• Special filters have been installed in the Sanctuary air conditioning system, filters that trap the particles the coronavirus travels on
• Sanctuary, common areas, and restrooms will be cleaned and disinfected by a certified, licensed provider prior to resuming services
• Restrooms, high touch surfaces, cleaned before, during and after each service
• Sanctuary pews, entryways, and foyers disinfected between services
• Greeters will be assigned to entrance and exit doors, holding them open so you won’t need to touch handles
• Entrance and exit doors held/propped open for hands-free operation
• Foot-pulls installed on restroom doors for hands-free operation
• All hymnals, Bibles, pens, and paper items have been removed from pews and foyers, and no paper bulletin will be handed out
• Every other pew closed off, open pews marked for social distancing
• Ushering into and out of the Sanctuary to maximize socially distanced seating and maintain social distancing

The response to the Reopen Task Force survey indicated 500+ people planned to attend worship services at First Evan once we could regather. In order to provide for this number and maintain social distancing, we’re offering two services for now. Each service will be an hour in length, allowing ample time for cleaning, disinfecting, and reordering the building between service times.

With social distancing measures, the Sanctuary can hold 275 people per service. The service will be simulcast to the Fellowship Hall, holding 85, and the Chapel, reserved for those in the highest risk categories, holding 35.

In response to our survey, the highest number of respondents indicating a desire to return to church when we regather are in the 61–70 age group. By age group alone, ages 65+ are considered to be at the highest risk for contracting COVID-19. We’ve consulted medical professionals from within our church, not just government entities, who have advised us to wear masks. Given how this infectious disease works, we believe not requiring masks is a needless risk. Wearing masks during a pandemic not only is a way to love one another, but it also applies for now within the biblically set requirement to do things “decently and in order” in worship (1 Cor. 14:40).

Children in worship attendance Kindergarten and older must wear a mask. Our FEC Kids ministry has ordered some with their logo on it to hand out.

There will not be a choir as we are used to seeing, but there will be singers on the platform assisting congregational singing, all of whom will be masked. Pastor Cole will wear his mask until he preaches.

Pews will be occupied according to set numeric configurations in order for us to accommodate the maximum number of people in attendance and practice social distancing simultaneously. Your cooperation is appreciated as you might not be able to sit where you’re normally accustomed. Until a section is full, you’ll be able to choose the section of the sanctuary you’d like to sit in.
You will need to enter the Sanctuary through the door closest to the section of your choice. Enter through the doors under the eastside portico to sit in the front, organ side. Enter the westside front door to sit in the front, piano side. To sit in the rear sections or balcony, enter the front doors facing Ridge Lake Boulevard. Since we’re practicing social distancing, trained ushers will guide you to your seat, knowing how the pews (and chairs in the Fellowship Hall and Chapel) need to be filled to maximize occupancy. We ask you to try and arrive 30 minutes before service to accommodate seating guidance. The ushers will be masked for your protection.
To maintain social distancing and in order to disinfect the room after the service, we’ll ask you to exit by rows through the back of the sanctuary immediate after the service ends.

The E-wing (gym-building), A-wing (old ECS building), and C-wing (FEC Kids) will not for now be open on Sundays. The entrances to those buildings will only be open in the event of inclement weather. Keeping those spaces otherwise closed helps us minimize what needs to be cleaned and disinfected after Sunday use. The main restrooms next to the kitchen and across from the pastors’ offices will be open as well as the restrooms in the D-wing under the Sanctuary. To help maintain proper social distancing (6 ft.) please limit restroom occupancy to two men in the men’s rooms, and four women in the women’s rooms.

Coffee service, donuts, and other food services will not be offered so long as we need to observe social distancing.