Over the past few months, we as a church have had to adjust on several occasions. Not surprisingly with a matter that is this unique, with people having different needs, and a matter that falls within the area of principles and discernment in Scripture there have been several different responses to what and how the church should respond. Although there are different responses and opinions, there should be a shared motivation for every Christian's response to these times, faithfulness to God and love for one another.

Each month during this time the deacons have been evaluating the situation and determining the schedule for ministry for the next month. This week the deacons approved the next step in our Sunday ministries' schedule. It is our desire to establish a format that will, out of love and a firm belief in the need to gather to worship God, facilitate the opportunity for the church family to come together. This new schedule for Sunday ministries will begin on October 4.

Sunday Service: We will be returning to having one congregational service at our normal time of 9 am. Our county's recommendations since mid-summer for churches has been that services should be no more than 50% occupancy. Based on our current attendance we will be able to hold one service and remain below that recommended level. With moving to a single service we are now able to offer ministries for our families with younger children, so beginning Oct. 4, Children's Church and nursery will be made available for those that would like to utilize those ministries. As always, families are welcome to use these ministries or stay together in either the auditorium or the cry rooms.

Closed-Circuit Distant Gathering: There are different needs within the body, but each of us still has the spiritual need to gather as a church. In light of that, the Teen Room will be utilized each Sunday for a closed-circuit service. The room will be set up with its own entrance, spaced out setting, deacon care, and a live stream of the service. It is our desire that those attending the service in this room be wearing masks. We know the needs of the church family are different, and it is our hope that this space will provide an opportunity for individuals to gather and be encouraged by worshiping God with others within the church body.

ABF and Sunday School: The church is not just a gathering. It is the one another relationships that minister the Word and love to each other. This is the main purpose of our Adult Bible Fellowships, so we are excited to begin Adult Bible Fellowships and Sunday Schools on October 4.

We make plans to the best of our limited ability, but always trust God as the one who is in control.

For God's Glory,
Pastor Luke

May 14, 2020

Church Family,

In light of the Wisconsin Supreme Court's ruling yesterday, we are planning on having our Worship service at our church building this Sunday. There will be no other ministries happening at the church building this Sunday, but the Worship service. For the Worship service, we will be limiting the size of the gathering and structuring the service in a way that provides a setting that allows for many within our church family to be comfortable attending. Because of limiting the size of each service we will be holding three identical services (9 am, 10:30 am, and noon) and leaving time between services for the building to be cleaned. To help us spread the congregation between the three services we are using an online sign-up platform. You can sign up by following the instructions at this link: Sunday Services for FBC West Bend. Like usual the 9 am service will still be streamed for those who are unable to attend the service.

• Sign up for a service time to attend by clicking on the "Sunday Services for FBC West Bend" link and then clicking the "Select Time" icon and choosing what service you will be attending.

• Arrive for the service no more than 10 minutes before your service time.

• Hand sanitizer will be provided at the entrance to the auditorium.

• Sit as a family or individually. Leave empty seats between groups. Every other row will be removed to ensure that there is space between different groups.

• Parents, please keep your children with you at all times.

• Although we will be happy to see each other, please love each other well by respecting that each person in our congregation is responding to this differently. We will be refraining from handshaking and other close contact.

• In order to limit what is touched by multiple people, doors will be propped open, offering plates will not be passed, and bulletins will not be offered.

• Each cry room will be reserved for families with small children and babies due to the fact that we will not be having any child care for these services.

These plans are made out of a desire to consider others as more significant than ourselves (Philippians 2:3-4) and in light of a Scripture that repeatedly sets the command of loving our neighbor. We as pastors understand that some will think we could do less and some will desire us to do more in areas. Our thought on how we structure the service and implement some protections is motivated by the love that Romans 14-15 calls each of us to when the church has differences on wisdom issues, and we challenge each of us in the church to walk in the Spirit so that love can be part of the fruit in our life. I wish I could make each of you read this article on navigating potentially conflict in reopening church services. I can't make you read it, but I do encourage you to, as there is real potential for danger ahead for every church.

Looking forward to seeing you Sunday.
Pastor Luke Love