Updated In-Person Worship Guidelines
We are excited about the newly-relaxed pandemic guidelines at the state and national level! We are finally turning a corner with near-record low cases of the COVID-19 virus and great progress with vaccinations.
Our church’s Coordinating Council has met to discuss what protocols we will relax/change over the coming weeks, and we finalized these guidelines:
- All fully-vaccinated individuals may now choose not to wear a mask indoors during the worship hour or small groups. We have a very high vaccination rate among our regular attenders, with the most at-risk who attend being fully vaccinated.
- To protect the most vulnerable among us, we request that all unvaccinated individuals continue to wear a mask while indoors during worship (small groups can make their own decisions as a group). No one will be asking at the door who is vaccinated or not. This will be done on the honor system.
- If anyone still wishes to wear a mask for added protection for themselves or those they care for, this is more than welcome. If you prefer to keep your mask on or socially distance further, please do! We want you here and feeling comfortable as we worship together.
Our Coordinating Council based our new policies on the following updated State and National Healthcare Guidelines:
On May 28, 2021, the CDC updated its guidance that all those fully vaccinated (2 weeks after second shot for Pfizer & Moderna and 2 weeks after the single Johnson & Johnson shot) no longer need to wear masks or socially distance, as risks for catching/spreading the disease is minimal.
Click here to read CDC Guidance
The State of Virginia has dropped the mask mandate and social distancing requirements in most establishments and businesses (childcare centers, hospitals, and schools are exceptions due to the critically ill + young children who cannot yet be vaccinated). This went into effect on May 28, 2021 – two weeks earlier than expected.
Click here to read the executive order
Click here to read the Governor’s News Release
Entrance to Church and Early Learning Center
Church Entry During Business Hours
Church Office Hours are 8:30AM to 5:00PM, Monday-Friday
Beginning Monday, June 14, 2021, we will begin allowing church members to use our keypad once again. If you need the code, please contact the Church Office. Also, if you have a key, you are welcome to enter.
FBC Early Learning Center
FBC ELC is open 6:30AM to 5:30PM, Monday-Friday
The State of Virginia may have dropped the mask mandate and social distancing requirements in most establishments and businesses, but childcare centers still have more stringent requirements because children cannot yet be vaccinated at this age.
The keypad on the ELC Entrance will remain disabled. Parents are continuing to drop off and pick up children at the door.
During Childcare Center Open Hours, all church members are asked to avoid the ELC hallways and classrooms, but if in these spaces, please wear a mask when you could encounter children (hallways, other shared spaces).
Volunteering
If you are planning to attend in-person worship and are willing to volunteer as an usher or with our sound/video/live streaming technology, lay reading, or choir, please contact the church office!
CDC released the following infographic
to help explain the new guidance, which might be helpful to you:
