Update May 19, 2020----FBC Ruidoso----Guidelines for Re-opening

Since the governor has increased our capacity from 10% to 25% , we have room for up to 100 people in our worship center. We will do our best to accommodate whoever comes for worship. What can you expect? See the following guidelines:

• If you are hesitant or nervous in the least bit about coming, then please stay home and continue to worship online with us. If you have a medical issue that makes you more vulnerable, please stay home and tune in online. Your safety and protection are important to us. On a similar note, if you are sick or feverish, please remain home until you completely recover.
•  If you are burning with a desire to worship “in person” and are completely comfortable with the risks, then come worship at 10:45 am.
• Be aware that if we fill to capacity in the worship center, then we will have to direct you to overflow (possible parking lot worship time and yes, I know that is not the same).
• We know this is not ideal so we ask you to be patient with us as we try to maintain our Christian witness and do what is asked of us right now.

I believe the following guidelines will provide the proper environment for our returnees. What can you expect as you return to the church building?

• We will continue social distancing by seating people every other row (families can sit together). We also have overflow areas in the coffee area and out in the mall where we can hold more people. We will also have another overflow area in the youth room. Families with small children can escape to the Parlor area if needed (it will be set up with live streaming and as a kid friendly area.) All these areas will be limited in capacity too. Our last resort is worship in the parking lot (via your personal cellphones or audio streaming from the church building.)
• We will not practice our regular greetings (hand shaking, hugging, holy kissing?) at this current time (we all have different levels of sensitivity toward this pandemic, let us yield our preferences to those who are still sensitive. As believers we must be willing to heed Paul’s advice to “be all things to all people”---yielding our personal preferences to minister the gospel to others.)
• We will take extra precautions with sanitation stations in the rear of the worship center and throughout the mall area (coffee bar, welcome desk, etc…). We will also provide extra cleaning on bathrooms, door handles, and common touch areas. Tissue boxes are placed throughout the worship center and mall area.
• We are encouraging the use of face masks for safety at the governor’s request. The Pastor and others will not be using facemasks while on stage.
• Offering plates will not be passed but plates will be held in back during the exit times (and we have the offering box beside the stairwell going to the children’s ministry area.)
• Greeters will be asked not to hug or shake hands (just for the time being)
• We will not have nursery or kid’s worship for the next few weeks. We will evaluate regularly and update you when we decide to re-start our nursery and kid’s worship. Until then, know that you and your kids are welcome to come sit as a family in corporate worship. We love our kids!
• Our on campus life groups will still not meet in person for the coming weeks (off campus groups will decide when they are comfortable meeting again.) We will continue our zoom meetings and re-introduce Life Groups into the picture at a later time.

We will continue to livestream our services on our website @ www.firstruidoso.com/messages and our First Baptist Ruidoso Facebook page. Past services can also be viewed on these pages. We will regularly evaluate as we move into the month of June and make changes prayerfully and responsibly.
If there is any question that you have been exposed to this virus, please use good judgement before coming to church. We encourage you to help us protect our county from a potential outbreak. We are blessed to have you as a part of our church family.

Stay connected to us through our Facebook page, Website, Email, and texting. If you don’t currently receive texts from us, please type the word “Connect” to 575-376-9717. You will receive a text response. Follow its instructions.

Thank you for patience during this time of distancing. What a great church family we have! Our family reunion will happen before we know it. Until then, let us take some intentional steps to protect each other and re-open as safely as possible.

Missing my church family but praying for you!
Pastor Todd