COVID-19 Re-Gathering Plan
Your guide to the opening of Citylight Church facilities and gatherings following COVID-19
A note from your pastors
At Citylight, our mission is and always has been to make disciples of Jesus to the glory of God. While our mission has not changed, our method of accomplishing this mission has been temporarily modified as we seek to love one another and our neighbors by following the guidance of our state and local governing officials.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Citylight Church has displayed the beautiful evidence of God’s grace at work among us. As a church, we raised well over $100,000 for the Compassion Initiative, delivered countless meals, provided for essential needs, supported one another, discipled one another, and engaged in Citygroups and Sunday services online at a rate as high or higher than our church has ever seen before. We thank God for his grace that is enabling us to walk by faith in this season.
One of the evidences of grace that we see in our church is love. As a community, we consistently show the world that we belong to Jesus by the way that we love one another in Christ (John 13:35). As we follow PA’s phased reopening plan in a way that is wise and feasible for Citylight, we are looking forward to the opportunity to display to the watching world that we belong to Jesus by the way that we love one another and eagerly maintain the spirit of unity in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3). While there will certainly be members and attenders of Citylight Church who feel and think differently from one another when it comes to things like social distancing and safety precautions, or who feel that Citylight is re-gathering too slow or too fast. We recognize that we don’t have to be uniform in order to walk in unity and consider others interests above our own, as Jesus did (Philippians 2:1-11).
The information that follows flows from the same mission we have always had: to make disciples of Jesus to the glory of God by growing in love for God (worship), love for one another (community), and love for our neighbors (mission). We look forward to gathering with you again in-person at the appropriate time!
Basic Commitments
- Whether gathering in person or worshiping online, we will make disciples of Jesus to the glory of God (Matt. 28:18-20).
- We will love our church body and broader community by doing what we are able to ensure safe practices (Mark 12:31).
- We will go out of our way to honor our members who have a more cautious perspective in this season (Romans 14:2, 13-15).
- We will seek to be subject to our governing authorities as a reflection of our faith in God who has instituted them and for the sake of our Christian witness in the world (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:12-17).
- Gathering in person is central to what it means to be a local church. Therefore, we will gather as soon as possible, given our above commitments to love, wisdom, and submission. (Hebrews 10:24-25; Ephesians 5:18-19).
Red Phase
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, all Citylight congregations have suspended in-person gatherings in favor of streaming services online and gathering virtually as Citygroups. Nonetheless, we have eagerly engaged in opportunities to love our neighbors through the Compassion Initiative and sharing online services with non-Christian friends and family.
Living Missionally:
- Share online service on social media
- Invite your “3” to watch online and talk about it afterward
- Host a Facebook watch party
- Give
- Serve through the Compassion Initiative
Other/Misc:
- Staff work from home
Yellow Phase
As our city and state begins to emerge from the restrictions put in place at the outset of COVID-19, so will we. Our Sunday worship services will continue to be streamed online, but smaller groups like our Citygroups will be permitted to gather according to guidance from state and local officials. This may vary for groups in various counties and local jurisdictions. This phase will also present new opportunities to live on mission among your neighbors who don’t yet know Jesus. Social distancing and safety protocols will apply to all gatherings of any size.
Living Missionally:
- Share online services on social media
- Invite your “3” to watch online and talk about it afterward
- Host a watch party one of your “3”
- Give
- Serve through the Compassion Initiative
Other/Misc:
- Follow CDC, state, and local guidance for groups of permitted size
- Staff working from home with limited office use
Green Phase
During this phase, all 3 Citylight congregations will resume in-person gatherings on Sundays at a reduced capacity, as is feasible, and as is permitted under state and local guidelines. Also, all Citygroups will be permitted to resume in-person gatherings, as is feasible. Please note that Sunday gatherings and some Citygroups may not resume in-person gatherings until some time after the Green Phase begins. We will continue to stream Sunday services online for those who are not yet able to join in-person. While this will not yet be our new normal, we eagerly await gathering again to worship our Savior together.
