Re-Opening Guidelines

Some of you will be thrilled to worship at Mt. Hope again. Others will take a “wait and see” approach until they are comfortable in larger groups. We will continue to offer worship & Bible study online. Our object with these guidelines is to inform you of the steps being taken to reopen Mt. Hope. The safety and well-being of those worshiping at Mt. Hope is first and foremost.

Phase 3-A
  • Please stay at home if you are ill!!!
  • Remove all hymnals, Bibles, prayer cards, pencils, children books, and crayons.
  • If you have your own hymnal, feel free to bring it.  A few hymnals will be available at the rear of the Sanctuary for you to use- please leave the hymnal in the pew at the end of the service.
  • Please bring personal Bibles, children books, pencils & crayons for your own use.
  • No bulletins initially.
  • No Sunday School or Adult Bible class initially.
  • Post signage outside with worship protocols.
  • Doors will be propped open for entrance.
  • Restrooms- No more than 1 person at a time, please wear your mask.
Worship Service:
  • Some pews will be blocked off to afford staggered seating.
  • Worshipers will be required to use hand sanitizer as they enter the lobby/narthex (if we sanitize your hands we have less to sanitize in the church.).
  • Digital thermometers will be used to take ones temperature.
  • Please wear face masks until you are seated in the sanctuary.
  • No socializing in the narthex/lobby.
  • Offering plate will be at the entrance to the Sanctuary.
  • There will be no “sharing” of the peace.
  • As we will not be using prayer request cards, Pastor will take oral requests.
  • One usher to bring offering plate forward and assist guests to their seats. 
  • Seating in the Sanctuary will be 1 family unit on each end of an available pew. Large families (5+) will have a pew to themselves.
  • When the service is over there will not be a mass exodus. The usher will release worshipers beginning at the rear of the church and work their way to the front. Please wear your masks as you leave the building.
  • Please! No socializing in the building. If you so desire, socialize outside with appropriate physical distance.
Communion:
  • Standing Communion- to minimize contact with the railing.
  • The Pastor and the Elder will use additional sanitizer to serve communion.
  • Pastor and the Elder will wear masks during communion so you won’t have to.
  • We will use more trays to allow additional spacing for wine cups.
  • The Elder will drop the host (wafer) in the palm of your hand to avoid contact.
  • Two family units at each rail- one at each end to maintain distancing- no more than 5 persons at a rail at one time.
  • Directions on getting to and leaving the communion rail will be demonstrated prior to communion.
Phase 3-B
Same as 3A but with the addition of Sunday School and Bible class.

Phase 3-C
Same as 3-B with the addition of coffee and treats.

Phase 4
Reduce some restrictions. Host VBS, elder’s workshop, and other social events.