Worship service

Governor Holcomb has allowed churches to reopen with no limitations on the number of individuals who can gather for service.  The elders have decided to resume in person worship this Sunday, May 10.  Our service time will be at 9:30 a.m.   Until further notice we will not be able to offer any children’s ministry programming.   CVMC will continue to offer online service via YouTube, linked through our Facebook page, as we have done.   It is recommended by Governor Holcomb that if you are 65 or older or have underlying health conditions that you stay at home and worship with us online.

Sunday services will look a little different for the next several weeks as we try to comply with the Governors recommendations for church services.

• Our Worship Center will have less seating than usual, and we will use the foyer as overflow if needed.  When you arrive at CVMC, we ask that you don’t congregate in the foyer, but go right into the Worship Center and sit.
• We encourage non-contact greetings. Please ask permission before engaging in contact greetings.
• We will not require masks to be worn inside our building, but you are more than welcome to do so.
• We will have hand sanitizer throughout the building for your use. 
• During the service, we will not be handing out bulletins, passing the welcome pads, or offering plates in an attempt to keep potential contamination to a minimum.
• The biggest change that may cause you to struggle is there will be no coffee or food!  I know, I am heartbroken!   So, bring your own coffee, bible, and pen, because they will not be provided for the next several weeks.

There will be offering boxes available in the Worship Center. Thank you for your continued faithfulness in supporting the ministry of CVMC.  It has been encouraging to our leadership to see the faithfulness of God through His people during this time!

Many of you at CVMC are a part of a small group that meets outside of the church.  We have encouraged our small group leaders to use “Zoom” to meet during this time, but I know that it has been difficult for everyone to get together.  Based on the Governor’s recommendation to allow groups of 25 people or less to gather, small groups will be able to resume meeting.  Your small group leader should be contacting you to begin meeting in person again.

Youth Ministry (Refuge)

Our Youth Ministry will begin meeting in person beginning Wednesday, May 13^th.  In order to comply with Governor Holcomb’s recommendations for church services, there will be no food, drinks offered.

In conclusion, I mention on Sunday, May 3^rd, that while we are all in the same storm, we are not all in the same boat!  We understand that there are varying opinions regarding this pandemic and how our country and CVMC leaders have responded to it.  However, as Christians we must agree that we are called to love, respect, and honor each person regardless.  Jesus said,

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

– John 13:34-35

Let’s do our best to honor and obey Christ’s words as we navigate this, hopefully, final leg of the journey

Dave Rowland, Lead Pastor

Crystal Valley Missionary Church