Dear CHUMC Family,
As Holy Week approaches, I invite you to mark your calendars as we prepare to journey down Jesus’ Way of the Cross and toward Easter.
- Maunday Thursday will be in person, in the sanctuary, at 7 pm and will conclude with the traditional stripping of the sanctuary.
- Good Friday will be in the prayer garden at 6:30 pm.
- Easter Sunday worship will be in the lawn next to the sanctuary at 10:30 am to allow for congregational singing.
Masks and social distancing will be required of all throughout Holy Week and Easter. If weather requires, we will move our planned outdoor gatherings indoors.
In addition, we have some fairly exciting news for CHUMC going forward. With the increased distribution of the vaccine, the Reopening Team has decided that members of CHUMC adult Sunday School classes and small groups which meet any day of the week, including choir, who have been vaccinated and have surpassed 21 days since their final COVID-19 vaccination may resume meeting at their previous times and spaces. We will require, out of an abundance of caution, that those attending continue to wear their masks over their face and nose and socially distance at least three feet apart. It will be each small group leader’s responsibility to confirm the vaccination status of their group members and report to the pastor for final approval before they resume meeting. As further members are confirmed to be 21 days past their final COVID-19 vaccination, they too can join their groups after their group leader confirms with the pastor and receives approval. We will not require documented proof of vaccination because we trust that as members of CHUMC, the United Methodist Church, and the Church universal, in covenant with God and one another. that everyone will be honest and will love their neighbor so that they will not risk the well being of their fellow members and the community.
While youth and children are not permitted to be vaccinated at this time, the Reopening Team has decided that, due to their lower vulnerability to the virus, they may also return to Sunday School and other gatherings with masks and social distancing once all vulnerable adult volunteers are vaccinated and have surpassed 21 days from their final COVID-19 vaccination. The nursery will be permitted to reopen only after our nursery workers have surpassed 21 days beyond their final COVID-19 vaccination. As we move towards gathering together again, all Ministry Safe requirements will be in full force.
Also, starting Monday, May 29, the office will be open from 8 am to 1 pm Monday through Friday. Office hours will expand further as our office managers are able to receive their vaccinations and surpass 21 days beyond their final COVID-19 vaccination.
Finally, it is important to note that, other than the German International School of Dallas, which remains sequestered in our South Wing, and Project Transformation After School, which remains sequestered in the Fellowship Hall, no other outside groups will be permitted to use space on the CHUMC campus until we reach herd immunity. However, the Reopening Team will be meeting with Project Transformation staff soon to determine if we can safely host the summer program.
We look forward to being together as we inch closer and closer to normalcy. Be safe and God bless.
Grace and peace,
Rev. J.D. Allen
Senior Pastor
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