Archie Ellett

A note from Archie regarding reopening plans for LFCC

Linton First Christian Church will reopen on Sunday, May 10th. Please view the announcement and note from Lead Pastor, Archie Ellett, below. We encourage you to review some resources that we’ve put together to go along with the announcement on this page. We look forward to worshipping with you online and in-person on Sunday!



Hey LFCC family,

In light of Governor Holcomb’s announcement last week on reopening churches we wanted to share with you a decision that our Church leadership has made.

On Sunday May 10th, we are going to reopen our doors. Our service will be at the usual time, 10am. We want to do this in the most responsible way possible and as part of that we will do the following to meet OR exceed all recommendations from our governor.

  • We will screen everyone who comes in the doors. We will do a non-contact temperature check as well as ask a series of questions (Screening questions are attached on the ‘Covid-19 First point of Contact Screening PDF, please help us out by prescreening yourself BEFORE you come to the church). If you have any Covid-19 symptoms… fever, cough, shortness of breath, loss of smell, loss of taste OR have recently been in contact with someone with Covid-19, we ask that you stay at home and worship with us online.
  • On this first Sunday, and for several Sundays, we will have everyone together. No kids areas will be opened (that includes nursery)
  • We will keep physical distancing requirements. We will use every other row of chairs and we are asking family units to sit together and keep 3 seat minimum between family units.
  • On dismissal we are asking that you ensure distancing and not all leave at once.
  • We will ONLY use the doors into the lobby of the newer part of the building. We are going to keep the older part of the building closed off to limit the amount of sanitizing needed.
  • The hospitality area will be closed, so we will not be providing snacks, coffee, or tea.
  • We will not be handing out bulletins so if you take notes on those, you will need to bring your own paper… and Bibles too.
  • We are asking that you wear a mask for the comfort and protection of each other.
  • If you are at risk (have small children, are over 65, have a compromised immune system, OR you are in frequent contact with at risk people) we are asking that you stay home and worship with us online. (Please see the ‘Are you High Risk’ PDF if you have questions)

These are just a few of the protocols we are implementing to keep you as safe as we can. Please review the ‘Return to Service Protocol and Procedures’ PDF that we are asking you to look at and help us implement so we can all do our part in opening as safely as possible.

Know that we didn’t reach this decision lightly. We’ve spent time in prayer and much discussion. We know that there may be some mixed feelings about returning to the building… so we are also praying for unity.

Psalm 133.1 NIV says: 1 How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!

We are asking for unity between the churches and between our church family. Please treat each other with respect and love…. AND know that…Just because we are opening that doesn’t mean we have more faith than other churches that are keeping their doors closed… AND it doesn’t mean we don’t care about your health as much as other churches who remain closed.

At the end of the day, every church has to do what is right for them. Also, individually… you have to do what is right for you on coming to church OR not.

If you choose to come to the building, that doesn’t mean you are a better Christian than people who choose to stay at home. If you choose to stay at home, that doesn’t mean you care more about other’s health than those who choose to come to the building.

This isn’t the time to be critical about the decisions of churches OR individuals…It’s the time to be unified in reaching out to a hurting and questioning world with the Love of Jesus. SO… let’s NOT pressure people to come if they aren’t 100% comfortable.

Let’s NOT isolate those who need/want to worship online. AND let’s NOT condemn those who come to worship in the physical building. We are still a church family if we are physically present OR virtually present.

So let’s love each other regardless of our individual decisions and be the church! You have been doing an incredible job during this pandemic of being the church outside this building and that MUST continue. Remember the church isn’t about being in these walls… you are the church…you are the hands and feet of Jesus that need to be going and reaching out to the world in love.

I believe that God is using this pandemic to move in incredible ways… let’s not do anything to interrupt that…

We will continue to have a strong online presence

We will keep: Loving God, Loving People, and Sharing Jesus.

Keep checking on each other…

Keep inviting someone to come here to church OR to participate with you online.

AND we will continue to be a church family!

Stay safe… we love you… see you soon.

Archie


Click here to view resources that go long with this announcement.