December 8, 2020
Dear Plum Creek family,
I appreciate the prayers for me and my family after my positive COVID-19 test. The rest of the family tested negative, and I continue to have no symptoms. My quarantine is scheduled to be over on Friday, December 11th.
That means we will move ahead with the plan I mentioned in last week’s update. We will return to in-person services on December 13th, this coming Sunday. In addition, we will once again be offering on-site Kids Ministry for toddlers through 5th grade on December 13th. All children need to be registered in advance, and you can do that by following this link:
Of course, with any and all plans right now, I have to add the caveat, “subject to change.” I didn’t expect to test positive last week, and I sure don’t know what’s coming in the weeks ahead. I do know that when possible, we want to continue to offer in-person opportunities for worship and discipleship. We are still closely monitoring the COVID conditions, and yes, there is reason for concern. We will continue to take the same safety precautions, which includes wearing a mask for the entire service. Again, we realize that there are many legitimate reasons for people to stay remote for the time being, and we very much encourage that.
I hope you had the opportunity to hear last week’s sermon. I was very encouraged by the reminder to look at God’s track record in times of uncertainty. He’s always good and always faithful. Thank you for continuing to follow Jesus during this crazy season. I look forward to seeing you on Sunday, in person or online. It’s going to be a great day!
In Christ,
Doug
December 3, 2020
Dear Plum Creek family,
I need to update you on some recent developments. This afternoon I received the news that I tested positive for COVID-19. I don’t have any symptoms and I feel just fine. :) However, I do need to be quarantined. I have been wearing a mask in the office this week, but based on CDC guidelines, we have others on staff who have been exposed and therefore need to quarantine, as well. Because of these factors, we will not be meeting in person for worship this coming Sunday, December 6th. As usual, our service will be streaming live on Facebook and Youtube at 11am. As for the next Sunday, my time in quarantine is scheduled to be finished by December 11, so unless something changes, we plan to return to in-person services on Sunday, December 13th. We’ll send another update next week to confirm that decision and give additional details.
We’re going to keep trusting God through all of this. We know that He’s good. I’ve been working on this week’s sermon, and it’s amazing to see how God has led me to a message that already applies to this situation. I do appreciate your prayers, and I would especially ask that you pray for others in the congregation who have tested positive and are experiencing symptoms. It’s such a good thing for brothers and sisters in Christ to support each other and pray for each other. I’m very grateful for our church family. Let’s keep looking to Jesus and looking for ways to share his love.
In Christ,
Doug
November 24, 2020
Dear Plum Creek family,
I wanted to send you a brief update on our Sunday morning plans. Unless something changes, we plan on continuing with the same format for at least two more weeks (November 29 and December 6). That means we will meet in person for worship, but our preschool and kids ministry will not meet onsite. In addition, we will continue to wear masks during the entire service. Online options will still be available. We will re-evaluate after the next two Sundays, and we are praying that we’ll be back in full force as soon as possible! Whatever the case, though, we can still be the church. Next Sunday is the first week of our Christmas series, Evergreen. I hope that you’ll join us and invite a few friends to be with us too, either in person or online. Have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving everyone!
In Christ,
Doug
November 20, 2020
Dear Plum Creek Family,
I wanted to communicate with all of you regarding this week’s developments related to COVID-19. As you know, the situation is once again changing rapidly, and we continue to seek God’s wisdom as we make decisions for how to proceed as a church.
Cases are on the rise, and we take this virus very seriously. For months, we have been working to follow the guidelines set by the CDC and the government as closely as possible. With this week’s announcements from our governor, churches across the state are deciding how to respond. After prayer and discussion, here is where we stand at Plum Creek.
This week, the governor expressed a preference for churches to meet virtually. Also this week, he issued an executive order with this wording regarded to restrictions for indoor gatherings: For the avoidance of doubt, this limit does not apply to in-person services at places of worship, which must continue to implement 2020-968 November 18, 2020 and follow the Guidelines for Places of Worship. Taking both of these statements into consideration, we will be meeting for in-person worship services, at least for Sunday, November 22. If, for any reason, meeting in person is not the right decision for you, we encourage you to worship online this Sunday. For the church as a whole, it’s difficult to make long-range plans, and we will continue to communicate with you in the coming weeks.
I also need to let you know that while we are meeting in person this Sunday, we will be taking additional safety measures. Please be aware of these two changes:
- We will require everyone in attendance to wear a mask through the entire service, with the exception of those on stage.
- Our preschool and elementary students will not be meeting in-person this Sunday. Our Kids ministry will continue to provide an online lesson available to watch on Youtube. In addition, the Kids ministry will be hosting virtual small groups on Sunday morning at 10:30am. Parents will be able to pick up a lesson pack at the main entrance of the church building anytime tomorrow, November 21. Dylan will be sending specific information to parents about these online options.
We know that it’s important for the church to respect the governing authorities (Romans 13:1). We also know it’s important for the church to meet and worship together (Hebrews:10:24-25). We also know that we’re called to love our neighbor (Matthew 22:39), which means being vigilant to prevent the spread of this virus. Everyone is making difficult choices right now, and as followers of Christ, we must make choices in the light of Scripture as a whole. I would ask that you pray for those who make decisions affecting large numbers of people. Thank you for your part in helping our church be a light during these challenging times. I love and appreciate all of you. I look forward to worshiping with you this Sunday, one way or another!
In Christ,
Doug