Covid-19 Update Page
This page will contain communications from the Immanuel leadership team and community leaders regarding the Coronavirus outbreak.
Also, watch your e-mail or visit pastor Jack's and Pam's "Chimings" updates in the News and Events section of this website.
This page will contain communications from the Immanuel leadership team and community leaders regarding the Coronavirus outbreak.
Also, watch your e-mail or visit pastor Jack's and Pam's "Chimings" updates in the News and Events section of this website.
On-Line Worship Opportunities
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Even though Sunday worship services have been cancelled during the Coronavirus pandemic, you can participate in worship on-line. Click Here for on-line worship/devotional services prepared by our staff.
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Update: September 7- Re-Opening the church building
The Administrative Council at Immanuel UMC is ready to re-open our church building for
worship and other events in the life of our congregation and community. To continue to comply with
CDC and NY State Dept. of Health guidelines, the following parameters will remain in force as we re-
open:
1. The wearing of face coverings, maintaining of physical distancing, use of hand sanitizers and a
sign-in and sign-out system will continue to be our operating procedure. During the week we
will use the current sign-in sheets with health questions and for worship we will gather names
and contact info. of attendees only.
2. We will continue to maintain a single entrance/exit near the Sanctuary for building access and
we will need to continue to refrain from singing and serving food of any kind.
Worship
With these parameters in mind, we will resume worship inside the building beginning on Sunday,
September 13th. Our service schedule will be:
1. 8:30am worship will take place in the Fellowship Hall.
2. 10:00am worship will take place in the Sanctuary.
Each service will have a total attendance capacity of 50 people. This will be done on a “first come-first
seated” basis. After reaching the maximum of 50 people in the room, we will attempt to accommodate
others in an “over-flow” area. An attendance log (from the sign-in sheets) will be maintained in the
event contact tracing for a Covid-19 situation is needed.
Other Usage by Groups
Other groups who wish to resume their ministry are invited to do so but we are requesting that
the CDC and Health Dept. Guidelines (shown above) be followed as well. Groups that are unable, or
unwilling to follow those guidelines should probably continue their ministry in a virtual way.
These plans are in force as of the date of their publication, but the situation may change if community
circumstances warrant.
We desire everyone to make the best possible choice for themselves about attendance and we will
continue to build our “on-line” worshipping congregation, available through our church website,
www.churchofthebells.org. Look for some enhancements to this in the coming months, as well!
worship and other events in the life of our congregation and community. To continue to comply with
CDC and NY State Dept. of Health guidelines, the following parameters will remain in force as we re-
open:
1. The wearing of face coverings, maintaining of physical distancing, use of hand sanitizers and a
sign-in and sign-out system will continue to be our operating procedure. During the week we
will use the current sign-in sheets with health questions and for worship we will gather names
and contact info. of attendees only.
2. We will continue to maintain a single entrance/exit near the Sanctuary for building access and
we will need to continue to refrain from singing and serving food of any kind.
Worship
With these parameters in mind, we will resume worship inside the building beginning on Sunday,
September 13th. Our service schedule will be:
1. 8:30am worship will take place in the Fellowship Hall.
2. 10:00am worship will take place in the Sanctuary.
Each service will have a total attendance capacity of 50 people. This will be done on a “first come-first
seated” basis. After reaching the maximum of 50 people in the room, we will attempt to accommodate
others in an “over-flow” area. An attendance log (from the sign-in sheets) will be maintained in the
event contact tracing for a Covid-19 situation is needed.
Other Usage by Groups
Other groups who wish to resume their ministry are invited to do so but we are requesting that
the CDC and Health Dept. Guidelines (shown above) be followed as well. Groups that are unable, or
unwilling to follow those guidelines should probably continue their ministry in a virtual way.
These plans are in force as of the date of their publication, but the situation may change if community
circumstances warrant.
We desire everyone to make the best possible choice for themselves about attendance and we will
continue to build our “on-line” worshipping congregation, available through our church website,
www.churchofthebells.org. Look for some enhancements to this in the coming months, as well!
Update: August 28 - Indoor Worship Returns on September 13th
Immanuel will be returning to indoor worship services on September, 13th! A worship service at 8:30 am and 10am will be offered. Things will be a little different from the "normal" so, as this date approaches, please check this website and your e-mail inboxes for more details regarding the resumption of indoor worship.
Online worship will continue to be available for those who feel they should not yet attend the indoor services.
Online worship will continue to be available for those who feel they should not yet attend the indoor services.
Update: June 4 - In-Person Worship Begins on June 14th- 9am
We "Re-Launch" In-Person Worship Sundays, at 9:00am in the parking lot. Bring your lawn chair and face covering as we gather for worship.
And, of course, our worship on-line continues to be available for anyone who is not yet ready to venture out!
Weather permitting, this outdoor worship service will continue to be offered (Sunday at 9AM) in the parking lot until further notice. Visit this website and read your Chimings emails for updates.
Please Note: The prepackaged communion cups we are using now because of COVID19 are not gluten free.
The church building remains closed. See the April 9 update below for more information building access.
And, of course, our worship on-line continues to be available for anyone who is not yet ready to venture out!
Weather permitting, this outdoor worship service will continue to be offered (Sunday at 9AM) in the parking lot until further notice. Visit this website and read your Chimings emails for updates.
Please Note: The prepackaged communion cups we are using now because of COVID19 are not gluten free.
The church building remains closed. See the April 9 update below for more information building access.
Update: April 9, 2020 - Temporary Staff and Member Building Access Procedures
Temporary Staff and Member Access Procedures
Effective April 9, 2020 access to the church is prohibited through all doors except the main entrance. Entrance into the church and West Side Nursery will be subject to the following guidelines and procedures:
• Assess your need to enter the facility. Determine whether or not you can perform the task from home so as to minimize the frequency of your visits to the church building if possible. If going to the church is unavoidable, check with others you know who might have a minor task that needs to be done at the church and see if you can perform it for them so as to avoid them having to enter the church. Alternatively, see if someone else you know must go to the church can do your task for you if possible.
• Plan to take face mask or cover and gloves with you (in accordance with Onondaga County guidelines) in the event someone else’s visit to the church coincides with yours. Wearing of face cover and gloves will be necessary if other persons enter the church (if you see vehicle(s) in the parking lot, plan to don masks before entering). Maintain 6 foot social distancing from others while inside the building.
• Sign in at the main entrance to the church is required denoting: 1) date; 2) your name; 3) purpose of your visit; 4) time you entered; and 5) time you left.
• A hand sanitizer will be located next to the sign in sheets. It is strongly suggested that you sanitize your hands before each time you use the pen to sign in and sign out.
• If, after you access the facilities, you learn that you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, or you have potential COVID-19 symptoms and testing is pending or you have tested positive for the disease, please immediately contact Pastors Jack Keating at 315-935-7659 or Pam Kelsey-Gossard at 315-657-6705. Your information will be kept confidential if requested. At that point the church will be closed to all visitors pending confirmation that your test for COVID-19 proves negative.
• Persons who entered the church following the date and time that a person exposed or infected visited the church will be notified to self-quarantine and possibly take additional measures pursuant to appropriate guidelines. You in turn will be notified if someone preceding your visit was exposed or infected.
• Reopening of the church will be done pursuant to having the facilities disinfected and sanitized in accordance with these CDC guidelines, “Cleaning and Disinfection After Persons Suspected/Confirmed to Have COVID-19 Have Been in the Facility…..If it has been more than 7 days since the person with suspected/confirmed COVID-19 visited or used the facility, additional cleaning and disinfection is not necessary”.
Effective April 9, 2020 access to the church is prohibited through all doors except the main entrance. Entrance into the church and West Side Nursery will be subject to the following guidelines and procedures:
• Assess your need to enter the facility. Determine whether or not you can perform the task from home so as to minimize the frequency of your visits to the church building if possible. If going to the church is unavoidable, check with others you know who might have a minor task that needs to be done at the church and see if you can perform it for them so as to avoid them having to enter the church. Alternatively, see if someone else you know must go to the church can do your task for you if possible.
