Island Bible Chapel : : Shining the light of Jesus… : Island Bible Chapel

Coming Events...

Last Week:

Dean Love continued our study in the Gospel of Luke by teaching from Luke 11:1-12. You can view this past week’s service here: https://youtu.be/zxbOwh90TNs

This Coming Week:

Here are the sign-up links for Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020.
(NOTE: We use the online website volunteersignup.org because it is a simple way for people to sign-up to attend functions. You’re not volunteering to do anything except attend.)

Breaking of Bread @ 10:15am (on-site): https://volunteersignup.org/BE8F3

Family Bible Hour @ 11:15am (on-site):

Upstairs (50 max) – https://volunteersignup.org/JYY3H

Downstairs (Overflow – Only sign up here if the Upstairs is full – 30 max) – https://volunteersignup.org/CC98A

Livestream Instructions

In addition to our on-site services, we also livestream our Family Bible Hour at 11:15am each Sunday for those who are not yet ready to resume gathering in-person. You can find it online each week via Facebook Live on IBC’s Facebook page. (To find the livestream, scroll down until you find the video with the red LIVE button on it. You may also be able to find it in the Videos section using the menu on the left.) You can also view it IBC’s YouTube channel.

Update from Elders Re: Family Bible Hour

Dear Church Family,

We now hold our Breaking of Bread and Family Bible Hour services on-site. In order to create a safe environment for people to gather and to follow the regulations from our governing authority, we will be adopting the following format and procedures. This is a long and detailed letter; please read carefully. If you have any questions, please contact Bryan.

In Christian Love,

The Elders of Island Bible Chapel

SUNDAY FORMAT:

Breaking of Bread Service @ 10:15-11am, followed by a short, 15-minute break. (NOTE THE TIME CHANGE).

· In order to ensure that we abide by the 30% of capacity (50 people) regulation, people need to sign-up online EACH WEEK for the Breaking of Bread. This will also provide us with an accurate record of who is in attendance each week in case an outbreak of COVID-19 occurs in our midst and will provide health officials with the means to quickly conduct contact tracing. NOTE: If you have problems signing up online, contact Bryan who can sign you up

· The format of our Breaking of Bread service remains unchanged. NOTE: Since we believe in the centrality of the Lord’s Supper in the life of the believer, we will continue to celebrate communion each Sunday. We will be using pre-packaged bread/wine cups that are picked up on the way in and disposed of on the way out in order to safely remember the Lord.

· During the 15-minute break, those at the first service are encouraged to stay near their seats and in the sanctuary, unless they need to use the bathroom. People can get up to stretch between services, but must abide by the mandated 2m physical distancing measures. There will be no coffee or snacks.

Family Bible Hour Service @ 11:15am-12:15pm (Regular Time)

· We can accommodate a maximum of 50 people upstairs and 30 people in the basement. In order to ensure that we abide by this “30% of capacity” regulation, people need to sign-up online EACH WEEK for the Family Bible Hour. This will also provide us with an accurate record of who is in attendance each week in case an outbreak of COVID-19 occurs in our midst and will provide health officials with the means to quickly conduct contact tracing. If you have problems signing up online, contact Bryan who can sign you up. NOTE: if you sign up to attend the Breaking of Bread, you must also sign up to attend the Family Bible Hour if you intend to stay for the second service

· The format of our Family Bible Hour will be similar to what it’s been in the past: several songs followed by our sermon. NOTE: Since we believe that worshiping God in song is important (Col. 3:16), we will have music as part of the service. We will will be wearing facemasks when in the building to limit airborne particles, and will limit our singing to four songs.

· People upstairs will be watching the service live, with the song lyrics on the screen (no hymnals). In the basement will be watching a real-time video of the service on a big-screen TV. Disposable paper song-sheets will be provided.

· There will be no Sunday School/children’s program at this time, as per Algoma Public Health recommendations. Children are to stay with their parents, who are asked to ensure that they maintain 2m physical distancing with other people not in their household. Parents may bring items from home that they think will help their children attend. Because we see Island Bible Chapel as a family, we don’t mind age appropriate noises during the service (eg. babies & toddlers quietly babble & coo, older children with a whispered question for their parents). While we do encourage good behaviour during the service, we do not expect silence; please do not feel pressure in this regard. Because we know that children will be in attendance, we are hoping to include a kids’ song as part of the worship set, and have asked our speakers to keep their sermons to 25-30 minutes in length, rather than the usual 35-40 minutes.

· After the service, people will exit the building in an orderly and organized fashion, maintaining 2m between themselves and people from other family households

SAFETY MEASURES

· Screening: COVID-19 self-assessment signs are posted at all entrances.

· Restrictions: If you have been feeling sick or display symptoms of covid-19, please refrain from attending. Anyone who has travelled outside Canada in the last 14 days must refrain from coming to the chapel, as recommended by our health authorities.

· Masks: As per Algoma Public Health requirements, all people who enter Island Bible Chapel must wear a mask (see exceptions below). This is both a matter of obedience and love: obedience to our governing authorities and love for our neighbours and the vulnerable among us. Please bring your own mask if you have one. If not, some disposable, non-medical masks are available at the chapel. NOTE: Physical distancing is still required even when using a mask. Algoma Public Health has made the following exceptions to wearing masks:

o Children under two years of age, or children under the age of five years either chronologically or developmentally who refuse to wear a mask or face covering and cannot be persuaded to do so by their caregiver;

o Persons with medical conditions who cannot safely wear a mask or face covering (e.g. due to breathing difficulties, cognitive difficulties, hearing or communication difficulties);

o Persons who cannot wear or remove a mask or face covering without assistance, including people who are accommodated under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) or are protected under the Ontario Human Rights Code, R.S.O. 1990, c.H. 19 as amended.

· Physical Distancing: People are required to maintain 2m between themselves and those who are not in their household and/or official social bubble/circle. Hand shakes and hugs are not permitted.

· Entrance: Please be patient when waiting to enter and maintain physical distancing, as indicated by the tape markings on the floor both outside and inside of the building. Those who are attending the Family Bible Hour downstairs may enter through the upstairs entrance or the downstairs entrance.

· Sanitizer: Hand sanitizer is available at both the upstairs and downstairs entrances and we ask that people use it upon entering the facility. If you cannot use sanitizer, please wash hands.

· Seating: we have removed every second row in the sanctuary to accommodate 2m physical distancing. People are required to keep a minimum of 2 chairs between themselves and someone else who is not from their household and/or official social bubble/circle.

· Bathrooms: One person at a time in each bathroom, unless it is a parent helping a child. Please remember to wash your hands.

· Exit: Exiting Island Bible Chapel will be done in an organized and orderly fashion in order for people to maintain 2m between themselves and others who are not in their household and/or official social bubble/circle. Masks may be removed once you have exited the building.

· Cleaning: In addition to our regular cleaning, advanced disinfection measures are in place

Thank you for your patience and understanding. We know that some of you are eager to gather again for the Family Bible Hour. We know that there are some who are choosing to wait until a later date to join in-person church services. It has been clear to us that there is a wide difference of opinion as to when and how to open, as well as to the attitude people have towards the recommended safety measures. We believe this is a time for all of us to practice grace and to be respectful to the beliefs of others.

Most of all, we pray that our mission at Island Bible Chapel will continue, regardless of practice or protocol, as we seek to worship the Triune God, introduce Jesus the world, and nurture our fellow believers.

COVID-19 Changes

NOTE #1: The Ontario government has allowed for the reopening of churches provided that attendance is limited to 30 per cent of the building’s capacity (50 people) and physical distancing measures are in place. To that end, Island Bible Chapel will be holding our weekly services in the following ways:

Breaking of Bread – The Breaking of Bread will begin at 9:30am and go until 10:15am. This will give people time to get home in order to view the livestream of the Family Bible Hour. In order to ensure that we abide by the 30% of capacity (50 people) regulation, we are asking people to sign-up online they intend to come to the Breaking of Bread. You must sign-up each week using the link above.
Please stay home if are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
Family Bible Hour – The Family Bible Hour (without communion) will continue to be livestreamed at 11:15am, as usual on the IBC Facebook page and YouTube channel. People will not be permitted to watch the FBH service on-site.
Online Prayer Meeting – We will continue to gather during the pandemic every Wednesday at 8pm for our online prayer meeting. This will be livestreamed on the IBC Facebook page and YouTube channel.

NOTE #2 – Algoma Public Health has declared that the public will be required to wear a face covering (i.e. non-medical mask) when entering the indoor premises of businesses, organizations and on public transit systems throughout the service area of Algoma Public Health (APH).

Thus, for the foreseeable future, face coverings must be worn inside Island Bible Chapel, with the following exceptions:

i.Children under two years of age, or children under the age of five years either chronologically or developmentally who refuse to wear a mask or face covering and cannot be persuaded to do so by their caregiver;

ii. Persons with medical conditions who cannot safely wear a mask or face covering (e.g. due to breathing difficulties, cognitive difficulties, hearing or communication difficulties);

iii. Persons who cannot wear or remove a mask or face covering without assistance, including people who are accommodated under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) or are protected under the Ontario Human Rights Code, R.S.O. 1990, c.H. 19 as amended.

As we navigate these unique times we want to do so in a way that honours Jesus and is obedient to God’s command: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.” (Romans 13:1-2).

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask and elder. Thank you for your patience as we navigate these unique times.

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