[DUE TO COVID-19 CONCERNS,  WE HAVE INDEFINITELY SUSPENDED THE FOLLOWING MINISTRY]

From 10:00 a.m. to 10:25 a.m. lots of conversations take place in the church lobby, aided by the coffee and goodies provided by one of our adult Sunday groups. Members of the group rotate responsibility each week. We're confident that the group would welcome new faces, not only to their refreshment ministry, but to their Sunday group meetings at 9:00 a.m.!

[DUE TO COVID-19 CONCERNS, WE CURRENTLY USE COMMERCIALLY SEALED WAFER/JUICE COMBO PACKS FOR COMMUNION, WHICH MEANS NO HANDS AT FCCEM HAVE TOUCHED EITHER ELEMENT WE SERVE. THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBES OUR PRE-COVID APPROACH TO THE DISTRIBUTION OF COMMUNION ELEMENTS. WHAT HASN'T CHANGED IS THE FACT THAT WE WELCOME ALL PERSONS TO JOIN US AT THE LORD'S TABLE.]

We celebrate the Lord's Supper during every worship, so every Sunday a volunteer purchases and prepares for worship use the bread from which we take for one portion of the communion service, and sets up the trays of small plastic cups filled with grape juice we use for the second half of the communion experience. Then after worship, the same person collects empty cups from the pews and cleans up any other remnants of the day's communion service. This 10-15 minute ministry is crucial to the flow and faithfulness of our praise.

[By the way: Should you pay us a visit, it might help you to know that during communion, we take the two elements separately. The bread tray is passed, each of us taking and holding a piece from the loaf. After the server returns to the table, we take the bread together once the person presiding at the table reminds us of Jesus' instruction that we do so in remembrance of him. We then take the cup in the same way. ALL persons are invited to share communion with us.]

[DUE TO COVID-19 CONCERNS, WE CURRENTLY DO NOT OFFER CHILDCARE DURING WORSHIP. WE INSTEAD WELCOME ALL FAMILY MEMBERS TO SIT TOGETHER IN THE WORSHIP CENTER DURING THE SERVICE.]

We want parents and guardians of young children to feel connected and comfortable during worship, so we provide supervised care on our lower level for children in kindergarten and younger. Each week, a volunteer is prepared to welcome those who want to have a fun and enjoyable experience while the older folks remain in worship. 

[NOTE: It's undoubtedly obvious, but we'll say it anyway: Young children are ALWAYS welcome to stay in worship with the other family members or friends. Our childcare ministry is an option, not an obligation.]

[DUE TO COVID-19 CONCERNS, WE CURRENTLY DO NOT INCLUDE LIVE SINGING IN OUR SUNDAY WORSHIP. THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBES OUR PRE-COVID APPROACH TO SINGING.]

We sing contemporary praise music during our worship. Financial limitations don't allow us to have a live band, so we employ the next best approach: pre-recorded accompaniment tracks. Using high quality worship software, we project song lyrics, announcements, and other images onto a front wall-mounted screen. Our multimedia operator sets up microphones and runs the software. It's all a blessing.

[DUE TO COVID-19 CONCERNS, WE CURRENTLY TAKE COMMUNION ELEMENTS - THE BREAD AND THE CUP - IN UNISON, EACH ELEMENT WHEN INVITED TO DO  SO BY OUR PASTOR. PEOPLE WHO JOIN US BY PHONE ARE WELCOME TO USE WHATEVER ITEMS THEY HAVE AVAILABLE TO SERVE AS THEIR BREAD AND CUP, AND THEN TAKE EACH AT THE SAME TIME AS THOSE WORSHIPING IN THE WORSHIP CENTER. THE FOLLOWING DESCRIPTION APPLIES TO OUR APPROACH TO COMMUNION DISTRIBUTION PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC.]

One person prays separately for the cup and the loaf, then reminds us to take each, in turn, to remember Jesus. Another person receives the bread and cup trays from the one who prays, and in turn, passes them among the worshipers. This is leadership and service at a moment in our worship when we need it the most.