(Scroll down to see our full, phased regathering plan.)
Aaaaand... we're back!
After pressing pause on in-person worship gatherings for the past two weeks, the Elders have prayerfully decided to resume meeting again this Sunday, July 19th.
We thought it best to not meet for a couple of weeks as several youth leaders and students tested positive for COVID after returning from summer camp. We are praising God that their symptoms were relatively mild and they have all recovered and finished up their quarantine.
As we meet again this Sunday, please know that the church will be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized and seating will be set up in a socially distanced way. Additionally, as a way to love our neighbors, we are highly recommending wearing a mask. We can’t and won’t mandate it, but please feel free to wear one. Masks will be available in the lobby if you don’t have one.
Sunday afternoon Engage (student ministry) will also resume this Sunday, as well as the Sunday night Connection Group that meets in the sanctuary. The Wednesday night prayer gathering will also start up on July 22.
Of course, if you’re feeling sick at all, please stay home. If you’re uneasy or uncomfortable returning to church, don’t feel pressured. We understand these are complicated times. Our service will be live-steamed on our Facebook page at 10:30 am.
Let’s continue to pray for wisdom and stamina as we navigate these challenging times, but the Lord is with us!
Taking a step back...
As of Wed, July 1, out of an abundance of caution, the elders have decided to pause in-person worship gatherings for the next two Sundays.
We were notified a few days ago that a staff member at Look Up Lodge, the summer camp our students recently attended, tested positive for COVID-19. A few of our adult leaders have felt symptomatic since returning from camp last week and have gotten tested (they are awaiting results).
In light of that, we think it would be wise to not gather physically. We’ll also press pause on any Connection Groups, mid-week prayer gatherings, Bible studies and student ministry events for the next two weeks. We’ll re-evaluate after that.
Please plan to join us on-line this Sunday and next (July 5th & 12th) at 10:30 am for a scaled back worship service on our Facebook page.
We really appreciate your understanding and patience. Please continue to pray with us that God would eradicate this virus and that he would draw us to Himself during these days!
As of Sunday, May 31, 2020, Harmony Church is REGATHERING!
Our first regathering of the post-COVID-19 era was "virtually" electric... you could feel the excited energy in the air as church family reconnected in person after 10 weeks of actually worshiping together virtually!
Now we face the task of sticking to our phased plan for finding Harmony's "new normal."
For our first several gatherings, here's what you can expect:
1. Slightly shortened service time: approximately 45 min
2. Seating distancing:
- Chairs clustered in small/family groups
- Live-steam to the Sanctuary as a "satellite" area (if needed)
3. Minimal physical contact outside of family groups: We request that you refrain from hand shakes, high-fives, fist-bumps and hugs (& definitely no brotherly/sisterly kisses on cheeks).
4. Some face masks (at your discretion): You are welcome to wear your face masks, but we are not requesting that everyone does. (Remember, face masks are primarily to keep you from spreading germs.)
5. Limited participation/Improved live-streaming: If you're not feeling well or are showing symptoms of any kind, please stay home for the well-being of others. If you're just not comfortable regathering in a large group yet, please feel free to stay home & participate via Facebook Live.
6. LIMITED CHILD CARE: Ages 4 & under nursery care ONLY. Ages 5 & up will be expected to join their families in the service. Again, if this is not optimal for your family, please feel free to participate via Facebook Live from home.
7. NO SUNDAY OR WEDNESDAY, AM or PM CONNECTION GROUPS... yet.
Remember, these are temporary restrictions in a multi-phase plan (The Plan) to find the "new normal" for Harmony Church. Together, we will work to reestablish our weekly gatherings as safely and wisely as possible. Once the details of The Plan have been ironed out, Leadership will be happy to share it with you. We want you to be as informed as possible as you plan the best way for your family to rejoin the gathering of the Harmony Family.
We're excited to reconnect with you in person as you feel comfortable regathering with us!
We have hired a new Student Pastor!
We're thrilled to announce Shane Muszall as our new, Student Pastor!
Shane and his wife, Morgan, spent the weekend of Fri-Sat, 5/8-5/9/20 interviewing and meeting with various groups at Harmony. We felt the Lord's clear leading and guidance all weekend long, and the elders extended an offer to Shane that Saturday evening. After taking a day to pray about it, Shane accepted the position! Shane, Morgan and their son, Tommy, successfully transitioned from Ohio to South Carolina over the last week of May and are officially settled into Sumter. Shane has already preached his first sermon & taken Harmony's students to Lookup Lodge for Summer Camp! We're excited to see how the Lord will continue to use him and his family at Harmony!
