We are grateful to God for His protection and care during this pandemic. As things get better, we hope that He grants us a new kind of energy and strength to carry on with the spread of the gospel.
Following the new provincial relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions, a face covering or mask that covers the nose, mouth, and chin is no longer a requirement to come to church. As a church for the people, we welcome everyone. Our church understand that we all have different needs when it comes to health and personal choices. As such, we have made provision for those who feels comfortable wearing mask. There is a designated section in the sanctuary for anyone who desire masking and social distancing.
1. Pre-registration is no more a requirement for onsite Sabbath worship services.
2. There will be designated seating area provided for those who desire to physically distance.
3. Masking is no longer required.
4. Do not sit in pews marked “RESERVED.”
5. Hand sanitizing stations will still be available. Practice good hand hygiene.
6. The online worship experience will continue onsite and on YouTube.
7. Follow provincial laws and guidance for suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19. If you or your children are contagious with something else like the cold, flu, etc., please stay home and participate online, so that we do not give each other illnesses and COVID-like symptoms.
8. Sabbath School (Adults, Youth & Young Adults, Children (including Beginners, Juniors and Teens) is onsite only and meets from 9:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
9. Worship service is held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:35 p.m.
10. Prayer Meeting is currently online ONLY.
11. All other programs and services will be held online unless the board approves a physical gathering.
12. The newsletter will continue to have the latest and best information about our programs and activities. Please call the church office at 780-420-0215 or email ecsdacoffice@gmail.com if you have any questions or concerns.
As we move past the recent spike in COVID-19 cases, our ICUs remain somewhat overburdened, but other pandemic indicators are moving in the right direction. Many of us are ready to dispense with the majority of pandemic restrictions, and our government has moved accordingly.
Your church board has also decided to make masking optional for those who use our church building. From our experience last summer, I expect that this will be a time of rejoicing for many yet a time of perplexity for others.
We are a caring church and appreciate that some of us face graver potential consequences from contracting COVID-19 than others. We further understand that no one of us can take over the judgment of another about when and how to expose oneself and one’s family to infectious diseases. “Let each be fully convinced in his own mind” (Romans 14:5b).
As we did last summer, we will continue to provide a seating area for those who practice social distancing and mask-wearing. And we will continue to respect the personal space of those among us who are wearing masks.
We will also follow the government’s ongoing requirement to stay home when we are symptomatic or test positive for COVID-19 because it is a Bible health principle to avoid other people when we are contagious (see Leviticus 13).
Going forward, your pastoral team will monitor pandemic-related developments and consult with church departments and the board to provide an environment for as many as possible to worship at peace. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).
We have made it this far without having a single COVID-19 outbreak attributed to our worship services, nor, to the best of my knowledge, has anyone who attended our worship services during the last two years passed away due to COVID-19. I attribute this chiefly to the mercy of God but also to our church family’s God-given spirit of care and cooperation.
As always, please don’t hesitate to contact a member of the pastoral team or the church office if you have any questions or concerns.
-Pastor David Hamstra