We are pleased to announce that our “experiment phase” for our return will begin Sunday, April 18 and last through Sunday, May 23. During this six-week period, we will be returning at 25 percent capacity of our building space, and will offer a new schedule to accommodate ministry offerings as well as allow ample time for cleaning of spaces throughout the day.
There are a number of details regarding logistics and operations during the six-week experiment phase. Please take a look at the FAQ below, which offers specific information about our return strategy, church operations, building logistics, details for children and youth ministries, etc. If your question is not answered here, please email info@firstchurchdallas.org for assistance.
In-Person Ministry FAQs
The questions below cover details regarding in-person ministry through May 23. Additional communication will be issued in May regarding offerings and schedules for the summer months.
Strategy
We will be entering an “experiment” phase Sunday, April 18, in which we will start to engage in in-person, small group ministry.
A number of activities were already scheduled for the morning of April 11, including baptisms, music rehearsals and other external activities to which staff were previously committed. It was decided that the afternoon of April 11 was an ideal time for the staff to have preparation meetings to ensure logistics are in place for in-person ministry the following week.
Per Dallas County guidelines, we are allowing enough people into the space where full physical distancing can take place, particularly in the sanctuary. Due to the size of our spaces throughout the building, we estimate this to be about 25 percent of building capacity.
Per our email issued March 1, we announced that “when Dallas County has reported a risk level of ‘orange’ for two consecutive weeks, we will begin an ‘experiment’ phase in which we will start to engage in-person, small group ministry.” This decision was reached after carefully monitoring CDC guidelines, COVID-19 statistics for Dallas County and beyond, vaccination rates, and overall guidance provided by local leadership. We have taken a conservative approach to our return, so this initial phase will allow for 25 percent of our membership to be present in person.
We will have worship in the sanctuary beginning April 18. The service will be approximately 40 minutes.
In consultation with our medical team and Return Strategy team, once Dallas County guidance and/or CDC guidelines deem it safe to be in close proximity with others, whether those persons are vaccinated or not, we will move back to full capacity in the sanctuary.
The schedule on Sundays will be phased in beginning Sunday, April 18. On Sundays, April 18 and 25, there will be afternoon worship in the sanctuary at 2:30 p.m.
For Sundays in May, there will be a full morning and afternoon schedule, with worship in the sanctuary at 10 a.m. and communal worship in the Upper Room at 2:30 p.m. View the entire schedule for each Sunday here.
This schedule allows us to continue with traditional offerings and try out some new formats, all while honoring the time necessary to properly clean the spaces before and after use. The morning schedule concentrates activities in the center of the building, and the afternoon offerings place everyone in the education wing. This separation gives us a way to adhere to COVID guidelines in a way that doesn’t overtax our building staff. We also watched patterns of engagement over the past few months, and noted that people were taking advantage of the virtual content throughout the day on Sunday. Therefore, we wanted to try some afternoon offerings that may be attractive to our congregation.
We will keep this schedule until we approach Memorial Day. At the end of May, further announcements will be made about our next steps, which will include a schedule through early to mid-August.
Yes, virtual worship will still be available on Sundays. They will be standalone services, not streaming versions of in-person services. The services will be available on demand beginning at 5 a.m. and will stream at 11 a.m. at firstchurchdallas.org.
Since safety is our first priority, if Dallas County returns to a COVID risk level of red, we would immediately return to virtual offerings only, and watch for additional guidance from Dallas County officials as to when we could return to a limited in-person ministry.
When Dallas County moves to a COVID risk level of yellow for two consecutive weeks, we will expand the offerings from the experiment phase while still adhering to guidelines. Further communication would be issued on what those expanded offerings are and how you can take advantage.
If an attendee later tests positive, we will use the registration records from that Sunday to alert other attendees, particularly those to whom they might have been exposed (if that can be determined). We will determine at that time if we need to halt in-person ministry or if it is safe to continue given certain circumstances.
Our approach is based on how we can offer the greatest ministry impact within the confines of the safety guidelines we must follow. Vaccination is a personal choice, and we can’t assume everyone will elect to do so, so we will provide an environment that offers the greatest level of safety and comfort for everyone regardless of their vaccination status.
While we are able to offer a return to in-person ministry on Sundays, largescale events, summer camps, etc. will still not be held in person for Summer 2021 – COVID guidelines as of today remain too restrictive to offer these events. Specific virtual and small-group opportunities that are being planned for this summer, particularly for children and youth, will be communicated directly to parents.
Logistics
School age children through adults will be required to wear a mask while inside the building and adhere to other COVID-19 safety guidelines including social distancing. Social distancing will be observed throughout the building, including in the sanctuary and all meeting rooms/spaces.
Yes, everyone must wear a mask and practice social distancing regardless of their vaccination status.
Yes. Registration helps us to do our part in the community to address any possible contact with COVID-19, should that need arise. Registration also enables the church to email registrants with any changes or preparations for coming to FirstChurch.
Registration opens weekly on Monday morning and remains open through 8 a.m. Sunday morning.
No. We will have greeters at the doors each Sunday of the experiment phase to welcome and to guide you in your experience.
Valet parking will not be available through May 23. Please park in Bryan Tower or utilize street parking where possible.
Please park in Bryan Tower or utilize street parking where possible.
The nursery will be provided in the dining room for infants through kindergarten beginning Sunday, May 2. Registration will be required for us to properly staff the nursery to provide an excellent level of care.
San Jacinto and Harwood entrances will be open during this experimental phase. Each door will have a staff member to welcome and guide you in your experience. All doors will be available to exit the building.
A number of our multipurpose, small- and medium-sized rooms will be in use during this phase. Your registration confirmation email, the greeters at the doors, and signage throughout the building will guide you during the course of your experience.
No food and drink will be provided by the church in any space, and we ask that you not provide communal food and drink to groups while using meeting rooms. You are welcome to bring water or coffee for yourself.
All restrooms will be available for use.
Operations
The schedule on Sundays will be phased in beginning Sunday, April 18. On Sundays, April 18 and 25, there will be afternoon worship in the sanctuary at 2:30 p.m.
For Sundays in May, there will be a full morning and afternoon schedule, with worship in the sanctuary at 10 a.m. and communal worship in the Upper Room at 2:30 p.m. View the entire schedule for each Sunday here.
“Formation” is an experience on Sunday morning that is a blend of worship and learning, of personal growth and communal experience. These sessions will be centered on spiritual practices, studies in Methodism, Biblical explorations, and contemplation.
We will have worship in the sanctuary beginning April 18. The service will be approximately 40 minutes.
You will be guided by ushers in the sanctuary. Social distancing is indicated on the pews by a series of ropes and markers on the pews themselves assisting you to honor the distance while sharing the experience.
Worship in the sanctuary will be in the Methodist tradition: the Daily Prayer and Praise. Although there will not be a choir in this experimental phase, we will offer music in ways that honor God and honor this season we are living in.
In this phase, there will not be a live choir at any service.
We do plan to offer communion on May 2; it will still offer a communal experience but also adhere to COVID-19 safety guidelines. Instructions will be offered in the service.
Sunday School for children, youth and adults occurs during the “Learning” hour at 11 a.m.
At this time, we are working with Sunday School presidents to determine that. Your Sunday School president will communicate with you directly about details for your class.
Children, Zone56 and Youth will meet in their designated spaces (Children’s Commons, Zone56 classroom and Youth Room, respectively).
Yes. Each Sunday School class meets in a multipurpose room that is WiFi equipped and has technology to connect with class members virtually.
Yes. We expect some of our members who may not yet be ready to return to in-person ministries will want to have access to the class experience via Zoom. Individual Sunday School classes will determine how access might best work for their group.
Yes. Connection is one of our primary goals as a congregation during this time, and this use of technology can be a great help to deepen community.
Yes. In this six-week phase, rehearsals will continue to take place, although rehearsal times may vary.
Sunday afternoons will offer another time for worship and learning. Communal worship will be more relaxed with a come-as-you-are attire and will have a different worship order than the morning service. After a 30-minute worship time, learning opportunities will be available for children, youth and adults. More details will be shared on what these opportunities will be as we move forward.
Communal worship is an alternate to our traditional worship service. It will offer traditional worship elements in a more relaxed atmosphere.
Children (1-4 grades) will meet on the second floor of our education wing, now called “Children’s Commons.” Check-in will be above the information desk (San Jacinto entrance) on the second floor.
Zone56 (5-6 grades) will meet in the Zone56 classroom on the third floor.
Youth (7-12 grades) will meet in the Youth Room on the third floor.
Yes, in alignment with our Child Protection Policy, parents of infants through fourth grade will need to escort their children and check them in for their children’s experience.
Infants – Kindergarten will check in in the dining room where the Nursery will be located.
Children (grades 1-4) will check in on the 2nd floor.
Zone56 and Youth students will check in in their designated rooms.
Parents of Infants – Kindergarten will check out downstairs in the dining room with their teachers.
Parents of grades 1-2 will check out on the 2nd floor with the adult volunteer.
Children in grades 3-4 will be checked out by their adult volunteer and will be free to meet their parents once checked out.
Zone56 will sign themselves out with their teacher on the 3rd floor.
Youth (7-12 grade) will sign themselves out.
Yes, there will be a check in station at the front desk in the Atrium for you to sign your children in and get their identification stickers printed.
Through May 2, Variations (youth choir) and Carillon Ringers (youth handbell ensemble) will rehearse at their appointed times.
For the afternoon experience, all participants will gather in the Upper Room (third floor large multipurpose space) for communal worship. Then, children, Zone56, youth and adults will be sent to learning communities for
their afternoon experience.