• Plan to take face mask or cover and gloves with you (in accordance with Onondaga County guidelines) in the event someone else’s visit to the church coincides with yours. Wearing of face cover and gloves will be necessary if other persons enter the church (if you see vehicle(s) in the parking lot, plan to don masks before entering). Maintain 6 foot social distancing from others while inside the building.
• Sign in at the main entrance to the church is required denoting: 1) date; 2) your name; 3) purpose of your visit; 4) time you entered; and 5) time you left.
• A hand sanitizer will be located next to the sign in sheets. It is strongly suggested that you sanitize your hands before each time you use the pen to sign in and sign out.
• If, after you access the facilities, you learn that you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, or you have potential COVID-19 symptoms and testing is pending or you have tested positive for the disease, please immediately contact Pastors Jack Keating at 315-935-7659 or Pam Kelsey-Gossard at 315-657-6705. Your information will be kept confidential if requested. At that point the church will be closed to all visitors pending confirmation that your test for COVID-19 proves negative.
• Persons who entered the church following the date and time that a person exposed or infected visited the church will be notified to self-quarantine and possibly take additional measures pursuant to appropriate guidelines. You in turn will be notified if someone preceding your visit was exposed or infected.
• Reopening of the church will be done pursuant to having the facilities disinfected and sanitized in accordance with these CDC guidelines, “Cleaning and Disinfection After Persons Suspected/Confirmed to Have COVID-19 Have Been in the Facility…..If it has been more than 7 days since the person with suspected/confirmed COVID-19 visited or used the facility, additional cleaning and disinfection is not necessary”.
UPDATE: April 1, 2020 Immanuel cancellations extended through May 15th
Pastor Jack's April 1st update:
1. In keeping with the guidelines established by governmental agencies... the church building at Immanuel will remain closed through May 15th. This means that all activities, including worship, will be conducted "virtually". This also includes the cancellation of our Shut-In meal delivery ministry scheduled for this coming weekend.
2. Our Garage Sale, scheduled for 4/30- 5/2, will be postponed until a future date. Keeping saving those treasures if you would, and we will let you know a new date as soon as we can schedule one.
3. Your pastors will be at the church THIS SATURDAY, 4/4 from 11am - 1pm and will be delivering palms to you in the traffic circle in front of the building for Palm Sunday. In order to protect everyone... we will come to your car. YOU MUST REMAIN IN YOUR VEHICLE FOR THIS DRIVE-THROUGH DELIVERY! In addition to delivering palms, we can accept any remaining donations of perishable food from our grocery bag mission project or any remaining Gratitude Boxes you might want to deliver to support our school lunch project. We can also accept any regular church offering envelopes, as well! Thanks for keeping up your support of Immanuel as we move through this challenging time!
4. We will have worship on our church website for Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, and Easter Sunday. Yes, it will not be the same... but it is the best we can do to keep everyone safe during this time. Thanks to our church staff for working so hard to help us continue to worship. More details will appear in our daily "Chimings" e-mails in the coming days.
5. We are wondering if you might be aware of any folks in our church community who are in any kind of immediate need? If so, please let one of the pastors know and we will see if it is possible for the church to respond to help out!
We appreciate all the efforts everyone is making to keep us "connected". If you are telephoning a shut-in or someone without internet access, please try to get this information to all the people on your list.
Keep the faith, friends! Through all these days God loves us more than we can ever imagine! Pastor Jack
1. In keeping with the guidelines established by governmental agencies... the church building at Immanuel will remain closed through May 15th. This means that all activities, including worship, will be conducted "virtually". This also includes the cancellation of our Shut-In meal delivery ministry scheduled for this coming weekend.
2. Our Garage Sale, scheduled for 4/30- 5/2, will be postponed until a future date. Keeping saving those treasures if you would, and we will let you know a new date as soon as we can schedule one.
3. Your pastors will be at the church THIS SATURDAY, 4/4 from 11am - 1pm and will be delivering palms to you in the traffic circle in front of the building for Palm Sunday. In order to protect everyone... we will come to your car. YOU MUST REMAIN IN YOUR VEHICLE FOR THIS DRIVE-THROUGH DELIVERY! In addition to delivering palms, we can accept any remaining donations of perishable food from our grocery bag mission project or any remaining Gratitude Boxes you might want to deliver to support our school lunch project. We can also accept any regular church offering envelopes, as well! Thanks for keeping up your support of Immanuel as we move through this challenging time!
