Our Plans for Gatherings and Ministry

Quick Summary:

• We’re continuing our online services through May before adding an in-person gathering at the church on June 7 (which will be streamed online as well).
• Gather in LifeGroups to watch the online service together!
• Bible Adventure Boxes help families spark faith-building conversations with their kids through the week at home.
• No Kids’ Church or Lighthouse Youth meetings until schools reopen.
• The nursery room is available but will not be staffed during our worship services once we reopen. 
• Giving can be done here or by sending a check to 800 E Main, Albion, IN 46701.

While we are looking forward to experiencing in-person worship again, we are making the decision to reopen seeking wisdom and the Lord's guidance through prayer. 

Gather in Small Groups for Worship Services through May
Weighing the advice of experts (including our Noble County Emergency Management Director and County Health Officer), the wisdom of elders, the thoughts shared by many of you through our survey--and seeing how God is has been using our online services to reach others—we have decided to continue our online worship services through the end of May. We have tentatively set Sunday, June 7 as our day to reopen in the building, keeping an eye on the trend in cases in our county. 

During this time, as you feel comfortable, we want to encourage you to open your homes for in-person “Watch Parties” where you gather in small groups to watch the service together and talk about ways to put into practice God’s ways that are shared in the message. This can be done in your established LifeGroups or you can start one with neighbors, friends or family! 

In this way we’ll be living out our core values to:

• Follow Jesus – learning His way and practicing it
• Walk Together – sharing time together, praying for one another, and meeting needs
• Be a Guide – pointing people toward their next step with Jesus, and
• Live Generously – sharing our time, talent, and treasure, joining Jesus in His work.

Email info@albionwes.org if you need help to connect with others in a Life Group—we have groups that would love to have you join them! And as groups fill up, we’ll create more to multiply the impact of our church throughout the community.

Bible Adventure Boxes for Children 
For kids in preschool through 5th grade, we are encouraging and equipping parents to have faith-building conversations about God with our Bible Adventure Boxes.

For our first month, we were able to give 24 kids in 12 households with a connection to our church boxes with a Jesus Storybook Bible, activity cards, craft supplies, and parents’ guide with conversation starters. If you have a child in this age group and haven’t received a box, please let us know and we will get one to you!

We're excited about this ministry to families. If you are interested in ways to help, you can:

• Sponsor a monthly Bible Adventure Box for a child and his or her parents. The costs average $12 per month per child. Give online and choose “Bible Adventure Boxes” to select the designation.
• Help assemble and deliver boxes to families once a month.
• Write personal notes to the children to be included in the boxes.​

Gathering In-Person for Worship
When we gather again in the church building for worship, things will look a little different than they did prior to the shut-down. For one thing, nearly one-third of the regular attenders will be joining us online rather than in-person because of vulnerabilities to the virus.

For those who choose to join us in-person, we will be doing the following to help curb the spread of the coronavirus:

• Doors will be propped open or opened by a greeter.
• Restrooms and high-touch surfaces (pew back, door knobs, light switches, etc., will be sanitized before the service.
• Hand sanitizer will be available throughout the building.
• Social distancing will be encouraged in the lobby and sanctuary, including sitting in family groups alternating rows or ends of rows.
• We'll save greeting one another for the end when we can spread out more throughout the sanctuary and lobby.
• The offering will be collected in a box in the lobby or the back of the sanctuary.
• The nursery will not be staffed but the room will be available for parents to watch their own children. Toys and surfaces will be sanitized each week.
• Initially, coffee and snacks will not be served. 
• Communion elements will be prepared and distributed in a way that limits the surfaces touched by others.
• Please stay home if you are feeling ill or have had symptoms including a cough or fever in the last 72 hours.

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