Covid19 Communications

Dear Hope Family,

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.” Romans 12:12

We hope this finds you and your family well!

We continue to enjoy worshiping with you as we’re able, whether online or outside, in person. However, we
also continue to miss gathering with you all as before. We hope that even as you join us for worship from the
comfort of your couches or kitchen tables that you, along with us, are eagerly awaiting the day when we can
be together again in the sanctuary proclaiming God’s Word, receiving the Lord’s Supper, and lifting up our
voices in praise. As we look forward to when that will once again be possible, we wanted to provide you with
an update as fall approaches.

Our reopening task force continues to meet weekly. These dedicated members have had many conversations
about what the faithful response to our present reality is and we are grateful for their service to the
congregation. We will continue to worship outside, so please join us, weather permitting, on Saturdays at 7
pm! Starting September 5th, Saturday outdoor worship will move back to 5 pm as temperatures cool down
and the days grow shorter. Also starting in September, we are preparing to offer one indoor worship
service on Sundays at 9 am in the sanctuary with similar restrictions and guidelines that were in place in
July. Please refer once again to our indoor worship restrictions and guidelines included with this mailing.

We understand that we will not be back to full capacity worship for quite some time and that not everyone
will be comfortable or able to return until the risk of contracting COVID has greatly decreased. We
recommend that individuals who are at higher risk of serious illness due to COVID-19 not attend in person
indoor worship and instead join our virtual online worship service on Sunday at 11 AM. With this in mind, we
have begun the process of updating our AV equipment in the sanctuary to enhance our online worship. This
is a new, ongoing ministry outreach opportunity for us and we look forward to the improvements and
flexibility that will come with the new equipment. We will continue to live stream worship. The service will
now begin at 11 am.

Our Christian Education committee has been meeting regularly as well. They are planning for a hybrid Sunday
School – with in person, intergenerational from 9:40-10:30 am on Sundays for families to participate in
together as well as online opportunities that can be used while families worship or at any other time.
Confirmation will also meet online and in person with numbers limited and we will have in person
opportunities for our High Schoolers. If you are a family with Sunday School aged children, and haven’t yet,
you should receive a mailing with more information on this soon.

Our Youth Committee is also working hard to provide opportunities for families and kids to gather
responsibly. We are hoping to hold outdoor youth group meetings at least once/month for those who feel
comfortable. Please watch for more information.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue to work through these difficult decisions.
These plans are subject to change. Please continue to visit our website, Facebook, and Instagram pages for
updates. If you are part of our youth programs, sign up for the Remind App. If you need assistance with any
of this, please contact the church office.

Finally, please be aware, in order to ensure that we are as prepared as possible and abiding by the
restrictions in place, you will need to sign up for all events that you and your family plan to attend. Please
visit our website hlc.church or call the church office to sign-up.

We also wanted to share some exciting news with you! Our new Office and Finance Manager started
Monday, August 10th. We are grateful to welcome Laura Robinson to the Hope staff. Please say hi and
introduce yourself to her when you call in or if you stop by. A big thank you to our search team and to you
for your prayers.

These are difficult times and many of us are feeling weary. But the church is not unfamiliar with difficult
things. God still calls us to be the church and to do God’s work in the world. As we continue to live through
these times, may you find rest in Christ, restoration in the work God still calls us to do, and hope that, “God is
our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth should
change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea.” -Psalm 46:1-2

Serving Christ,
Pastor Ron, Pastor Amy, Jamie Fleming, Jean Bayer, Tim Sechler

In sum, please note our new worship schedule beginning the weekend of September 5th/6th:

Saturday in person, outdoor worship at 5 pm

Sunday in person, indoor worship at 9 am

In person, intergenerational Sunday School 9:40-10:30 am

Sunday live stream only worship at 11 am

We look forward to worshiping with you!

Download this Document

Requirements & Guidelines for In-Person Worship: Starting September 9/5th/2020

Click to view Document:

View the Instructions to sign up for In-Person Worship

Click to view Document:

After reviewing the document above you can Sign Up for In-Person Worship Here

View the Restroom Protocol

Click to view Document:

Letter from Ms. Jill (Youth) 8/19/2020

Click to view Document: