Dear Sanger Community Church Family,

It is with great joy that we announce that our doors for public worship will once again be open starting Sunday May 31^st – Pentecost Sunday, the celebration of the birthday of the church.  We were thrilled last week when we heard our president declare that the church is “an essential” part of society and “must reopen immediately.”

It is our desire to keep everyone safe and we will seek to follow the guidelines set forth by the CDC.  We are asking that if you do not feel comfortable moving out into the public at this time (even when social distancing will be practiced), please stay at home and enjoy our services online.  Even though we will be meeting in our sanctuary for worship, we will continue to record all services and they will be posted at www.sangerchurch.com by 1pm each Sunday for your viewing, should you decide to stay at home.

Here are the CDC guidelines we will be following. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. Currently, no vaccine exists to prevent COVID-19. Communities are encouraged to follow CDC recommendations to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases ― including the flu:

 Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care.

 Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash; or use the inside of your elbow.

 Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds ― especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

 Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands, especially your eyes, nose, or mouth.

 Thoroughly and repeatedly clean high-contact surfaces and objects.

 Greeting and greeters should be especially aware and refrain from offering handshakes. As one community noted, “Greeters can model hospitality with their words and their smiles.”  

 Practice social distancing and encourage use of face masks especially when social distancing is difficult. Our sanctuary is large enough to keep a minimum distance of six feet between individuals/families. Note: Cloth face coverings should not be placed on children younger than 2 years old, anyone who has trouble breathing or is unconscious, and anyone who is incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the cloth face covering without assistance. Cloth face coverings are meant to protect other people in case the wearer is unknowingly infected but does not have symptoms.

How SCC will assist in pre-cautionary measures: at the entrance & side entrance of the sanctuary there will be a table offering face masks, hand sanitizer, & gloves should you desire these items to feel protected. We will ensure the sanctuary is sanitized & cleaned weekly. 

 Offerings, Communion, and fellowship hall changes.   Offerings will not be given through the passing of offering plates down the row; instead, we will place offering boxes on stands and ask people to leave their offering. Our celebration of communion on the first Sunday of each month will be temporarily suspended along with our fellowship hall gatherings.

We will also be having a congregational meeting immediately after the service on May 31^st.  We will be voting on new church officers. The nominees include:

            Session/Elders: Jim Martin & Todd Browne

            Deacon: Jackie Lewis

            Trustee: Ty Taylor

If you have any questions, please contact the church office (559) 875-2553.

In Christ’s Love,

Sanger Community Church Elders