FBC COVID RESPONSE

At FBC Jackson we have taken reasonable precautions to keep our high risk guests safe from the coronavirus. Please visit our facebook page to learn more about what we are doing!

First Baptist Church of Jackson, KY

Coronavirus Response Plan

May 14, 2020

  1. Disclaimer: SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is an invisible living organism which is especially adapted to efficiently transmit from its human host to an unsuspecting victim, often  with little to no contact. For some, this particular coronavirus is not deadly and will occasionally result in the individual being asymptomatic. However, for others, this organism can cause serious health problems, including death. We, like any establishment, cannot guarentee that you will not contract the coronavirus. You are responsible to understand your current health situation, State and Federal/CDC guidelines, and the risks associated with this illness before you begin to interact with the broader community. 
  2. Precautions Taken: While we, as a church, cannot guarantee that someone will not contract the virus, we have endeavored to take reasonable precautions that are consistent with State and Federal guidelines, as well as our biblical faith, in order to limit the spread of the virus. The measures we are taking are as follows:
    1. When to Stay Home:
      1. If you have any symptoms of the illness, especially including a fever, shortness of breath, or a dry cough, please plan to stay home. If you have reason to believe you have come into close contact with an infected person, might have become infected, or are caring for someone who has COVID-19 please stay home. Those that demonstrate such symptoms while at church may be asked to leave the service. We hope to be able to livestream the service in the coming weeks, but will have other online options available.  
      2. If you are concerned you may become sick or are in the high-risk category, we encourage you to check CDC guidelines and consider staying home. 
    2.  For Those Who Plan to Attend:
      1. Due to our adherence to social distancing guidelines, certain pews will be roped off and will not be used. You will need to sit toward the ends of the pews that we will be using. Balcony seating is also available for adults. In a few pews, you may sit directly behind the blue painter’s tape. Please always say 6 feet from those outside of your household. 
      2. Certain high-contact practices, such as our time of greeting and the passing the offering plates will remain suspended. You will have an opportunity to contribute an offering to the church in a bowl at the back of the sanctuary.  
      3. At this time, only the Sunday morning worship service at 10:45 A.M. and our Wednesday evening class at 6:00 P.M. will be taking place. This means there will be no Sunday school or other midweek activities.  We hope to resume these things in the future and will let you know when we will be opening these activities back up.  
      4. Our Nursery room will be closed to families. Children, as always, are welcomed in the worship service, but if you do bring your children, please plan to make sure they are accounted for before and after the service so as to help reduce risk of any accidental transmission of illness.  
      5. All those attending the church service will be asked to utilize the main entrance at the front of the church.
      6. Since we will only be gathering for the worship service, we would encourage you to avoid utilizing the restroom facilities at the church if at all possible. However, doors will be left open and cleaning supplies will be available so you can wipe down surfaces you may touch in the restroom. 
      7. Upon conclusion of the service, those in attendance will be dismissed in an orderly fashion out the main doors so as to minimize any risk of transmission. We strongly urge you not to congregate in the sanctuary. Though the urge to fellowship may be strong, we encourage you to exit the building in a timely and orderly manner as you are dismissed.  If you would like to continue a conversation, please do so in the open air while maintaining an appropriate degree of distance.  
      8. In addition to the preceding guidelines, we will also be regularly disinfecting the sanctuary and limiting its use outside of worship activities for the near future.  
      9. Finally, we encourage all people to wear a mask if medically possible. This will enable maximum protection for virus transmission and allow us to sing as a congregation with a greater degree of safety. We realize that masks are not foolproof and can sometimes create a false sense of security, so we encourage you to practice social distancing and to thoroughly wash your hands after leaving the service, and avoid touching your face.
  3. Remember, God is Sovereign: God intimately knows the number of our days, knows how many hairs are upon each of our heads, and loves and cares for us in innumerable ways. Not one of us will pass away outside of His timing or outside of His love, and as the scripture says, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints” and “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Psalm. 116:15, Heb. 13:5)
  4. Remember, Hope in Christ: Not only is God good and in control of all things, Jesus has guaranteed a place for us in His kingdom. Jesus says, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” (Jn. 14:2) Also, Pauls writes, “for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” and “6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” (Phil. 1:21, 2 Cor. 5:6-8)

%d bloggers like this: