OFFICE OF THE SENIOR PASTOR
As we start looking to our Fall schedule, I wanted to share a little information with you to help you stay up to date with what we’re doing to keep everyone safe.
Outside Use:
As many of you know, our building is often used by outside groups for meetings. When the governor ordered gatherings to stop in the Spring, those groups stopped meeting at the church. As of recently, we have had inquiries from those groups about returning.
The elders, in speaking with the maintenance staff, determined any outside group wanting to meet in the church would need to sign a building use agreement. This agreement specifies the safety precautions needed in order for the group to return to the building. These include temperature checks, limits to group sizes, times of meeting, cleaning the room, masks, and other measures needed to keep the building ready for the church. These measures were not applied to our own groups, just those not affiliated with the church, that use the building.
Church Groups:
All church groups (i.e. Bible studies, small groups, fellowship groups) are allowed to use the building as needed and is available. We have been asking groups to use the larger of the rooms available to allow for better air flow and distancing.
Building Locked:
In order to keep the building safe and secure, we have had to begin locking it after weekday business hours. The police department has been given access and can respond as needed.
If a church group would like to use the building after hours, just contact the church to arrange access.
The weekday business hours for the church are Monday-Thursday, 9:00-4:00.
How to stay connected!
We recognize that the spiritual and emotional wellbeing of our congregation is just as important as our physical wellbeing. We want to make sure that you are staying connected with God's Word during these times of uncertainty. Throughout the COVID lockdown, we've published a library of daily devotionals so you can continue to grow in your relationship with Christ.
You can view our devotional library here.
We have continued live streaming our Sunday Morning service at 11:00AM, and live stream a Wednesday Evening verse-by-verse Bible Study at 7:00 PM. You can watch these live here.
If there is something on your heart that you would like prayer for, you can submit those requests Here on our Prayer Request page.
If you would like to support Shepherd of the Hills Church financially, you can give online here at our Giving Portal.
Health & Safety Overview
Greetings, Shepherd!
As all of us are aware, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has become a world-wide issue and many people are wondering what to do to keep themselves safe. As Christians, we have the confidence that God is our Great Physician and has the capacity for great healing. Therefore, the first thing I would like to encourage you to do is to pray for the researchers and doctors as they work to find a cure to the disease. Much progress has been made and continues but obviously more is needed. So, please, keep them in your prayers.
Second, I would encourage us all to NOT PANIC. These situations have the capability of worrying people beyond the point of reason. Jesus tells us in the Sermon on the Mount, “do not be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34). Worry does not help spiritually, and physically it can make a person less healthy. Remember, God is in control!
Third, I would encourage us all to take practical, responsible measures to mitigate exposure. The reality of life is we are so connected with others that total isolation is not really possible. There are, however, things you can do to keep yourself as healthy as possible. The CDC and other medical professionals recommend the following:
- Wash your hands for a minimum of 20-30 seconds with warm, soapy water. This is about the time it takes to say the Lord’s Prayer twice.
- If handwashing is not possible, use a hand sanitizer with an alcohol concentration of at least 60%.
- Avoid contact with your face and exposed mucus membranes (eyes, ears, nose, mouth)
- Greet one another with a simple “Hello” instead of a handshake. A fist-bump is also an acceptable option.
- Limit contact with those who are sick
- If you feel you are unable to attend service, feel free to join us in worship at home through the live streamed events available on Wednesday evenings at 7:00pm and Sunday mornings at 11:00am.
- If you feel sick, or at higher risk of infection, opt to stay home and contact your doctor.
Also, please know that we are taking this seriously at the church and are following our regular cleaning protocol which involves disinfecting bathrooms, floors, and other areas of common access. Also, the church has hand sanitizer available throughout the building along with facial tissue.
As always, please join us in prayer for those affected.
Blessings,
Pastor Collin
