WHCC - COVID-19 Updates
October 27, 2020
In compliance with the most recent Tippecanoe County Health Department and Governor Holcomb’s mandates and guidelines, the following are our guidelines and recommendations for the church family at WHCC.
Please note that as of today the number of people becoming sick with COVID-19 continues to rise in our county and in the State of Indiana. Everything we are asking of you is for the sake of the people we serve – to help protect you in every way.
Guidelines and Recommendations for the WHCC Family
Everyone is welcome! However, please stay home and watch services online:
o If you have any symptoms of sickness (fever, sore throat, cough, runny nose, stomach upset, etc.)
If you have had close contact with a person with COVID-19.
If you are considered high risk.
Let us know as pastors if you are not well so we can pray for you and continue to communicate with you.
Livestreamed Services
WHCC continues to livestream at these times:
Sundays at 10 AM, 6 PM,
Wednesdays at 7 PM
Monday Night Prayer at 7 PM
Masks, Distancing and Sanitation
Everyone over two-years-old is asked to wear masks in all services. This includes ushers, greeters, security, and ALL volunteers.
Masks may be removed when seated in chairs.
Please bring your own mask from home.
This is not a mandate, but a request.
We understand some are unable to wear a mask for medical reasons.
Please continue to maintain social distancing rules of six feet.
Wearing a mask does not replace social distancing and washing your hands.
There is plenty of room in the sanctuary to distance yourselves from others.
Families — sit together with a minimum of three chairs between your family and others.
Do not congregate in small groups when standing, entering, or leaving.
Our building has an excellent ventilation system, and we sanitize all the chairs, doorknobs, bathrooms, etc. after every service. It is a safe place.
At this time, we ask that you worship from your seats. Please wear your mask and do not come up to the front. Masks may be removed when seated.
Musicians, singers, and speakers do not need to wear a mask when singing or speaking. On the platform, we are distanced at least six feet from each other and 30 feet from the first row of people. When entering and exiting the platform, all will be asked to wear a mask.
Children and Youth
o We are not providing nursery or classes for Pre-K through 5th grades at this time.
Parents, please keep your children with you at all times. Bring things to help keep your children entertained during the service. If your children cannot sit, become restless, etc. please take them home. Do not allow them to go to the lobby or socialize in the lobby.
Youth meet on Wednesday nights and on Sunday nights in the East 3rd. Masks and social distancing guidelines apply.
Offering, Ministry Time, and Communion
Offering — Ushers roll in carts with giving receptacles. As you enter and/or exit the building, you will have the opportunity to drop off your gift in the receptacle. At the end of service, appointed volunteers distribute envelopes while wearing masks and gloves.
Ministry Time — We continue to offer ministry time to those who desire it, new salvations, and baptisms of the Holy Spirit.
Please wear your mask as you are receiving ministry. All pastors on the ministry line will be wearing a mask as well.
Stand on the blue lines on a designated X or sit in one of the chairs provided.
At this time, we will only be providing ministry, not impartation.
We will not be providing catchers. If you are concerned that you may fall during ministry time, please take the initiative to sit in a chair or at the altar.
Communion – On a communion Sunday, we offer prepackaged elements that you may share with your family, close friends. Or you may take them home to partake there.
Continue to practice good hygiene
Wash your hands often.
Disinfect at home.
Avoid touching your face, eyes, and mouth.
Hand sanitizing stations are set up throughout the building.
Pastoral Appointments:
If you want to talk to a pastor, call the office at 765.477.1111.
In an effort to keep our Pastors and staff healthy, we will not be meeting face-to-face – phone appointments only.
We love you and care about your needs, but during the service, is not the time to try to talk to a pastor.
Social Visiting
As your pastors, we recommend that our church family limit interpersonal socializing or meetings with one another at this time.
We recommend that as restrictions are being lifted you interact in-person with family only, if possible; and that you would meet with no more than up to 25 family members. This group size is recommended by the governor’s guidelines.
Please be considerate of family members who are 65 and older and those with known high-risk medical conditions and adhere to social distancing guidelines.
Additional Recommendations are the same as the Governor’s:
Those who are 65 and over and those with high-risk health conditions should remain at home whenever possible. This is the population that is most vulnerable to the coronavirus.
Wear face coverings in public settings. Continue to practice social distancing and good hygiene, washing hands often, disinfecting at home.
Do not gather in close groups – remember social distancing guidelines (6’ apart, etc.).
Do not go house to house visiting.
Keep your holiday and family celebrations small and with family only.
Travel – though the non-essential travel ban has been lifted it is our recommendation that we all limit travel to our local area, if possible.
Be aware that many areas of the country have aggressive COVID-19 ‘hot spots’ that should be avoided.
If it is not essential for you to travel, it is best to stay close to home.
It is not a good idea to travel internationally. If you must, please let us know so we can pray for you.
When you return, we ask that you wait at least 14 days before coming back to church or into the public.
SUNDAY DAYTIME SERVICES and GROUP DESIGNATIONS
(if you are willing and able to attend):
8:30 – 9:30 AM: This service is reserved for those who are the highest risk to COVID-19. Individuals ages 50+ or with high-risk health or immunity concerns may attend.
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Adults ages 18-50 with or without children may attend this service.
6:00 – 7:30 PM: This service is designated for Latino individuals who normally attend Sunday night services as well as anyone else who would like to attend.
*If the service time designated for you does not work with your schedule (work, etc), please call the office so we can determine which time will work for you.
**There will be room for you to bring a friend or neighbor to service to share the gospel with them.
We ask that you attend only one DAYTIME SERVICE per Sunday.
Do not arrive early for your designated service. We need time in between to disinfect the area.
NO NURSERY OR CHILDREN’S CLASSES WILL BE AVAILABLE AT ANY OF THE SERVICES. Children are to remain with their parents in the sanctuary.
Thank you for your understanding and support. Remaining flexible is very important as restrictions are added or removed and adjust accordingly. Doing our best to keep the people safe is a responsibility that we all take seriously.
As we follow these guidelines and recommendations, we are positioning ourselves for healthy growth and we look forward to future opportunities.
The guidelines and regulations are in place as of October 25, 2020. These are subject to change as we adapt to the situations at hand.
For more information about Gov. Holcomb’s guidelines, read below: https://www.backontrack.in.gov/
For more information about the CDC’s recommendations and how we have chosen to administer them, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html