April 27 – “We’re Baaaaaack”

And now for some really big news.  It started early last week with a phone call from our worship pastor, Jim.  We chatted about our plans for holding services in the future, both online and on site.  The only decision we reached for sure was that the upcoming Sunday – yesterday - we would continue with Seaside Online as usual, then watch for further updates from the local and state powers that be. 

That is … until a second phone call I received later in the afternoon.  In response to an earlier text I had sent inquiring about the state of things in Jamaica Beach, Steve, the city’s mayor called me.  He was over-the-top supportive of us resuming services.  In fact, he said we had the city’s “complete blessing” and even asked what time services would be.  He had double-checked the word they received from the attorney general’s office, and he assured me that churches were specifically designated as essential services. 

Now, no, we are not going to just pretend nothing ever happened and meet as usual.  In fact, if you are in Galveston rather than Jamaica Beach, be careful to follow those guidelines.  They are a little more stringent.

But here’s our plan.  On May 3^rd - NEXT SUNDAY - the plan is to have our first post-Corona worship service at the church! 

But it’ll be outside. 

We encourage you to bring lawn chairs and umbrellas and BYOCD (It means “Bring Your Own Coffee and Donuts”).  Now, for some folks that might also mean “Bring Your OCD.”  That’s fine as well.  Be as careful as you need to be. 

Everyone is encouraged to follow that highly inspiring, youth group motto version of the CDC recommendations … “Don’t Be Stupid.” 

Just take personal responsibility. 

If you feel safer doing so, wear a mask. 

If you are sick or if you feel that you are risk because of other medical conditions, stay at home. 

Cluster your chairs in family groups and keep them a bit apart from each other (What’s that I heard?  Six feet?  Well, OK). 

Just do what is right for you and your family.  No judging here. 

We still have to work out logistical issues. 

1. The Praise Team will be setting up on the Worship Center porch, so the paved parking lot will be the staging area for seating. 

2.  That means the entrance from 3005 will be blocked.  Park in the fields on the east side of the retreat center or the north side of the worship center.  Now, if you have driven past the church at all in the last few days you have noticed that all our parking areas have been full to the brim with beach-goers.  The police who have been turning people away from parking on the beach started directing them our way for some reason.  That’s fine during the week, but we’ll need the space on Sunday, especially in the paved area.  We hope to have signs printed up to indicate “Church Parking Only” for our Sunday hours of operation (and maybe for Saturday evening, too.  We have a group that will eventually return to meeting at that time).  But we will need someone at the church really early to set up tables to block that 3005 entrance. 

3. We have ordered some individual communion cups, but every company has them on back order.  Bring along a cracker and a cup of juice from home (like we have been doing on the broadcast).

4. The plan is to have tables outside with the offering box and printouts of the song words (if we can get that done in time).  Please share with your family.

5. Oh, and we are still planning to continue with the Facebook Live broadcasts.  Those of you who want to stay at home and watch in the safety of your living room … that’s fine.  Those of you who are out-of-town Seasiders … keep watching!

As you can see, this re-start-up event is quite the planning ordeal. 

Oh, and those who were planning to be baptized at Easter … in the coming weeks we will be doing baptisms.  Hey … we will be outside anyway!  Let me know which Sunday you can be here, and we will add a baptism to the docket as well.  Shoot me a text or email (pastor@seasidefamily.org). 

Whew.  Lots to think about.  And pray about. 

Deuteronomy 6:5 says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

Father, give us guidance as we start back with our worship gathering.  Give each family wisdom to decide what is your best for them and to carry it out to the best of their ability.  Amen.