Update - Dec. 9, 2020
Dear First Baptist Plainfield Church members and
community,
The First
Baptist Church Plainfield Executive Board voted unanimously on Dec. 8 to move
worship services back to “virtual only” if the State of Indiana moves Hendricks
County to “red,” which indicates the highest degree of caution based on
COVID-19 positivity rates and total cases. The change would last for four
weeks and would be subject to extension if the situation does not improve.
Today,
Wednesday, Dec. 9, the state moved Hendricks County from orange to red. As
a result, beginning this Sunday, Dec. 13 and extending through Sunday, Jan. 3,
we will conduct services on Facebook Live only. There will be no in-person
attendance.
Both the
9:00 am and 10:30 am services will be conducted with Pastor David and musicians
live from the Church. Christmas Eve services will also be virtual only. A
decision will be made soon whether there will still be two services or just one
(the two planned in-person services are to be the same).
The outdoor,
drive-by, live nativity scheduled for this Sunday from 5:30 to 8:30 pm will go
on as planned.
We are
saddened to make this change, but we feel it is the best decision to make at
this time to help do our part to slow the spread of COVID-19.
John Poray
Executive
Board
Update - May 12, 2020
While we long for the time when we all can
worship in person together, the health and safety of our members, visitors, and
staff remains our top priority. First Baptist Church Plainfield will continue
to worship on Sundays at 9:15 am via Facebook Live into the month of June. We
anticipate worshiping in person beginning on June 21, subject to change. We
hope you will join us this Sunday on Facebook.
Update - April 28, 2020
The Church Executive Board met this past Saturday
to once again discuss the status of our church activities – worship services,
Sunday School classes, activities for all ages and our Beginning Steps
Pre-school. As in our previous calls, we discussed the state stay-at-home
mandate, restrictions on gatherings of more than 10 people and the importance
of social distancing.
Though the State of Indiana stay-at-home
mandate currently runs through May 1 and though state officials have discussed
plans for a phase in of reopening the state, the Board anticipates that the
state order will be extended. The Board voted to extend our own suspension of
activities through May 15.
The health of all our members, visitors,
staff and Beginning Steps families continues to be our primary concern. A
sub-group of the Board will be meeting to discuss our plans for phasing in our
activities, including worship services and Sunday School classes, once the
COVID-19 situation improves. We have to assume that we will need to
continue to take precautions once we are able to begin meeting within our
church building.
We are thankful that Pastor David is once
again able to conduct a service from the FMC on Sunday morning and, with the
help of Aaron Castleman, deliver it over Facebook Live. We encourage everyone
to participate in this service at 9:15 am each Sunday. Please continue to be in
prayer that the pandemic will rapidly wane and that soon, we will once again
worship together within our church building.
Update - March 31, 2020
In February, we celebrated “I Love My
Church” month; in March, our theme was “I Love My Community.” As we enter
April, we hope that you will embrace another theme with us: “I Give My Life.”
This month, much like the last, will look different than we have imagined, as our services
will continue to be held via Facebook Live through Sunday, April 26. The
building will remain closed through April 30, but staff will support the
congregation through virtual communications.
Although our world may feel upside down, we
will come together virtually on Easter Sunday, April 12, to celebrate and
rejoice in the Resurrection of Christ. We hope you will invite your friends and
family to join us as we encourage and uplift one another with the Good News of
our Savior!
As disciples of Christ, we are often called
to sacrifice and give for the benefit of others. In Luke 9:23, Jesus tells us,
“If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their
cross daily and follow me.” Let us be deliberate in the coming days, as we give
our lives to Christ while apart from the larger body, to read Scripture daily,
to pray for others, and to allow ourselves time to listen for God’s spirit at
work in us.
The Executive Board will continue to
monitor the status of COVID-19 and make changes accordingly. We look forward to
being together again soon, and we pray for you daily.
Original Release - Saturday, March 14,
2020
In an effort to keep our congregation and
community safe during the COVID-19 outbreak, and out of an abundance of
caution, First Baptist Church Plainfield is taking steps to protect persons
from the dangers presented by this novel virus, as well as to lessen the impact
of stress on the healthcare system.
At this time, all services and activities
at First Baptist Church Plainfield are cancelled through Sunday, April 5, in
accordance with national, state, and local health guidelines.
This includes Sunday services, which will now be held
virtually via Facebook Live at 9:15 a.m. each Sunday. Tithes and offerings can
be mailed to the church or given online at www.firstbaptistplainfield.org.
This decision comes from our desire to love one another
as Christ has loved us; by choosing to pause our face-to-face ministries in
this time, we acknowledge that compassion for one another is now an act of
solidarity for public health – in being apart, we can be united in our love for
Christ and one another. It is not out of fear, but love for one another, that
we have made this decision.
As we face this unprecedented issue, please use this time
for individual and family devotion and worship. Continue to pray for our
community, our church, and those who have been impacted by the pandemic.
More information and resources will be released in the
coming days and weeks. For emergencies, you may contact the pastoral staff via
email or cell phone.
