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May 20, 2020

Dear Church Family,
We pray this letter finds you and your family well. With the possible opening of church swiftly approaching, we feel it necessary for you to know about the changes at West Burnsville Baptist Church due to the Coronavirus. We hope it is in your plans to join us, either in person or online, once we are able to resume services at the church building.

All potential attendees should stay at home if they are sick, or if anyone in their family is sick. If you are experiencing the following symptoms: cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, please stay at home. If you or a family member has been ill, you should be fever free for fourteen (14) days before returning to church. Also, if you work with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, please stay at home.

For those in attendance, personal protective equipment will be available, including masks and gloves. Hand sanitizer will also be available.

BEFORE THE SERVICE
Once you arrive at the church, you will see that some pews are cordoned off. This is to place 6 feet between yourself and the person in front of or behind you. The pews are also divided into sections, allowing for one person or a family, with social distancing. Ushers are available to assist you with seating. Attendees are asked to not congregate in the foyer of the church. If you wish to visit with others, please do so in the parking lot, following the service.

SEATING
Because the number of people per service will be limited, there will be call ahead seating for each service. This will allow social distancing and will also ensure that people are not turned away for services. We will continue the safe practices of social distancing so seating will be different for a while. Please contact Renee Hughes at the church office, (828) 682-3990, to schedule your seating once services resume.

EXITING THE SERVICE
Once the service is over, pew by pew, people on the right side of the sanctuary will exit at the door behind the organ. People in the center section, again pew by pew, will exit at the doors on the back right of the sanctuary and out the front doors. People in the left section, pew by pew, will exit at the rear doors on the left side of the sanctuary and out the Fellowship Hall door.

SERVICE TIMES
Current plans are for a service at 11:00 a.m. If the 11:00 a.m. service fills up with the maximum number of people, a 9:00 a.m. service will be added. These numbers will be based on call ahead seating.
Online services at 11:00 via Facebook and on the WBBC website will continue for those who do not yet feel comfortable in a larger crowd.

HOW WILL SERVICES LOOK
At this time and probably for a few months, there will be no in-person:
• Sunday School
• Children’s Church
• Youth
• Nursery
There will be no congregational and choir singing. Singing will be conducted either by the Praise and Worship Team or as special music.

There will be no hymnals, Bibles, pens or envelopes in the pews. Should you need a Bible, please locate an usher and they will provide you with one. Offering envelopes can be found at the Welcome Desk. There will also be no church bulletins.

Ushers will be at exit doors should you wish to place your offering in the offering plate.

Because there will be no children and youth services, only the main floor of the church will be open. Changing tables have been placed in the family restroom and the ladies’ restroom behind the sanctuary for your use. If you are a parent who needs to leave the sanctuary with your child, the Sunday School room just off the sanctuary and those down the hall in the Fellowship Hall are available for your use.
Much thought and consideration has gone into this plan. We have everyone’s best interests in mind. The measures mentioned above are to be taken to keep everyone safe while at West Burnsville Baptist Church.

Thank you for your patience during this very different time in our personal lives and in the life of our church. We hope that soon we will be able to resume normal services. God bless you all!

Sincerely,
Eddie King
Chairman of Deacons
West Burnsville Baptist Church