In-Person, Outdoor Service | May 31 at 8:30 am

Grace Church of the Valley is committed to gathering together in person tomorrow, May 31. Late Friday night, May 29, the Supreme Court upheld California’s regulations for churches which include restricting to only 100 people per building per service. Because of the Supreme Court decision on Friday, the numbers of people already planning to attend, and our desire to follow Romans 13, the elders have voted to hold one outdoor worship service in front of our Worship Center at Grace Church of the Valley tomorrow, May 31 at 8:30 am.

There will still be no nurseries or children’s programs available.

Please recognize that this is a temporary format coming out of shelter-in-place. GCV's ultimate goal is to gather together in one worship service while providing nurseries and children’s programs, but that will take thoughtful time and planning as we continue to transition.

If for any reason (conscience, health, etc.) you are uncomfortable attending an in-person worship service, we encourage you to stay home and tune in to the livestream at 8:30 am at graceofthevalley.org/live.

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 

- Ephesians 4:1–3

Prepare | Before You Come

Plan to be patient and gracious with one another. Don’t assume your preferences are the same as everyone else’s! (Romans 14:13)

Plan, pray, and prepare your family before Sunday morning.

Don’t come if you are sick, are in contact with someone who is sick, or are considered high risk.

Please be mindful of social distancing norms: six feet apart, avoid touching, avoid sharing/passing items, etc.

Face coverings are welcome but optional. (Please be patient with one another’s preferences.)

Please wear recently cleaned clothing to the worship service.

Please use the restroom before coming to the worship service to limit restroom use at GCV. Restrooms in the Worship Center and the Generations Building will be available. 

Prepare | When You Arrive

KCaps Food Drive
On May 31, we will also be hosting a food drive in partnership with KCAPS for those who have been affected by coronavirus. We will be collecting canned and boxed food donations in fruit bins outside the Worship Center.

Seating | Bring your own chair or blanket!
The stage will be set up in front of the Worship Center. There will be room to sit on the concrete patio or the grass area in front of the church building. Provided chairs and benches will be available for those who need them.

Hand Sanitizer
We will have bottles of hand sanitizer on the patio for you to use. We ask that you use the hand sanitizer and leave the bottles on the table. Please do not take the bottles with you. Please be mindful of social distancing norms: six feet apart, avoid touching, avoid sharing/passing items, etc.

Offering
We will not be passing offering bags during the service but there will be two offering boxes in front of the Generations Building where you can put your gifts. You can also continue to give online at graceofthevalley.org/giving or send gifts in the mail to Grace Church of the Valley 1101 Marion Street, Kingsburg, CA 93631.

Communion
We will be celebrating communion on Sunday, but we will not be passing the communion elements. Prepackaged elements will be available on tables near the roundabout for you to pick up before the worship service begins.

Participation
We will be singing as a congregation on Sunday and we invite you to join us. Face coverings are welcome but optional.

Families with Children
If you have children, please keep them with you and under your supervision at all times before, during, and after the worship service. The playground and children's classrooms will not be available for use. Room 201A, upstairs in the Generations Building, will be available for nursing moms who need some extra space and privacy. 

Indoor Livestreaming
The Great Room in the Generations Building is available for indoor seating. Only 100 people are allowed in the Generations Building.

Online Information Card
If you are a visitor, member, or regular attender, we would love to know that you're here on Sunday! Please fill out our online information card and include any prayer requests, sign up for email lists, or update your information. You can go to tinyurl.com/GCVinfocard or use the camera on your phone to scan the code in your bulletin.

GCV Preparations

GCV will have adequate hygiene supplies, such as soap, tissues, no-touch trash cans, and hand sanitizer (with at least 60 percent alcohol) available.

GCV will space out seating in the Great Room for attendees who do not live in the same household to at least six feet apart when possible.

No items will be passed or shared among congregants.

Offering: We will receive offerings at stationary collection boxes instead of passing collection trays or baskets. You can also continue to give through the mail or electronically.

Communion: We will have prepackaged communion elements for congregants to pick up when they arrive.

Bulletin: We will not be handing out the bulletin, but we will have bulletins with song lyrics available for congregants to pick up when they arrive.

Information Card: We will not be collecting information cards but will have a digital version for members, attenders, and visitors to fill out for email signup, prayer requests, etc.

The worship team will keep a safe distance from one another on the stage.

The sound team will be careful to not have too many people in the sound booth area to minimize contact with one another.

The ushers will be available to safely transport anyone who becomes sick at the facility to their home or a health-care facility.

The security team will have extra members ready to keep the campus safe and help with any issues that could cause potential harm to people in attendance.

GCV has communicated with the GCV insurance policy provider, Kingsburg city government, and local law enforcement.

The GCV Welcome Team will clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces. The welcome team will avoid the use of items that are not easily cleaned, sanitized, or disinfected, ensure safe and correct application of disinfectants, and keep them away from children.

GCV will inform those with exposure to a person diagnosed with COVID-19 to stay home and self-monitor for symptoms and follow CDC guidance if symptoms develop.

In the event a person diagnosed with COVID-19 is determined to have been at Grace Church of the Valley and poses a risk to the community, we will properly clean and disinfect the area and the building where the individual was present.

GCV will communicate clearly with congregants about actions being taken to protect their health.

If you have any questions, email blake@graceofthevalley.org and a pastor or staff member will get back to you as soon as possible.