Outdoor Worship is back!
Outdoor worship is back! As circumstances allow, Session is excited to offer hybrid worship inviting all to join us in worship either over ZOOM and in-person outside. Here’s what this entails:
ZOOM Gathering: We are committed to providing a quality virtual space to gather for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. You are always welcome to join us over ZOOM from your home. Student Pastor Katie will regularly be serving as virtual liturgist and guide in this gathering. Pastor Melissa and Charlie will still be leading the service; they will just be doing it from outside.
Gathering on the Grass: As weather and circumstances allow, we are so glad to gather with one another outside. The following describes what you should expect as well as our “Covenant for Conduct.” By attending you are making a covenant with the community to love and care for each other in the ways listed.
Where: To more comfortably accommodate people (and to provide for live music!), Charlie Ashton, our Minister of Music, has offered to host this in his side yard. Charlie & Demi write, “We are excited to have HPC worship in our side lawn this Sunday! Thank you in advance for following the guidelines listed below that have been developed by our Staff and Session.”
Ashton Side Yard
123 W. Broad Street
Hopewell, NJ 08525
When: As weather and circumstances allow, Sunday mornings at 10:30AM. The rain plan will be to gather virtually as we have in previous weeks. Should this be the case, you will be notified at 8:30 AM, Sunday morning in the worship email. (So, please stay in the habit of checking that email!)
How: The team which has been planning for these services has developed the following Covenant for Conduct & Communication at Outdoor Services. This provides a list of what we hope are clear and reasonable expectations and practices. They are designed to maintain the safest possible environment while providing the opportunity for an in-person gathering as a part of our worship.
All those attending outdoor worship undertake:
To bring and wear a face mask at all times. For those who have forgotten, masks will be available.
To bring your own chairs or blankets (and umbrellas, bug spray, water, jackets, hand warmers and sunscreen if desired).
To complete a morning self check (see below) and only attend outdoor worship if you are feeling well, have not been sick in the last 14 days, do not have underlying medical conditions that put you at greater risk from potential exposure to the virus, or are not in quarantine as a result of returning from a state on the New Jersey Travel Advisory list. Older adults remain at increased risk.
Self Check Questions:
Q. Am I (or anyone in my household) feeling sick? A little unwell? Or even a little uneasy?
A. If you respond to any of these with “yes” or “maybe,” we invite you to gather using ZOOM.
Q. In the past two weeks (14 days) have I had: a fever? any respiratory or flu-like illness? any GI symptoms (nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea)? any loss of tase or smell? tested positive or had contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19?
A. If you respond to any of these with “yes” or “maybe,” we invite you to gather using ZOOM.
To park along W. Broad Street, to respect any parking spaces set aside for those with mobility issues, and to arrive early enough to park, walk up, and be ushered to your “spot” on the lawn before 10:30AM.
To use the single clearly indicated entry and exit point and to provide name and contact information to the greeter upon entry. This will be used to assist in contact tracing, should the need arise.
To observe six-foot physical distancing at all times.
To follow the directions of greeters/ushers and worship leaders and to stay on the driveway or side lawn (not crossing over to the part of the property by the house).
To sit at the locations marked with flags.
To seek assistance and follow the guidance from greeters/ushers when needed (e.g. if wishing to change location, leave the service etc.)
To use the bathrooms at the church (five minutes’ walk).
When the service is concluded, to follow the directions of the ushers and maintain physical distancing.
To take out everything brought in.
To be patient with us as we try something new!
