Reopening

Dover Baptist Church continues to take the health and safety of its members, volunteers, and staff very seriously.

Today, May 29th, Governor Sununu announced that Houses of Worship could reopen, effective immediately, at 40% capacity.

Dover Baptist Church is planning on reopening for simultaneous online and in-person services beginning June 14th at 9:30 a.m.

If you plan to attend the service in-person, please RSVP so we know to expect you.

RSVP

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What to Expect

So, what is it going to look like on June 14?

In a word, different. Out of our desire to be as responsible as we can in following the CDC protocols, we are significantly altering the flow of the morning worship experience.

The first thing you will notice is that we have made face masks available for anyone that would like them. I will not be wearing one so that the sermon can be understood clearly, but my wife and children will. We do not want anyone who would feel more comfortable wearing a mask to feel embarrassed for doing so. These will be available as you enter. 

The second thing you will notice is that the layout of the room has been altered. We have organized the Sanctuary space into clusters of chairs based on our church. Each cluster is designed for a family group and is spaced seven feet apart from other clusters. We will worship together and still be able to practice social distancing. The sanctuary will have over 130 seats set up in this manner and more will be available in the Fellowship Hall if necessary. We will only have a worship service and will not be providing Crib Room, Sunday School or Children’s Church at this time.

The third adjustment we have made is that we will not have the normal greeting time, though you can joyfully anticipate a creative way to greet one another sans hugs and handshakes.
We have decided to flip the service on its head for the next few
weeks, having the sermon towards the top and the songs towards the end. There has been some research suggesting this would make the environment safer and we are all for that. Rather than pass the plate for the offering we will ask people to
place it in a designated box on their way out of the service.
At the end of the service our host, the mighty Carl, will dismiss
everyone row by row, as at a wedding, in order to ensure there is
not a bottleneck in the hallway. Corey and I will gladly chat with everyone outside the door leading to the parking lot at the close of service.

I recognize that these represent a number of changes, but I am
confident that our collective joy in being able to worship together in one building at the same time will help us all take them in stride. I am so thankful to finally see you all and begin what I hope is a long journey of ministry together.

Solo Deo Gloria,

Pastor Chris Hemmerich
The Dover Beacon, June 2020, Volume 16, Number 6

Summary

1. face masks will be available
2. clustered, socially distanced seating
   
   1. overflow in the fellowship hall
   2. no nursery
   3. no Sunday School
   4. no Children's Church
3. adjusted flow of worship
   1. no greeting time
   2. sermon at beginning of service followed by worship
   3. organized dismissal following service
   4. secure offering box
   5. safe greeting line with Hemmerich family

Needs

To make this happen, and to ensure the safest environment possible we will need volunteers for the following:

• Cleaning and sanitizing surfaces, knobs, chairs, etc.
• Ushers to greet and escort people to their seats

If you are able to help out with this please contact the church office.