4. We will have worship on our church website for Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, and Easter Sunday. Yes, it will not be the same... but it is the best we can do to keep everyone safe during this time. Thanks to our church staff for working so hard to help us continue to worship. More details will appear in our daily "Chimings" e-mails in the coming days.
5. We are wondering if you might be aware of any folks in our church community who are in any kind of immediate need? If so, please let one of the pastors know and we will see if it is possible for the church to respond to help out!
We appreciate all the efforts everyone is making to keep us "connected". If you are telephoning a shut-in or someone without internet access, please try to get this information to all the people on your list.
Keep the faith, friends! Through all these days God loves us more than we can ever imagine! Pastor Jack
UPDATE: March 20, 2020
Update from Camillus Senior Center
Click Here to download a letter with the latest updates from our Camillus Senior Center
Update from Camillus Senior Center
Click Here to download a letter with the latest updates from our Camillus Senior Center
UPDATE: March 18, 2020
Easter Plant Orders
Friends,
Given our current situation with the Coronavirus pandemic, the leadership at Immanuel feels it is best to suspend our Easter plant order. If you have already made an order, please contact me on how you would like to handle the order/payment made.
Thank you all for your patience as we move forward the best that we are able.
Peace, Pam.
Easter Plant Orders
Friends,
Given our current situation with the Coronavirus pandemic, the leadership at Immanuel feels it is best to suspend our Easter plant order. If you have already made an order, please contact me on how you would like to handle the order/payment made.
Thank you all for your patience as we move forward the best that we are able.
Peace, Pam.
UPDATE: Sunday, March 15, 2020
All activities cancelled
In worship this morning, Pastor Jack announced that the leadership of Immanuel has discerned that the church will be closed beginning immediately after worship today until Palm Sunday, April 5. The leadership did not come to this decision lightly, but believe it is in the best interest of not only our church family but our community to try and limit the spread of COVID19 as best we are able. This means that ALL activities, meetings, Bible Studies, rehearsals and worship will be cancelled until April 5. Pastor Jack will be sending out a daily email with encouraging words to help us through this difficult time. The church office will have limited hours. Pastor Jack and I are also available by phone and email for any concerns you may have.
Please continue to pray for those immediately affected by COVID19, as well as their caregivers and our leaders as we all try to make the best decisions for all involved. We will continue to monitor the situation and will email as well as post on our website and Facebook pages any updates. Please make a point of sharing information with anyone whom you know does not have online access.
The Israelites wandered the desert for 40 years and learned that God was with them the whole time, God is with us as well. May the peace of God fill you and the love of God surround you, now and forever.
Peace, Pam
All activities cancelled
In worship this morning, Pastor Jack announced that the leadership of Immanuel has discerned that the church will be closed beginning immediately after worship today until Palm Sunday, April 5. The leadership did not come to this decision lightly, but believe it is in the best interest of not only our church family but our community to try and limit the spread of COVID19 as best we are able. This means that ALL activities, meetings, Bible Studies, rehearsals and worship will be cancelled until April 5. Pastor Jack will be sending out a daily email with encouraging words to help us through this difficult time. The church office will have limited hours. Pastor Jack and I are also available by phone and email for any concerns you may have.
Please continue to pray for those immediately affected by COVID19, as well as their caregivers and our leaders as we all try to make the best decisions for all involved. We will continue to monitor the situation and will email as well as post on our website and Facebook pages any updates. Please make a point of sharing information with anyone whom you know does not have online access.
The Israelites wandered the desert for 40 years and learned that God was with them the whole time, God is with us as well. May the peace of God fill you and the love of God surround you, now and forever.
Peace, Pam
Protect Yourself! Know the facts! Follow the guidelines!
As you all know, the Coronavirus outbreak is a rapidly changing event. The best place to obtain the most current and reliable information is the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) website. Click here for the latest information from the CDC.
As you all know, the Coronavirus outbreak is a rapidly changing event. The best place to obtain the most current and reliable information is the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) website. Click here for the latest information from the CDC.
