First Church Tulsa reopens for worship, Sunday, May 31, 2020 Pentecost

8:30 a.m. - Worship, Stephenson Hall
11:00 a.m. - Worship, Sanctuary
11:00 a.m. - Tulsa International Fellowship, Great Hall

Dear First Church family and friends,

This letter brings good news. For the first time in 10 weeks, First Church Tulsa will open her doors for worship this Sunday, May 31 - ­­­the day of Pentecost.

We appreciate how beautifully this congregation has sought to stay connected, worshiping together online, praying with and for each other, and serving the community at large during this extraordinary time of “sheltering-at-home.”

And, we’re grateful to the FPC Session and a task force led by Cynthia Stewart for their work in assessing and scheduling the opening. The timing aligns us with many Tulsa congregations who are also reopening in one way or another this Sunday or early June.

Communion Sunday:

Sunday, May 31, is communion Sunday and we will be serving elements at our Church services.

Home communion - if you plan on watching services from home and would also like to participate in communion, we are distributing communion kits on Saturday, May 30 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Church’s south door porte-cochere. Simply drive through and members of the Deacons and Elders will distribute the number of kits you need while you stay in your car!

How can you help prepare for this Sunday’s worship?

Consider your health and well-being. If you are immune-compromised, have underlying conditions, or are hesitant in returning to worship for any reason, you’re encouraged to stay where you are and share in our online and televised services from your residence. We love you and want you to choose the best option for yourself.

If you are planning to come to worship this Sunday, please send us an “intention” e-mail with your name, which service you will attend, and the number in your family to dschooley@FirstChurchTulsa.org or call the Church at 918-584-4701. This will enable us to prepare more wisely and accommodate each one who expects to be worshiping on this first Sunday.

Listed below are a few guidelines for what to expect in Phase 1 of our reopening plan:

First Church facilities remain closed for all other activities:

Outside of Sunday worship services, the FPC facilities will remain closed for all other activities until Session decides to move to the next phase based on guidance from state, county, city and health officials. Please call and make an appointment if you need to meet with a pastor or a staff member.

Church facilities:

Our facilities have been completely cleaned and sanitized in preparation for opening the Church. A protective spray has been applied to keep the area sanitized for six months and our weekly cleaning practices have been updated to comply with CDC guidelines. Additionally, maintenance team members will disinfect bathrooms, elevators, handrails, doors and other high traffic areas between services on Sunday mornings.

When you come to the Church, you will see:

• Signage placed around the campus to remind congregants about social distancing
• Less furniture in the Atrium and outside the Great Hall
• No food or beverage service
• Sanitization stations for hand cleaning throughout the facilities
• Protective face masks available
• Occupancy limited to two (2) for bathrooms and three (3) for elevators

Congregant guidelines:

Everyone who comes into the facility plays a part in looking out for the well-being of their brothers and sisters in Christ. Please monitor your own health and choose your avenue of worship accordingly – on site, online or televised services.

For those choosing to worship on-site at the Church, please:

• Temperature – Take your temperature before coming to Church and if it is above 100.3 degrees, please self-quarantine. Temperatures will not be taken at the Church.
• Social distancing - Individuals and families are asked to maintain social distancing of six feet (6 ft.) or more from other people including sitting in the worship space, entering and exiting the facility and occupying small spaces including elevators and bathrooms.
• Sanitizing hands - Each person is asked to sanitize their hands at the stations before and after touching surfaces inside the Church.
• Masks and no-touch policy - Congregants are encouraged to wear face coverings or masks, and we have masks available for you at the Church. It will be so nice to see friends that you haven’t seen in two months. However, please refrain from shaking hands or hugging them (at least for now) and adhere to a no-touch policy.
  
• Children - Parents are asked to keep children close to them at all times and observe the six-foot (6 ft.) distancing rule from others.

If you or a family member tests positive for COVID-19, please alert the Church so that we may hold you in prayer and conduct necessary contact tracing.

Worship space guidelines:

• Spacing - Members of households will sit together and leave six to eight feet (6-8 feet) of distance between others. If space does not allow for safe distancing, please consult an usher. 
        - In the sanctuary, every other pew will be available for seating
        - In Stephenson Hall and the Great Hall, please leave six to eight feet (6-8 feet)           
          between you/your family and the next congregant
• Bulletins – A printed bulletin will be available at traditional worship in the Sanctuary.
        - Contemporary and TIF worship will utilize screens to display the order of worship. 
        - Announcements will be made and are also available in E-News and the website.
• Communion – The elements will be offered in individual packages for pickup on tables outside worship centers and trash cans will be available for disposal of used elements by individuals. Please place used communion materials in provided baggies prior to disposal.
• Offerings – Plates will be stationed by the doors for congregants to share their tithes upon exiting the worship space. Online giving is available on our website.
• Worship areas – please dispose of food and drink prior to entering worship areas.

Online and television worship services:

11 a.m. Traditional Sunday Worship
Livestream.com/FirstChurchTulsa
Facebook.com/FirstChurchTulsa
Cox Cable Ch. 3 at 11 a.m., 5 p.m. and 10 p.m.

11 a.m. Tulsa International Fellowship (TIF) Sunday Worship
Livestream.com/FirstChurchTulsa
Facebook.com/wambugu.gachungi

In closing …

We are grateful for the unprecedented efforts made by so many to examine and review the best course forward for this congregation.

With gratitude to God for blessings received both at home and together, we commend each of you into the care and keeping of our Lord Jesus, the Lord of the Church!

Rev. Dr. James Miller, Pastor

Cynthia Stewart, Chair-Reopening Task Force