The leadership of Maplewood, with much prayer, consideration, and discussion, is ready to begin our phased reopening. Through this process, please know that your health and safety is vitally important to us. As we begin this first phase, we will be following the guidelines given by our governor’s office. We will begin with worship services only. As we gather for worship, we encourage those who are at risk to stay home and continue to worship with us online. For those who choose to attend, please minimize close contact and we also encourage face coverings. If you are symptomatic or have tested positive, stay home. With that in mind, we will begin worship on May 17th with multiple worship services to allow for proper distancing.

How will we gather for worship:

• This Sunday we will have one worship service at 10:00am. We will evaluate and adjust this schedule as needed.
• There will be no on-campus Sunday School, nursery, or Wednesday services during this phase of reopening.
• Those who attend can enter from any of our normal entrances…foyer, fellowship hall, awning…as well as the back organ side door.
• Online services will continue to be available on Sundays following our live services.

What precautions we will take:

• All areas of our church have been sanitized.
• All entrance doors will be propped open to reduce contact.
• We will not be handing out bulletins or passing the offering plates.
• Hymnals and Bibles will be removed from the pews. Pens will be available, but please take them with you if you use them.
• We will mark off every other pew to help with spacing.
• We will continue with a small group of worship leaders for now instead of our full choir and orchestra.
• At the conclusion of the service, we will exit by section.
• There will be no childcare during this phase, but you are welcome to bring your children to worship.
• We will sanitize between services and afterward.

We will continue to monitor the situation and current guidelines. There may be changes after the first week, and we will keep you informed as we move forward. We love you and miss you. We are looking forward to seeing each of you as you feel comfortable and ready to attend. Please continue to be praying for our church, community, nation, and world as we all do our part to continue Loving God, Loving Others, For His Glory!!