The Hope Staff wants you to come back when you are completely comfortable with your decision to do so.  Your health (and that of your family) is your stewardship and we will support your decision either way.  Three categories you will want to consider:

Self-screen using COVID Screening before showing up for in-person events:

• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Chills
• Repeated shaking with chills
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Loss of taste or smell
• Diarrhea
• Feeling feverish or a measured temperature greater than or equal to 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit
• Known close contact with a person who is lab confirmed to have COVID-19

*At-risk population includes those who are 65 or older, especially those with chronic lung disease; moderate to severe asthma; chronic heart disease; severe obesity; diabetes; chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis; liver disease; or weakened immune system

The current Texas guidelines “strongly encourage the at-risk* population to watch or participate in the service remotely.”

On June 7th, we are advising our at-risk community to continue to worship with us online.  (It is, however, your choice to make!)

Parents who believe their children are capable of sitting through a 45 minute service and obeying the social distancing guidelines between families and friends when entering and exiting the building are invited to come! If this does not describe you and your kids, please feel the freedom to stay home without judgement. (see details below about our “Wiggle Room” option)

We want YOU to decide what is best for you and your children. This is NOT a test or a competition. (What Pastors Matt, Brian, and Ben decide to do with their young children does NOT set the standard by which you and all others will be judged!) Please feel free to do what the Lord leads YOU to do with your family! We love you and will stand with you either way!

Different people are going to have different ideas about what we should and should not be doing as a congregation on our first Sunday back. The Hope Staff has worked hard to come up with a plan that helps us all put the goals and interests of others above our own. We are striving to please God fully, love people wisely and steward opportunities faithfully.

To that end, you may feel that some of our procedures are either too cautious or too relaxed. Please know that we are constantly evaluating and will make adjustments as we need to. We have been using the recommendations of both the State of Texas and the CDC to help inform our decisions on reopening.  

Everyone 4 years of age and older entering the building should plan to wear a mask.

• No one 3 and under should wear a mask.
• Cloth masks made by ladies at Hope Church will be available as you arrive. Each of these will be individually packaged in a sandwich bag at least 3 days prior to Sunday. If you take one of these masks, please plan to bring it back with you and use it each week.

• Hand Sanitizer stations will be available for use at the entrance.

• As you arrive, you will be greeted and escorted to your seat(s) in Town Hall.

• The Texas State guidelines for seating recommend that households* are seated six feet apart from each other.

*As per the state guidelines, two individuals who are not members of the same household but who are attending together can sit adjacent (right next to) to one another, with two seats (or six feet separation) empty on either side. Please walk in from the parking lot together if you wish to sit together.

• We are asking that you go directly to your seat and stay in your area unless the restroom is needed.

• We will NOT have nametags, pens, coffee, etc. available.

• Feel free to bring your own coffee from home or stop at your favorite coffee shop on the way to church. Please use cups or tumblers with a lid.

• Sermon notes will be available online.

• Offering...We will not be passing offering baskets after the message. We will encourage attendees to give via Text or Online. There will be a station available where givers can drop cash or check if they like. Offering envelopes will be available to anyone who wants to use them. 

• When the service is over, we will give direction on how to exit the building. Please plan on going directly from Town Hall (or Paradox) to the parking lot. Though it will be tempting to want to stay and talk to friends, we ask that you do this outside at a safe social distance.

• Regarding Restroom usage, in order to practice social distancing, we will be monitoring and limiting the number of people who go into the restroom at a time. If a line forms, we will practice social distancing on Main Street.

On Sunday, June 7th, the East End of the building (including the kids’ areas and the family bathroom) will be closed. The nursery rooms will also be closed.  

• have an expanded Wiggle Room open in the Paradox room (where the HSM usually meets.) If you think your children might make noise or want to get down on the floor, we recommend the Wiggle Room. 

• have the Mommy and Me Nursery available and open for nursing moms. 

• have a diaper changing area for dads set up in the western men’s restroom. (There is a changing table in the Mommy and Me Nursery for moms to use.)

• have individually packaged crayons available for parents to pick up (each package of 4 crayons will be sealed in its own plastic sandwich bag for at least 4 days prior to the service)  

• have coloring pages and kid-friendly sermon notes available for you to pick up. (If you prefer to bring your own, you are welcome to do that as well.)

… follow these guidelines while you are in the building:

• Keep children within parents’ (reasonable) reach the entire time they are inside.
• Follow the paths that will be clearly marked and any verbal instructions given as you enter/exit the building.
• Accompany your child (5th grade or younger) to the restroom.
• (if you prefer) Bring coloring pages/blank paper from home for your child to draw on. (we will have some available for those who want them)

… help your child know (help them set their expectations ahead of time) … 

• It won’t be like what they are used to when they come to Hope Church.
• Many people will be wearing masks. (“they’re not robbing us!”)
• Get them used to the idea that masks are meant to protect.
• They will be expected to be reasonably quiet and still during the service.
• They may see their friends and wave, but can’t run up and hug friends...even though they really want to!
• They can give “air hugs,” “air high fives,” and “air fist bumps” instead. (teach them how)