CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

UPDATE: CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

Amidst concerns surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19), we want to let you know how Temple is responding. Our leadership team is carefully and continually monitoring this situation. As information evolves, this page is the primary, most up-to-date place for you to receive answers to commonly asked questions. We are committed to doing everything we can to provide a safe environment for our church family and the surrounding community.

IS TEMPLE GATHERING AT OUR CAMPUSES THIS SUNDAY?

While we are certainly ready to see our whole church family, we understand that there are those who are concerned about their health and thus may not be able to attend. Under Phase 3, churches are not limited in occupancy and can use 100% of seating and space. We will continue to encourage people to practice social distancing, hand washing, and wearing masks while in the building. Therefore, we will continue to provide them worship opportunities through our livestream or television.  And certainly, if someone is sick or symptomatic, he or she should stay at home as well and take advantage of these online worship settings.  Livestream will be available from the Blended Worship Service at 9 a.m. and from the gathering Worship Service at 10:30 a.m.

For those who are not in the vulnerable category and who feel comfortable with the collective worship experience, there will be three venues offered on Sunday morning:

9 a.m.    Blended (Sanctuary)

the gathering (The Gathering Space)

10:30 a.m.  the gathering (Sanctuary)

Notes about Sunday Morning Worship:

1. Guests will be welcomed to attend any service.
2. Per the Governor’s instruction, we encourage participants to wear masks. We will have masks available at the doors in case anyone would like one to have.
3. Social distancing should be employed. Worshippers should not shake hands/hug/etc.
4. There will be no “fellowship” time during the service.
5. There will be no “passing the plate” for the offering. Offering stations will be set up and available as you enter/exit the building.
6. There will be no bulletins/worship guides.
7. Bathrooms will be open.

HELPFUL AND SAFE TIPS FOR REGATHERING AT TEMPLE IN PHASE 3

1. If you are attending the 10:30 a.m. service, as soon as the first service ends and clears, we will allow people to enter. Please do not arrive or enter the building before 10:10.
2. Remember the Service Road has turned one way going east so it will take longer to arrive.
3. Please practice social distancing as we ReGather.
4. Ushers will be on hand to help with seating.
5. We are encouraging you to wear a mask or pick one up at the church as you enter.
6. Please stay at home if you are sick or have any symptoms of Covid-19.
7. We are encouraging families to ride and sit together in worship.
8. When leaving the church, remember, you must turn right out of the parking lot.

• The left lane of the Service Road will turn left at Tech Drive.
• The right lane of the Service Road will turn right at Tech Drive.

WHEN WILL SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES MEET ON CAMPUS AGAIN?

Sunday School classes have started meeting on campus again! It is a great time to become apart of a Sunday School class, if you would like to know what options are available you can contact Jason Walsworth at 255.3745 or email jason@temple.life.

WHEN WILL THE SPRINGS MEET ON ITS CAMPUS?

The Springs is a ministry of Temple aimed at renewing and revitalizing Barnett Springs and the surrounding areas.  The Springs’ physically gathering resumed on May 17 at 5 p.m.

WHEN WILL SUNDAY NIGHT SERVICES RESUME?

At this time, our Sunday night service will be discontinued.

WHEN WILL WEDNESDAY NIGHT ACTIVITIES RESUME?

Beginning on Wednesday, May 20, we will have our prayer meeting/Bible study in the Sanctuary at 6 p.m. These services will be livestreamed but not available on-demand.   Wednesday night meals are suspended, but youth/children/young adult activities have begun, Wednesday Schedule can be found HERE

ARE TEMPLE BUILDINGS OPEN ON WEEKDAYS?

The church office reopened, social distancing will be practiced, and no large gathering will be permitted.  Protocols (e.g. for people entering the building) are being practiced.

WHAT PRECAUTIONS CAN PEOPLE TAKE WHEN THEY COME TO TEMPLE BUILDINGS?

We encourage everyone to take certain steps to protect themselves and others from the coronavirus, flu, and other illnesses, including:

• Washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds;
• Using hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available;
• Not touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands;
• Avoiding close contact with people who are sick;
• Staying home if you are sick;
• Covering your cough or sneeze;
• Disinfecting objects and surfaces regularly.

WHAT PRECAUTIONS IS TEMPLE TAKING TO MAKE TEMPLE GATHERINGS AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE?

Even though we may not be gathering physically, we want to remind you that Temple is taking extra cleaning precautions at this time. This includes:

• Enlisting additional personnel and resources to clean during the week.
• Performing added in-depth cleaning of our facilities on a regular basis. These deep cleans will likely involve closing Temple buildings on certain weekdays, and we will include all information about scheduled closures on this webpage (see above under, “Are Temple buildings open on weekdays?”).
• Wiping down all common area touchpoints (e.g., doors, light switches, countertops, etc.) throughout the day with an EPA certified disinfectant.
• Placing hand sanitizers in common areas throughout the buildings.

When we resume our physical worship gatherings, we will clean in “real-time” during our services.  We will also continue utilizing safe ways to practice the ordinances as we serve the Lord’s Supper to our faith family and as we continue to baptize people in pools filled with sanitized water.