We continue to meet on a regular basis to stay current on what is happening with COVID-19 and to ensure that we are responding to the needs of our congregation and community. Here are several updates.
In-Person Worship and Gatherings in July
We held two in-person worship services in June, with around 15 people in attendance at each service. Thank you for following the guidelines around signing up, attending, wearing masks, and maintaining social distance. We want to remain cautious and thoughtful as we continue to respond to the desire to gather in the building. Since we did not come close to capacity in our June in-person services, we will not require sign up in July for in-person gatherings. However, once social distancing capacity is reached, no one else will be allowed to enter. Please click here to see the guidelines we are using for in-person gatherings. Here’s our plan for July (subject to change if conditions warrant):
- The 10:00 a.m. online streamed service will remain consistent every Sunday.
- We will start a “watch party” option. This can “branch” to the chapel, people’s homes, *The Culpeper, etc. This does not have to occur on Sunday mornings. To support watch parties, we will provide a sermon video with a discussion guide. If you would be interested in hosting or being a part of a watch party, contact the church office.
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- July 05
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- 10:00 a.m. Livestream from the Sanctuary
- 10:00 a.m. Watch Party option in the Worship Center
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- July 12
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- 10:00 a.m. Livestream from Sanctuary
- 10:00 a.m. Watch Party option in the Worship Center
- 11:15 a.m. In-person experience in Sanctuary
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- July 19
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- 10:00 a.m. Livestream from Sanctuary
- 10:00 a.m. Watch Party option in the Worship Center
- 6:30 p.m. In-person outside worship in the upper parking lot (bring your own chair, maintain social distancing) involving multiple congregations.
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- July 26
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- 9:00 a.m. – in person service (location TBD)
- 10:00 a.m. Livestream from Sanctuary
- 10:00 a.m. Watch Party Option in the Worship Center
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*As soon as gathering can occur at The Culpeper, CBC will provide a sermon video. Until then, our live stream services are provided through the internal TV system at The Culpeper. (Thanks to Hans and the staff at The Culpeper for making this happen.)
Collaboration with our Child Development Center
We are so grateful for the staff leadership of our Child Development Center (CDC) – Amy, Erica, Lee Ann and Nicole and our CDC Board for keeping the center open during very challenging times. The CDC has averaged 85 children a day for summer programming. That is lower from last summer but we are pleased with that number considering all that is happening. We are working with our CDC on scenario planning for the fall as we try to meet the needs of families in our communities. Continue to pray for this important work.
Being Flexible
We recognize that church will continue to look very different in months ahead. There is so much we do not know. We are engaging the broader conversation about what church will look like by watching videos, reading blogs, listening to podcast, etc. This week we have been reading and thinking about this post from Bill Wilson. We have talked about “grief and growth” in our congregation – this is certainly a time we are experiencing both. We are grateful for your trust in the Leadership Council as we seek to make the best decisions for the church.
Responding to the Needs of the Community
We continue to do the monthly senior adult food delivery in partnership with Culpeper Human Services. We provide volunteers for the Food Distribution program through Empowering Culpeper. We are working with local agencies to be ready for the increased needs related to rent and utility bills.
Continuing to Explore New Opportunities
We have been collaborating with the Community Services Board, Aging Together and the Path Foundation around providing Senior Adult Day Care service in our church building. The consultant report (funded by the Path Foundation) will be finalized soon and we will begin to work on the next steps.
We had started a conversation with leaders from Antioch Baptist and Maranatha Iglesia related to how we respond to COVID-19. That conversation has evolved with the larger conversation our country is having around racial justice. Our “20 Something Group” watched the movie “Just Mercy” and discussed the work of Bryan Stevenson and the Equal Justice Initiative. We want to continue to build relationships and seek ways to do the hard work of racial reconciliation.
Suzanne Dorsey, Chair 540-418-4797 hotshot7953@gmail.com
Paul W. Bates, Jr., Vice Chair 540-905-0339 pbates1982@gmail.com
Thelma Moss (Finance rep.) 703-899-7904 rtmoss1993@verizon.net
Keri Nicholson 540-219-6313 kerinicholson@hotmail.com
Geary Parkinson 540-547-3076 gearypmusic@aol.com
Phyllis Turner 540-907-2241 phyllisturner33@gmail.com
Brandi Warfield (Personnel) 507-272-6783 jbkwarfield@gmail.com
Anne Yeaman 540-661-9292 abyeaman@comcast.net
Dan Carlton (Pastor) 540-825-8192 dcarlton@culpeperbaptist.org