Lawndale family, please read below for a letter from the Session regarding our process for reopening. Or, download the letter here.

May 7, 2020

Dear Lawndale Family:

We hope this letter finds you well. 

We certainly do miss gathering together for worship. We are looking forward with much anticipation to that time when we will be together again and will hear each other sing praises to our Lord and Savior. 

While things are still very fluid in our own state, we wanted to update you on planning already occurring by your Session and Diaconate. We have formed a COVID-19 Advisory Team that are making plans around three primary areas: 1) how will we decide when it is safe to gather again; 2) what and when will we initially open up; and 3) what mitigation policies will we put in place to keep our members and community safe.

How will we decide when it is safe to gather again?  Coupled with what we feel is in the best interest of Lawndale and our community, we will primarily be looking for guidance from state and local authorities on when it is safe for us to do so and what the gathering size guidelines will be. 

What and when will we initially open up? We will initially start gathering together only for Sunday morning worship. Live streaming of the service will continue for those unable to attend. We will not meet for Sunday School, and no nursery will be provided. We will communicate an opening date once we have received guidance from state and local authorities and are able to properly prepare for reopening.

What mitigation policies, procedures, and recommendations are we putting in place to help keep our members and community safe? We will be following gathering-size and social distancing guidelines from state and local authorities, as well as those recommended by the CDC.  We will simultaneously hold morning worship in both the sanctuary and the fellowship hall to keep numbers smaller and will maintain recommended spacing between families.  We may also introduce an early service.  In addition, we will recommend that the medically vulnerable and those over 65 stay at home until we are further into the Phases. Out of love and care for our neighbor, we will also recommend that everyone wear a mask to worship. Furthermore, we will adjust how we serve communion and take up the offering. Finally, the facilities will be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized after each service.

These are the initial plans we have developed, but we will reassess and revise them as we gather more information. And, we will keep you updated on the progress.     

Grace to you and peace,

The Session

Lawndale Presbyterian Church