Getting Together Face(mask)-to-Face(mask)

Monaca UMC is pleased to announce that we will resume in-person worship on Sundays beginning July 5th at 11:00am!

Worship is going to be a bit different for those who have attended past services. One change that has nothing to do with COVID-19 is that we will begin worshipping with our new pastor, Ross Pryor, when we return. We are excited to have Pastor Ross with us, and we are grateful for his leadership and guidance. He has been involved and helping out well before his official “first day” of July 1st. Thank you, Pastor Ross!

If you do not feel comfortable participating in worship in person at this time, or if you are feeling under the weather, have a persistent cough, or have a temperature of 100 degrees or higher, please stay home and join us for worship online. (More information on online worship coming soon!)

If you plan to attend in person, here is what you need to know:

>>> Worship will be held on Sundays at 11:00am beginning on Sunday, July 5th.

>>> Worship will be held in the Carey Community Center until further notice.

>>> All chairs and high-touch areas will be disinfected between surfaces.

>>> All attendees over the age of 2 are strongly encouraged to wear a mask, covering your nose and mouth from the time you enter the building until you are outside again. (Masks are worn to help limit droplets from your breath from landing on someone. You may be infected with COVID-19 or another virus and not realize it.)

>>> A minimum of 6 feet (approx. 2 arms’ length) should be kept between different family units. The floors from the main building entrance to the Carey Center are marked to help you keep the appropriate distance.

>>> When you reach the Carey Center, please check in with a greeter, who will mark your attendance and provide you with a bulletin.

>>> Please limit restroom use to one person at a time. If you enter the restroom and someone is already inside, please leave the restroom and wait at least 6 feet from the door for the individual to exit before you enter. Please wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after utilizing the restroom. For your convenience and safety, paper towels and a hands-free waste can are located inside the restrooms.

>>> You are welcome to bring your own coffee or water bottle to worship, as well as your own Bible and pen/pencil to aid in your worship experience.

>>> Please refrain from entering the church sanctuary, classrooms, or other meeting areas, unless necessary for the work of the church. Parents are welcome to bring their children with them to worship in the Carey Center.

>>> An offering plate will be available for you to contribute your tithes and offering. The plate will not be passed, so please drop off your gift in the plate before or after worship. You can also continue to mail in your gifts to the church office at 813 Indiana Avenue, Monaca, PA 15061. Please know that no matter how your offerings are given, they are prayed over with gratitude, and they are a blessing to the ministry of the church.

>>> If you are diagnosed with COVID-19 at any point after attending worship at the church, please contact the church office. From there, we will initiate established procedures to inform those attending the same worship service while maintaining your confidentiality.

Please keep in mind this process is new to all of us. Not everything will work perfectly the first time, so we will need to improve guidelines and procedures as we go. We are relying on guidance from the United Methodist Church and the local, state, and federal authorities, and that guidance may change from time to time. Please be sure to check this website often or follow us on Facebook @MonacaUMC for updates and changes to any of the guidelines listed above.

Also please remember that while everyone is practicing extreme caution as we reopen our doors for worship, anyone can contract COVID-19 or another illness by attending in person. While we would love to see you at church, we also recognize that the best way to protect yourself and others from contracting COVID-19 is to stay home. For more information, see this resource page the CDC put together.

Please let us know if you have any questions. We hope to see you soon!