Trion Heights Baptist Church

Special Announcement:

Reopening Sunday Morning Services

As we prepare to open our church buildings to allow us to return for worship services, we ask that you please follow the guidelines below during this time.

1. We request everyone wear a mask. We understand some people may not wish to wear a mask and children may continue to remove their mask, but for your safety and for the safety of others we are requesting that everyone sitting in the congregation please wear a mask.

2. If you do not have a mask to wear, you are required to keep the 6-foot distancing, which is still in place during this time. This does not apply to those who live in the same home or location.

3. Even if you have a mask on, please maintain a few feet of distance from anyone who does not reside at your home.

4. If you choose not to wear a mask, we ask that you have a tissue to cover your face if you cough or sneeze. Tissues will be available at each entrance.

5. We request everyone who enters the building use hand sanitizer, located at each entrance, before entering.

6. NO hand shaking, hugs, fist bumps, or elbow touches allowed. You should have no physical contact with anyone in the church building or on the property who does not reside in your house.

7. We ask for parents, grand-parents, and guardians of little children to assist us in maintaining the appropriate social distancing during this time.

8. We ask that at the end of the service, you follow our orderly exit plan. We will be asking people to exit one pew at a time so we can assist in maintaining our proper social distancing.

9. During this time, our fellowship hall and gym area will be closed. Entrance and exit will be directed to the front doors of the Sanctuary and the door under the carport, unless there is an emergency.

We appreciate your cooperation as we strive to provide a safe, healthy, and enjoyable worship service during these challenging time

April 22, 2020

Greetings Church Family,

Our Governor has announced that as of April 25, he will be allowing many of the business that were closed due to the “Shelter In Place” order earlier this month to reopen and work under specific restrictions for minimal operations, social distancing, and regular sanitation. While restaurants will be allowed to open their dine-in operations on Monday, April 27 working under the same specific restrictions for minimal operations, maintaining social distancing, and regular sanitation.

While the governor did state that live venues will remain closed at this time, this does not apply to church congregations. His statement about churches is, “For places of worship, holding in-person services is allowed, but under Phase One guidelines, it must be done in accordance with strict social distancing protocols. I urge faith leaders to continue to help us in this effort and keep their congregations safe by heeding the advice of public health officials. Of course, online, call-in, or drive-in services remain good options for religious institutions.”

With this being said, our church council met Sunday April 19 to discuss what actions we need to take once the “Shelter In Place” order is lifted so we can join together once again for services. With the recommendations made and agreed upon by those present, we will be opening our Sanctuary for Sunday morning services only for the month of May. Our Sunday morning services will begin at 10:30 a.m. through the month of May. There will be no Sunday School, Wednesday nights activities, fellowships, or nursery during the month of May. We will still broadcast our Sunday morning service, like normal, and continue to broadcast our Monday night Bible Study and Wednesday night Mid-Week service. From April 26 throughout May, our Sunday morning services will begin at 10:30 a.m. This will continue until we resume our Sunday School classes on Sunday June 7. Then we will return back to normal hours: 10 a.m. for Sunday School, 10:55 a.m. Sunday Morning Service, & 7 p.m. Wednesday nights.

It is our prayer and hope that we will be able to resume Sunday School and Wednesday night activities on June 3rd. As we will continue to monitor the governor’s directives on the coronavirus for our state and community, we will make any necessary changes if needed.

We ask that anyone who is currently sick or has recently been sick to not attend until you have been at least 72 hours symptom free. Everyone else should choose for themselves whether it is safe for them and their family to attend. We do ask that if you choose to attend the worship service in-person that you please wear a mask while in the building and follow the instructions posted and issued. Entrance and exit will be limited to the front doors to the Sanctuary and the door under our carport. The fellowship hall/ministry center will be closed during the month of May. I have attached a copy of guidelines we will be following over the next couple of months to assist us in getting back to normal.

Thank you for your prayers, encouraging words, and support during these last couple of months along with our adjustment time over the next couple of months.

Living a life changed by Jesus,

Pastor Vernon Johnson

706-506-5064