Worship Matters

Zion in house worship.
Saturday at 5:00pm & Sunday at 9:30am
*Wednesday Evening services have been discontinued as of 7/30/20.
We have returned to in house worship with social distancing.
There are many new conditions in order to provide
a safe environment for worship.
Please read all of conditions or watch Pastor Jesse's walk through informational video so you know what to expect.
**Most importantly masks will be required to attend worship.**

Worship Matters - COVID Precautionary Measures

Zion resumed corporate worship in June, but it is not what you are used to.  The decision to resume corporate worship was controversial and the Council recognized that.  The Council encourages each member to do whatever they feel is appropriate for them.

For our regular worshipers, worshiping at Zion will be different and awkward.  The Council has put the following measures in place to protect the safety of our worshipers and limit the custodial time needed between services to prepare the building for the next service.  Though the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic and the precautions are controversial, the Council asks that you please cooperate, as we are trying to resume corporate worship with the safety of all in mind. 

• The center set of doors of the front entrance and the left set of doors of the rear entrance will be propped open so worshipers don't have to handle them.
• Once inside the building, you will be required to wear a mask the entire time you are in the building. 
• Worshipers are asked to limit restroom use to the Chapel and Alber Hall restrooms.
• Worshipers are asked to limit their travel in the building, by entering the building through the front or back doors only, and going directly to the sanctuary and find a seat with as little conversation as possible.
• Childcare will not be provided.
• Worshipers may sit by family.
• There will be no bulletins, however, the entire service will be projected.
• Singing is prohibited.  National Association of Teachers of Singing advises that singing together, even from a distance, is one of the riskiest behaviors due to the spread of aerosol and droplets that can carry the virus a significant distance and remain suspended in the air. A cloth mask is unlikely to protect worshipers from their neighbors.
• A cantor will sing the songs and hymns from a safe distance.  Worshipers are invited to follow along without singing the words.
• A Children's Message will be hosted when children are present, but children are not to come forward.
• Tithes and offerings will not be collected by passing the offering plates.  A single offering plate will be placed at the head of the center aisle to receive offerings.
• Holy Communion will be offered but in a modified continuous method.  Ushers will direct the worshipers so that there is no standing in line.  Pastor Jesse will be the only communion server.  At that time, he will wear a mask and gloves to distribute the body of Christ in the form of a wafer, and then will ask worshipers to help themselves to the blood of Christ in the form of wine or grape juice in the tray on a table at the front of the church.  After communing the worshiper will be asked to drop the empty communion cup in the trash can provided, and return to their seat.
• After worship, worshipers will be released to leave by the ushers with appropriate social distancing and without fellowshipping inside the building.
• If necessary, Pastor Jesse will be available in Crossroads following worship.  However, a better option is to call and talk, and if a face to face appointment is necessary one can be arranged.
• The Council discussed what to do about a worshiper who refuses to cooperate with this protocol, and the conclusion was that without 100% compliance, worship will be canceled for that service.

The Council recognizes that some of these measures might seem drastic, but they have chosen to err on the side of the safety of our worshipers.  It is our hope and prayer that our members and visitors appreciate the effort to keep them safe and will be willing to accommodate the changes.  Should someone within the worshiping body become afflicted with the COVID-19, the Council will make sure that all that may have been exposed are notified.