Important In-Person worship update

To those that call DBC their local church home,

Yesterday, I let you know about this Sunday’s upcoming worship plans. Today, I would like to let you know how this will operationally look. There are 3 distinct viewpoints regarding masks in our church body. One side feels that the coronavirus has been blown out of proportion and is being used to take away freedoms. On the opposite side are those that feel that the coronavirus is one of the most widespread epidemics of their time and absolutely unpredictable. In the middle are those that are unsure what to even think, let alone know how to respond. One thing that is the same about all of us - we bleed red blood. We are all the same in Christ: Fairbanksans/North Poleans, Wealthy/Not-Wealthy, Happy/Sad, Worried/Carefree, Mask-Wearers/No-Mask-Wearers. And Christ has brought us all together. Sadly, as more time has passed during this strange period, it appears that the Coronavirus and all of its ilk is being used to divide us as the Body of believers. We cannot allow Satan to have the upper hand. That would be either given up or giving into fear, and neither of those are Godly reactions. These truth remain, God wants us to be 1) known because of our love and 2) to live united together. 

I’m saying all of this because there will be many different opinions on how we will operationally run in-person church. We have those that must stay healthy for their jobs, others that must stay healthy to ward off cancer, and others that are in the higher risk group and want to heed medical advice. We realize that decisions are most-likely not built on fear, but on being well-informed, and we all will respect that. That being said, the elders will open the chapel up for those that want to wear masks and those that do not want to wear masks. In order to accommodate both groups, we are asking for everyone that comes to worship in-person to wear masks into the Chapel and then all the way to their seats. Those that want to wear masks for the service will sit on the Right side of the Sanctuary. Those that would like to not wear masks during the service will sit on the Left side of the Sanctuary. There will be a 5m (15ft) area in between the 2 sides, as that is the distance droplets can fly in a light breeze. When you need to leave your seat, we ask that you put on your mask and wear it until you are either seated again or leave the Chapel. Mask-wearing does not apply to children 5 and under, as they are the least vulnerable and least able to keep masks on, nor does it apply to those that have medical issues.

Please understand that we are not forcing you to go against your conscience or even feelings. We are providing what we believe is an acceptable balance between optional mask wearing and providing a safe place for those that need to be safe from potential infection. For those that choose not to worship in-person, we are still offering the parking lot service on radio station FM 105.3 and will be uploading Communion and the message online to our Vimeo account and website. Our earnest desire is for you to have the tools to worship God wherever you are and with whatever you are wearing and to do it with all your might.

Lord-willing see you Sunday,
Ivan