We have created the following FAQ to help you understand changes for our Sunday services. These measures have been put into place to help meet the guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH). While we understand that not everyone will agree with all of these measures, we ask for your patience and understanding as we work our way through these different times. We want to provide as safe an environment here at the building as possible. It is our hope that as relief is provided from this disease, relief can be provided to these measures.
When are we going to meet?
We will offer two identical services on Sundays at 8:30 am and 10:00 am. Each service will be approximately 45 minutes. The 10:00 am service will be livestreamed here.
Should I let you know which service I am attending?
Yes. We will send a church-wide email with a survey to help us understand the number of people coming. Since we have reduced our seating capacity, we need to prepare for any overflow for a specific service or balance the services.
What if I am not feeling well?
Stay home. We want to be considerate of the safety and health for each individual and those around us. If you are sick (fever, coughing, shortness of breath, etc.), PLEASE stay home. We encourage everyone to take your temperature before you come, and if you are not well, stay home. Please look out for the safety of others.
What if I am considered a “vulnerable person”?
“Vulnerable persons” means individuals 65 years and older or individuals with serious underlying health conditions, including high blood pressure, chronic lung disease, diabetes, obesity, asthma, and those whose immune system is compromised such as by chemotherapy for cancer and other conditions requiring such therapy.
We understand that not everyone should come the first time we meet. Those "at-risk," with compromising conditions, or that just need more time to feel safe, should not attend that first service. In fact, for some of us, it may be much longer before we feel comfortable in a large crowd.
That is OK! You need to feel comfortable with the decision that you make for your family; whether to gather in-person or continue to connect virtually. We will continue to livestream the 10:00 am Sunday worship, the Spring, and our on-line Wednesday night class. Whether you attend in-person or at your home, you are still a part of Twickenham - a very important part
What safety measures have you put into place?
- We will be encouraging continued 6’ social distancing.
- Ministers, Greeters and Ushers will all wear masks and have their temperatures checked when they arrive at the church building.
- We have plans to clean the building before you come, while you are here, in between services and after you leave.
- There are wipes and sanitizers throughout the building.
- We have reduced the occupancy of our auditorium to accommodate social distancing.
- We have masks available as you enter if you do not have one.
- We have tried to make this a touchless event:
- We have propped all doors open.
- We will not hand out bulletins.
- We have prepackaged communion which you can pick up on your way in, so no tray passing.
- We have boxes out for contribution, so no tray passing.
What about my kids?
We are so excited to be able to offer children’s programming during the worship hour beginning Sunday, August 23, We will be staffing Nursery 1 (N201) for childcare, and will be offering Bible instruction for Nursery 2 (N204), preschool (N106) and grade school (GYM) classes. If you have ANY questions, feel free to email amy@twickenham.org.
PLEASE NOTE:
- Use the entrance closest to your child’s class. If you have multiple children to check-in, use your best judgment.
- Do your best to social distance as much as possible. If standing in line to check- in/out, please maintain 6’ of distance.
- While they are not required for children, we do encourage you to wear a mask for check-in/out.
- To reduce shared surfaces, we will not be using the computers. You will be signing your child in and out in the same location.
- Nursery (N201 & N204) - upstairs at the appropriate door
- Preschool (N106) - at the check-in desk in the children’s lobby
- Grade school (Gym) - at the check-in desk in the gym lobby
- Signing in your child(ren) you are acknowledging the following:
I acknowledge that participation in TCM activities involves possible risk to the participant (and to the participant’s parents/guardians), and may result in exposure to infectious/communicable disease. Further, the participant (or parent/guardian) releases and promises to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Twickenham for any possible exposure to infectious/communicable disease.
- As an extra measure, we will be taking temps of all children and volunteers participating in children’s activities.
- Arrive with ample time to check-in your child(ren).
- PLEASE REGISTER ONLINE!! This will help us tremendously as we seek to provide the safest environment for ALL who are attending on Sunday.
- When registration for the upcoming Sunday is open, the link to register will be near the top of the home page.
Does it matter where I park as to where I will sit in the auditorium?
Yes it does. To keep things moving and prevent crossover in the auditorium, we will ask you to follow a specific path to the auditorium to be seated. Greeters and ushers will help direct you.
If you enter the gym lobby, you will sit in the front half of the auditorium on the left side as you face the stage. If you enter the children’s wing lobby, you will sit in the front half of the auditorium on the right side as you face the stage (this is best for families with infants that may need to use the nursery). If you enter the Whitesburg lobby, you will sit in the back half of the auditorium or you can choose to sit in the balcony.
What is going to be different as I enter?
\- Only 3 entrances will be open: (1) Whitesburg lobby, (2) Gym entrance and (3) Children’s wing entrance. Note: those that may need access to the nursery for infants should use the children’s wing entrance.
- You will be greeted and welcomed as usual.
- To help with social distancing, please avoid congregating in the lobbies and hallways.
- On your way in you can get a mask, if you do not have one.
- On your way in, you can get some hand sanitizer.
- On your way in, you will need to pick up your communion supplies.
- On your way in, you can drop your contribution in the labeled receptacles.
- We will not be providing coffee or food.
- Water Fountains will not be useable. Feel free to bring a water bottle with you.
- For now, we will not have classes for youth. Families will sit together in the auditorium.
- Ushers will help guide you to your seat to prevent people from having to crawl over each other in the rows.
- Please do not sit in rows that are marked off.
- We will be skipping rows and families sitting on the same row will leave 3 chairs in between you and the next family.
- Pew Bibles, song book, attendance cards and pens have been removed.
- Currently, childcare will not be provided.
Can I use the elevator?
Yes. If you need to use the elevator, please come in the gym lobby entrance.
Will the bathrooms be open?
Yes. The bathroom doors will be propped open and people will be assigned to periodically check, clean and maintain the bathroom areas.
What is going to be different as I exit?
- We will dismiss by row and encouraged everyone to head outside while maintaining social distancing. This is especially important for the 8:30 am service so that we can clean and sanitize for the incoming 10:00 am service.
- You will drop your Ziploc bags with the used communion supplies in the trash.
- On your way out, you can get some hand sanitizer.
- The playground will be closed.
Even with all these safety measures that we have put in place, we cannot guarantee that attendees will not be exposed to an illness while in our facility. We are doing everything possible to have a safe and sanitized worship experience. We are following social distancing measures to reduce any disease transmission. We ask you to help us in these efforts and to cover all these endeavors in prayer!
