Dear Friends,
Greetings! I trust you are well. We are all on this unusual journey through the crisis of Covid-19. I am so proud of the many people from UC giving, serving, sacrificing and loving our community so well. We are hearing so many stories from individual parishioners, small groups, essential workers, first responders, medical personnel, etc., etc., who are extending extraordinary acts of kindness, bravery and love to so many. Well done!
I also wanted to update you that weekend services will continue to be online throughout the month of May. Our top priority is the health and safety of our parishioners. This is the best way to honor that priority. Also, it is so great to see so many of you engaging online, sharing our weekend services by watching and chatting about the messages, music and prayers. Of course, we are all looking forward to when we can be together in-person, but are grateful for the amazing opportunity God is giving us to reach people for Jesus we might not otherwise be able to reach.
As we look toward meeting again on campus, I want you to know our phenomenal Facilities team has been hard at work refreshing rooms with new paint, deeply cleaning and sanitizing our spaces from top to bottom. Throughout this month, they will continue their efforts sanitizing bathrooms and commonly used surfaces, disinfecting our spaces with hospital grade and EPA registered disinfectant cleaner. When we do meet again, we will continue to utilize these methods of disinfecting surfaces before and after each service, to provide the safest environment for you and our guests.
As updates from Federal, State and local officials shift and new information is made known, our plans may have to shift as well. We will keep you updated via email, social media and the Union Chapel Ministries app as events unfold. Please continue to be in prayer for Muncie and for the world, especially for those who are directly impacted by this virus.
Even in these uncertain times, with you I have seen and still believe, The BEST is YET to Come!
- Gregg
Sundays at 8:30am, 10am and 11:30am in the Worship Center.
The front doors to the Worship Center will open 10 minutes before each service.
Online services for Adult, 4FIVE6 and Kids, will be available Sundays at 8:30, 10 and 11:30am.
Reservations are not required, however due to CDC recommendations, a member of our team will electronically check you/your family in at the door.
For touchless check in, we will be using a smartphone app called Church Center. Prior to arriving on campus, simply download the app (Keyword search Church Center) and select Union Chapel as your home church. If you are not tech savvy, we have prepared both an instructional video and written instructions.
If you do not have a smartphone or cannot download the app, we can use the last 4 digits of your phone number, the app simply expedites the check in process.
Seating will be managed in accordance with CDC recommendations.
The CDC recommends wearing face masks in public settings when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. Wearing a face mask may limit exposure to respiratory droplets and may help prevent people who have COVID-19 from spreading the virus.
Yes, we will sing in our services.
Overflow seating is available on campus with the live streamed service on screen.
At our 8:30 service, kids are encouraged to sit with their families in the Worship Center, or in the Oneighty Auditorium during our service. For our 10am and 11:30am services, Kids and Preteen ministries (Infant - 6th grade) are open. Our secure check-in system is now touchless. To check in your child, download the Church Center app on your smart phone prior to arrival.
We encourage those in "at-risk" categories to use their best judgement in deciding whether or not to engage online or in person.
Everyone will exit using the doors directly behind the stage. Dismissal will be staggered in order to allow for social distancing. While not in a formal manner, we do ask that you exit your row after those seated immediately in front of you leave their row.
Look for a Pastor on your way out of service, call us at (765) 288-8383, or send an email to [email protected] to contact us digitally.
The coffee shop will be open with seating available in the Courtyard area. Note: All water fountains are turned off in accordance with CDC recommendations. Bottled water is available at the Welcome Center.
Staff and volunteers will be cleaning and disinfecting all surfaces before and after each service. All high-volume areas and hard surfaces will be thoroughly sanitized, as well as, the restrooms. We use hospital-grade sanitizing solutions and an electrostatic sprayer that allows us to thoroughly and safely disinfect seating and surfaces in minutes. For personal use, additional hand-sanitizer stations are available throughout campus.
Anyone who is sick or displays COVID-19 symptoms as defined by the CDC, should stay home and participate in one of our online gatherings. If you are notified by a medical professional that you have tested positive and were on Union Chapel campus starting 2 days before illness onset, please notify Candace Ford at [email protected].
If you are not ready to come back, we understand. We are in a time of great change and life is far from normal for most people. If you and/or your family are uncomfortable attending an in-person gathering at this time, we encourage you to continue to connect with us online and even consider hosting a Watch Party.
In our services we are encouraging verbal greetings and friendly waves.