Gainesville SDA Church Reopening Plan

With the current guidance from the Florida Conference, CDC, The State of Florida, and Alachua County, the GVSDA Church has established a plan to gradually open our church for in-person worship services. 

Please note that this is subject to change if conditions change.

It is important for our church family to closely read, understand, and follow the guidance and restrictions listed here.

• Your health is our highest concern. Wearing a face covering and keeping apart may feel uncomfortable; however, following these guidelines helps us have church together.   Please follow this guidance.   

• People will be on heightened alert for signs of sickness.   It is hard to determine allergies or seasonal illnesses from coronavirus infection.   We may ask you to view the service from home if you show signs of sickness such as: excessive sneezing or coughing, have a runny nose, or have a fever.

• Please enjoy the service from home if you are sick.   We are working hard to put the Sabbath message online so that you can worship in health and safety from your home as you recuperate.

• In Person Services begin September 12, 2020

• There will be only one in-person service, at 12:15 PM

• Doors to the church will open at 12:00 PM 

• This service will be live-streamed

• Face coverings should cover your nose and mouth, and fit snugly against the sides of your face.   Additionally, you should be able to breathe easily while wearing a face covering.

• Face coverings can be respirators or masks, or be made out of a scarf, bandana, hand towel, or t-shirt.   

• Face shields can also be used as long as they wrap around the sides of the wearer’s face and extend to below the chin.

• Entrance to the church will only be through the double glass doors of the church. (All other exterior doors will be locked.)

• Doors will not be opened until 15 minutes before each service.   We encourage you to wait in your car until the doors are opened.

• There will be a specific entry process for all individuals or family groups.

• We will encourage folks to maintain distance from each other while you enter church.

• No handshakes or hugs.

• Greeters will be counting individuals and family groups to ensure that we keep within county mandated guidance for church capacity.   Folks will be directed to the overflow area in the gym after the church has reached capacity.

• Individuals and families will be directed to specific seating locations within the sanctuary.   Seating will fill from the front of the sanctuary to the back on a “first-come first-served” basis.   Seating requests may not be honored.

• Attendees may only sit in open spaces as directed by the ushers; ushers will be seating individuals appropriately to maintain physical distancing.

• We will not collect tithe and offerings during the service. Tithes and Offerings can be deposited in the Tithes and Offerings box in the foyer.   Additionally, we encourage online giving.

• Individuals and families entering the church will be strictly counted.   Entry to the church is limited and available on a first-come first-served basis.

• Families will be able to sit together, but there must be a minimum of 6 feet between other individuals and families.

• Attendees will follow social distancing between families when sitting in the sanctuary.

• The balcony will be used for assigned seating.

• The Youth Chapel, Sabbath School rooms and other church rooms will be closed/locked.

• We will have overflow seating in the gym to view the services if the sanctuary and balcony reach capacity. Gym seating will follow social distancing guidance. Seating in the gym will be limited.

• Hymnals will be removed from the pews.   Lyrics for songs will be displayed on the screens.

• Electronic bulletins will be emailed out during the week.

• The church sanctuary will be disinfected and cleaned following the service.   

• Ushers will dismiss the congregation and ensure physical distancing while exiting the building.

• People will be guided out of the building.

• There will be no stopping to talk or visit as you leave the church building.

• The church building will be locked after all congregants have left the building.

• Currently no in-person Sabbath school classes at the church
  (all classes will continue online).

• Sabbath School materials will be available.   Please ask a Greeter about this before you are seated.

• Drinking fountains will not be available to be used.
  Please bring bottled water.

• Do not leave any trash in the sanctuary. Please take any paper, tissues, wipes, bottles, or other items with you.

• We will have hand sanitizer stations throughout the church.

• Restrooms will remain open. We encourage people to use the restrooms two at a time; parents and caregivers can accompany children or folks who need assistance.   Please wash your hands thoroughly for 20 seconds before leaving the bathroom. 

• The nursery will remain open to allow parents or caregivers to change and nurse their children only.

• Meetings such as prayer meetings, bible studies, and church board will continue to be hosted through Zoom.

We appreciate your patience as we enter this next phase of worship. Please direct any questions or concerns to Pastor Angelo Grasso.

We love each of you.