have health concerns, please stay home and join us at Branch Church Online.
• Masks are required so please bring a mask for each person in your household. We will have masks available if you need one.
• Please wash your hands and use hand sanitizer often.
• Please maintain a distance of six feet between yourself and other congregants.
• Please keep “fellowship time” between others outside. We all want to hang out and talk with church family. We encourage you to do this but please refrain until you are outside and practicing social distancing.
We will open the doors to the church for volunteers at 9:20am and begin preservice screening for congregants at 9:30am. We will exit the auditorium by sections of the auditorium to maintain social distancing requirements.
We realize “church services” may not look or feel “normal” for several weeks. These should be considered temporary measures and will NOT become a “new normal” for worship.
Our goal is to create an environment where every concern, fear and anxiety is removed. If everyone feels safe, their guard can be let down so they are open to the message of Christ.
Consider volunteering in our new hospitality ministry:
Each Sunday we will staff the building with 15 volunteers. This will keep the numbers down so more people can worship onsite. We need 3 to 4 people each Sunday to be ushers, greeters and bathroom attendants. Each member in our hospitality team will be responsible for serving people by opening the doors for congregants and cleaning/disinfecting specific areas. For most of our church family, serving God by serving people is something that many people have missed during this season of ministry. Here’s your opportunity to serve again.
Would you be willing to volunteer in our Hospitality ministry one Sunday a month? If so, click the "volunteer here" button below.
There will be more opportunities to serve as the state loosens its restrictions over the next coming weeks.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out. We love you and cannot wait to worship with you soon!
Pastor Mason & Amber Adair
Dear Branch Church Family & Friends,
In the last several weeks, we have monitored guidelines given by the State of Massachusetts for houses of worship. The state has given mandatory and recommended guidelines that we are committed to comply as we begin to meet onsite again. To make that possible, our Sunday morning services have been redesigned to create a sanitary and touchless environment that allows for social distancing.
At this time, Branch Twigs & Kids will not be available, but your entire family is welcome to attend church with you in the auditorium. For parents of small children – consider bringing coloring pages, phones, tablets or toys that do not make any noise to keep your child entertained. We realize this is not ideal but this will only be temporary until we can provide child services again.
We will begin meeting on Sunday, June 14th at 11AM. And yes, we will continue to livestream our Sunday morning service through Facebook Live.
Timeline:
•Sunday, June 14th - Outdoor service at the church parking lot at 11AM.
•Sunday, June 21st - Indoor services begin at the church at 10AM.
During Phase 1 this is how church will look:
• The auditorium will be setup to maintain social distancing of 6 feet between households.
• We will limit the auditorium capacity to 30% and everyone must RSVP through Eventbrite. You can RSVP through the Eventbrite link on our Facebook page, website and/or our app. Screening questions will be asked before you RSVP. If you answer yes to any of the screening questions, we ask that you attend Branch Church Online.
• Everyone’s temperature will be taken before entering the building with a touch-less thermometer. This includes all volunteers and congregants.
• Everyone 6 years and older will be required to wear a mask in the building. We will have masks available if anyone needs one.
• We will not collect an offering during the service but will have offering buckets at the auditorium doors. If you prefer to give during the service - offering envelopes and pens will be available as you exit the auditorium. You can drop your offering in the buckets as you exit but please do not lick the envelope.
• We will have 4 sets of hospitality volunteers stationed outside, at the entrance doors, the auditorium doors and a volunteer stationed to wipe down the bathroom door handles and water fountain. Each volunteer will open each door to maintain a touchless worship experience.
• Additional hand sanitizing areas will be placed in various locations.
• No connection cards will be passed out during phase 1.
• No shaking hands or hugs during phase 1.
• No Branch Twigs/Kids during phase 1.
• No coffee or treats will be offered but you can bring in your own coffee.
How you can help:
• If you don’t feel well or have health concerns, please stay home and join us at Branch Church Online.
• Masks are required so please bring a mask for each person in your household. We will have masks available if you need one.
• Please wash your hands and use hand sanitizer often.
• Please maintain a distance of six feet between yourself and other congregants.
• Please keep “fellowship time” between others outside. We all want to hang out and talk with church family. We encourage you to do this but please refrain until you are outside and practicing social distancing.
We will open the doors to the church for volunteers at 9:20am and begin preservice screening for congregants at 9:30am. We will exit the auditorium by sections of the auditorium to maintain social distancing requirements.
We realize “church services” may not look or feel “normal” for several weeks. These should be considered temporary measures and will NOT become a “new normal” for worship.
Our goal is to create an environment where every concern, fear and anxiety is removed. If everyone feels safe, their guard can be let down so they are open to the message of Christ.
Consider volunteering in our new hospitality ministry:
Each Sunday we will staff the building with 15 volunteers. This will keep the numbers down so more people can worship onsite. We need 3 to 4 people each Sunday to be ushers, greeters and bathroom attendants. Each member in our hospitality team will be responsible for serving people by opening the doors for congregants and cleaning/disinfecting specific areas. For most of our church family, serving God by serving people is something that many people have missed during this season of ministry. Here’s your opportunity to serve again.
Would you be willing to volunteer in our Hospitality ministry one Sunday a month? If so, click the "volunteer here" button below.
There will be more opportunities to serve as the state loosens its restrictions over the next coming weeks.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out. We love you and cannot wait to worship with you soon!
Pastor Mason & Amber Adair