Aaaaand... we're back!
After pressing pause on in-person worship gatherings for the past two weeks, the Elders have prayerfully decided to resume meeting again this Sunday, July 19th.
We thought it best to not meet for a couple of weeks as several youth leaders and students tested positive for COVID after returning from summer camp. We are praising God that their symptoms were relatively mild and they have all recovered and finished up their quarantine.
As we meet again this Sunday, please know that the church will be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized and seating will be set up in a socially distanced way. Additionally, as a way to love our neighbors, we are highly recommending wearing a mask. We can’t and won’t mandate it, but please feel free to wear one. Masks will be available in the lobby if you don’t have one.
Sunday afternoon Engage (student ministry) will also resume this Sunday, as well as the Sunday night Connection Group that meets in the sanctuary. The Wednesday night prayer gathering will also start up on July 22.
Of course, if you’re feeling sick at all, please stay home. If you’re uneasy or uncomfortable returning to church, don’t feel pressured. We understand these are complicated times. Our service will be live-steamed on our Facebook page at 10:30 am.
Let’s continue to pray for wisdom and stamina as we navigate these challenging times, but the Lord is with us!
Taking a step back...
As of Wed, July 1, out of an abundance of caution, the elders have decided to pause in-person worship gatherings for the next two Sundays.
We were notified a few days ago that a staff member at Look Up Lodge, the summer camp our students recently attended, tested positive for COVID-19. A few of our adult leaders have felt symptomatic since returning from camp last week and have gotten tested (they are awaiting results).
In light of that, we think it would be wise to not gather physically. We’ll also press pause on any Connection Groups, mid-week prayer gatherings, Bible studies and student ministry events for the next two weeks. We’ll re-evaluate after that.
Please plan to join us on-line this Sunday and next (July 5th & 12th) at 10:30 am for a scaled back worship service on our Facebook page.
We really appreciate your understanding and patience. Please continue to pray with us that God would eradicate this virus and that he would draw us to Himself during these days!
As of Sunday, May 31, 2020, Harmony Church is REGATHERING!
Our first regathering of the post-COVID-19 era was "virtually" electric... you could feel the excited energy in the air as church family reconnected in person after 10 weeks of actually worshiping together virtually!
Now we face the task of sticking to our phased plan for finding Harmony's "new normal."
For our first several gatherings, here's what you can expect:
1. Slightly shortened service time: approximately 45 min
2. Seating distancing:
- Chairs clustered in small/family groups
- Live-steam to the Sanctuary as a "satellite" area (if needed)
3. Minimal physical contact outside of family groups: We request that you refrain from hand shakes, high-fives, fist-bumps and hugs (& definitely no brotherly/sisterly kisses on cheeks).
4. Some face masks (at your discretion): You are welcome to wear your face masks, but we are not requesting that everyone does. (Remember, face masks are primarily to keep you from spreading germs.)
5. Limited participation/Improved live-streaming: If you're not feeling well or are showing symptoms of any kind, please stay home for the well-being of others. If you're just not comfortable regathering in a large group yet, please feel free to stay home & participate via Facebook Live.
6. LIMITED CHILD CARE: Ages 4 & under nursery care ONLY. Ages 5 & up will be expected to join their families in the service. Again, if this is not optimal for your family, please feel free to participate via Facebook Live from home.
7. NO SUNDAY OR WEDNESDAY, AM or PM CONNECTION GROUPS... yet.
Remember, these are temporary restrictions in a multi-phase plan (The Plan) to find the "new normal" for Harmony Church. Together, we will work to reestablish our weekly gatherings as safely and wisely as possible. Once the details of The Plan have been ironed out, Leadership will be happy to share it with you. We want you to be as informed as possible as you plan the best way for your family to rejoin the gathering of the Harmony Family.
We're excited to reconnect with you in person as you feel comfortable regathering with us!
We have hired a new Student Pastor!
We're thrilled to announce Shane Muszall as our new, Student Pastor!
Shane and his wife, Morgan, spent the weekend of Fri-Sat, 5/8-5/9/20 interviewing and meeting with various groups at Harmony. We felt the Lord's clear leading and guidance all weekend long, and the elders extended an offer to Shane that Saturday evening. After taking a day to pray about it, Shane accepted the position! Shane, Morgan and their son, Tommy, successfully transitioned from Ohio to South Carolina over the last week of May and are officially settled into Sumter. Shane has already preached his first sermon & taken Harmony's students to Lookup Lodge for Summer Camp! We're excited to see how the Lord will continue to use him and his family at Harmony!