The short answer is unsatisfying: we do not yet know, but we hope it is soon.
The longer answer explains our current thinking more fully:
We suspended meeting in person in response to the government’s request to assist with flattening the curve, which would lessen the transmission of Covid-19 and the impact on our health care system.
Our National, State, and Local governments are now encouraging a phased reopening of society. Religious institutions are able to resume in person meetings and the CDC and California have released guidelines for meeting safely.
We are eager to resume meeting in person and will do so as soon as we are able to regather in a way that honors the Lord, serves our church well, and loves our neighbor.
Presently the model we are contemplating would be an open-air meeting on the grassy lawn adjacent to the Temple Chapel, which would seat up to 100 people. Participants would bring their own folding chairs and blankets. Presuming we have enough participation we would have two services as well as an online streaming option. There would be no children’s programs (nursery, sermon time class, etc.), no collection, no refreshments afterwards, etc. Communion would be prepackaged in brown lunch sacks for families with a small mason jar of wine, individual bread roll, and our usual communion glasses. Communion sacks would be placed in assigned seating sections to maintain social distancing. The worship service would include corporate confessions and singing but less so than our normal liturgy. Other safe meeting guidelines, for example, wearing masks, would be communicated to the church, and encouraged.
The Temple, which we rent, is not going to resume meeting until after the 21-day trial period referenced in California’s guidelines plus another week for evaluation, which tentatively locates their in-person services in July. They are not yet ready for us to return. Their board is discussing when they will permit us to have access to the property, so for now we are waiting, preparing, and continuing with our online meetings.
Update as of May 29th: Pastor Josh will be meeting with the Temple on Tuesday June 2nd to discuss Redeemer’s hope to use the lawn area for worship. We will keep all of you updated as soon as we know more.
Click below to read the previous information news post: