Pastor’s Update:

FPC Responds to COVID-19

Be not afraid, my sisters and brothers. Fear, not the coronavirus, is our enemy. The Lord reigns! Let us rejoice, give thanks and live for him. Pastor Stuart Spencer

Prior to attending an approved Worship Service, meeting, small group, rehearsal or any gathering on the church campus we are asking each of our members and visitors to complete ONE waiver form and ONE health screening questionnaire for EACH member or visitor. You may find online and printable forms here…

COVID-19 WAIVER AND HEALTH SCREENING FORMS

Current Approved Guidelines:

1. Our buildings are currently closed to all inside meetings.

2. With Session approval, groups may meet on the grounds of our church, with no more than 500 people in attendance.

3. We ask that anyone who comes to a church event wear a mask while on our property, including outdoors, and practice physical and social distancing (a minimum of six feet apart).

4. Meals are not allowed to be served.

5. Bathrooms are not available.

6. Those who attend meetings must complete a registration form, a health guide and should check in upon arrival.

COVID-19 WAIVER AND HEALTH SCREENING FORMS HERE…

7. Meeting should last around an hour and no longer than 90 minutes.

8. Those who exhibit any COVID symptoms—like a fever or a cough—shouldn’t attend the event.

Pastor Update, Coronavirus Letter 11

Session Approves Indoor Worship to Begin November 1; Limited Indoor Gatherings

October 16, 2020

Dear Members and Friends of FPC Moorestown,

“When they said, ‘Let’s go to the house of God,’ my heart leaped for joy. And now we’re here …” (Psalm 122: 1)

As of last Sunday, it’s been 34 weeks since we’ve gathered indoors for worship. That’s well over a half a year. For some of us, it’s felt like forever. I often hear from you that while you appreciate our weekly live stream services, watching worship on a screen isn’t the same as gathering in the sanctuary or Miller Commons with your church family.

I quoted above a Psalm of Ascent, the opening of Psalm 122 from The Message. In the book of Psalms, Psalm 120 to 134 are identified as Songs of Ascent or Pilgrim Songs. The city of Jerusalem was built long ago on a mountain. From every direction, you walk up to get to Jerusalem. When pilgrims would travel to this city for a festival, they would sing the songs found in those chapters.

The picture of a group of faithful followers climbing up a long, steep, hill fits our experiences in 2020. We’ve been climbing since March, haven’t we? We’re not finished either. That’s why I’m happy to share this good news with you. At a special meeting on October 13, our Session unanimously approved plans for indoor worship to resume beginning Sunday, November 1. For the five Sundays in November, we’ll offer one worship service at 9:30 a.m. in the sanctuary. This service will have the feel of a Fifth Sunday service, blending traditional and contemporary elements. We’ll continue offering our live stream for those who can’t come to church or feel safer watching from home. Beginning the first Sunday in December, it’s our intention to offer two worship services: traditional worship at 8:30 a.m. in the sanctuary and contemporary worship at 11:00 a.m. in Miller Commons.

Phone Live Stream
There’s now another, new way of participating in worship from home. Beginning November 1, we will offer a Phone Live Stream, for those who may not own a computer or be as tech-savvy as they’d like. This allows a member or friend to listen to our worship service on their phone. Those who choose to opt-in will call our toll-free number 844.723.1340. Then, their phone will ring anytime our church service goes live. They can add themselves by calling 844.723.1340 and pressing 1, or calling Alison Mackey in the church office. Every time we go live, their phone system receives the live audio. For information or help, contact Alison at 856.235.1688, Ext. 113.

Health and Safety Protocols
I do ask you to follow the protocols that Session approved at its meeting. We want to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone who attends worship here. You can find a detailed set of instructions for your safe return to our campus on the Events page of our website or at the bottom of our Worship Guide this coming Sunday.

Can You Help?
We need your assistance on Sunday mornings. As we prepare to welcome, register and guide people on Sunday mornings many volunteers are required to implement these protocols for safe indoor worship. If you would be willing to help serve as a volunteer for check-in or ushering please contact Paul Grossmann at rpaulgrossmann@yahoo.com or the church office at 856.235.1688.

I can’t wait to see you in worship! Thank you for your kind, patient and generous support.

Yours in Christ,
Stuart Spencer, Pastor

Resources

Useful links:

Giving in this Era of COVID-19

Although we won’t be together for a time due to the highly contagious COVID-19, please continue to support FPC Moorestown financially. Like many others, we still have ongoing expenses and mission commitments, and deeply desire to support families who are stretched especially thin right now.

LEARN ABOUT OUR OPTIONS…

The CDC recommends that you wear masks in public settings around people who don’t live in your household and when you can’t stay 6 feet away from others. Masks help stop the spread of COVID-19 to others.

Wear masks with two or more layers to stop the spread of COVID-19
Wear the mask over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin
Masks should be worn by people two years and older
Masks should NOT be worn by children younger than two, people who have trouble breathing, or people who cannot remove the mask without assistance
Do NOT wear masks intended for healthcare workers, for example, N95 respirators
CDC does not recommend the use of gaiters or face shields. Evaluation of these face covers is on-going but effectiveness is unknown at this time.

We appreciate you and thank you for your support and patience these past months.

Kickoff Sunday and Ministry Fair

September 13th marked a really special day for First Presbyterian Church of Moorestown. After four months of quarantine due to the unprecedented Coronavirus, we gathered for Worship on the front lawn of our church – with masks and keeping social distance. We celebrated coming together on Kickoff Sunday with a combined service at 9:30 am followed by our annual Ministry Fair, where congregants and friends learned more about our church, its many opportunities to grow and strengthen your faith, and the ways you can volunteer to help make a difference in the world.

SERVE OUR CHURCH FORM

Pastor Spencer has shared uplifting and heartfelt messages with us over the term of this pandemic.

Pastor Update, Coronavirus Letter 10

Joan Van Camp Porch

October 4, 2020

Dear Members and Friends of FPC Moorestown,

I’m delighted to share with you the opening of the Joan Van Camp Porch. Joan, a long time faithful member of our church, left a generous gift to the church last year.