Living Missionally:
- Share online services on social media
- Invite your “3” to watch online or in-person and talk about it afterward
- Host a watch party w/ Citygroup members and invite your “3”
- Give
- Serve through the Compassion Initiative and at Sunday gatherings
Other/Misc:
- Follow CDC and PA Dept. of Health guidance for best practices at all gatherings
New Normal
We will arrive at our new normal once we have progressed through all the phases of reopening recommended by our state and local governing officials. All gatherings and ministries will be ready to meet in-person at full capacity.
Living Missionally:
- Invite your “3” to join in person
- Give
- Serve at gatherings and through the Compassion Initiative
FAQs
We don’t know. This crisis is in constant flux, with many factors contributing to timing. The situation changes daily, as do concerns and needs. The start of this crisis was out of our control, and the end of it largely is as well. This will be subject to guidance from our governing officials, and subsequent decisions by our pastors.
In addition to our normal cleaning practices, new cleaning and sanitizing protocols in accord with CDC and PA Dept. of Health guidelines will be put into place throughout our facilities as we open. Since details about the virus and how it spreads continue to develop, we will determine the best practices for cleaning and sanitizing as we reopen.
Each congregation is providing online content for families to disciple their kids at home. For all of our congregations, this includes resources from our Citylight Kids curriculum. If you are not already receiving this content and would like to, email kids@citylightphilly.com and let us know which congregation you belong to.
We love our kids and eagerly look forward to our Citylight Kids classrooms reopening. But kids are kids! Most kids aren’t able to effectively practice social distancing and other best practices. Because we love our kids, we will not resume Citylight Kids classes until sometime after we resume in-person worship gatherings in the green phase. However, our Citylight Kids team is providing online content that is available for at-home use. As we progress through the yellow and/or green phase, you might also consider joining with another family or two and participating in the online content together (as appropriate).
Yes! Families are certainly invited to attend our worship services as a family prior to Citylight Kids classes resuming. We will provide materials for kids to help engage them during the service.
We will arrange seating in patterns that take into account distancing measures, and we will ask guests to follow the recommended social distancing practices out of love for one another (sitting together as families, roommates, significant others, etc).
In cases where we anticipate higher attendance than what is permitted, you will most likely need to RSVP in some form to ensure that you will be permitted to enter.
Absolutely! Whether meeting virtually or in-person, our Citygroups are always open and we’d love to help you find one near you. You can learn more and express interest here.
At this time we do not have our next baptism scheduled. We are eager to see believers in Jesus receive the sign of baptism, so we plan to schedule a baptism as soon as it is appropriate to do so. If you’re interested in finding out more about baptism you can do so here.
We understand the greater risks to gathering for medically vulnerable people and want you to feel totally free to simply worship at home using the stream we will continue to provide rather than gathering with us in person.
In order to ensure we’re following the best practices and protecting all of our guests, we will not be offering refreshments or other self-serve food and beverages at our gatherings until it is safe to do so.
In order to ensure we’re following the best practices and protecting all of our guests, we will only be using digital connection options at our gatherings when they initially resume (no physical connect cards). At any point (even right now), you can reach out to us here or text HELLO to (215) 769-9199 and we’ll follow up with you.
In order to ensure we’re following the best practices and protecting all of our guests, we will not have physical Bibles available under the seats when gatherings first resume. We encourage you to bring your own Bible or download a Bible app for your phone.
We are still considering the best way to distribute communion once we resume in-person gatherings. This may differ from congregation to congregation.
We will be encouraging the practices suggested by state and local authorities for social distancing during all of our activities. Until further notice, this means that hugging and shaking hands will be discouraged.
We will be encouraging the practices suggested by state and local authorities for social distancing during all of our activities. Until further notice, this means that face masks will be required for all in-person activities.
Yes. Given the ever-changing nature of this crisis, it is a possibility we could regress in phases. We will keep up to date with the guidance of state and local authorities and communicate on a regular basis where we stand as it relates to phasing.
Yes. We’re all learning as we go! We’re so grateful for the patience and grace you have exhibited throughout this crisis, and we can’t wait to see you all as soon as we are able.