January 21, 2021 Covid 19 Update

Dear MEFC Family:

It is somewhat redundant to say that the past 9-10 months have been troublesome, tiring, difficult (pick any number of adjectives). Covid 19 has forced MEFC and many of us to do “normal” things in different ways. Sometimes in ways that none of us care for.

As a Leadership Team, we just want to say “Thank You” to everyone for your willingness to follow the everchanging Covid 19 guidelines that have occurred during this time. Your show of grace and love toward each other has been one of our greatest joys to watch. We have witnessed many, many examples of the MEFC Family being the hands and feet of Jesus to those in need, and we are forever thankful to God for placing all of you here at MEFC! We count it a great honor and joy to serve and work alongside you for the Kingdom!

Developing guidelines and protocols as it relates to Covid 19 has been an extremely difficult process for MEFC’s leadership. There are many, many differing viewpoints to this whole Covid 19 experience, and we have tried as best we can to be sensitive to all of those differing viewpoints. We have used the information presented to us to the best of our abilities. We know that we can never make everyone “happy” as it pertains to these protocols. Knowing that our decisions cause some to choose not to attend is a burden that we carry as leaders. Our main goal throughout this whole situation has been to do the right thing (as best as we could) while causing as little disruption to the ministries of MEFC as possible. Even in the middle of a pandemic, there is much work to be done for the cause of Christ!

Thankfully, over the last several weeks, the Covid situation in Cherokee County and our state has changed for the better. The MEFC Leadership Team has decided to make some changes to our Covid 19 guidelines.

Effective Sunday, January 24, 2021, the following Covid 19 guidelines will be in place:

• Anyone attending an event in the church building can wear a mask as their conscience dictates. This means that the decision is yours to make. The only exception to this guideline is the following:

• Exception: We are asking anyone attending a worship service who sits in the fellowship hall (area directly behind the sanctuary) to please wear a mask. We are designating this area as “masks required” so that those who have Covid concerns can have a place to sit and know that everyone sitting around them will be wearing a mask. If you choose not to wear a mask, you are asked not to sit in this area.

• Masks will no longer be required in the church building (other than those sitting in the fellowship hall during worship service).

• The Family Life Center (gym) will be open for overflow. We had 117 people in attendance on Sunday (1/17/21). PRAISE THE LORD!! We are truly excited and very thankful for our recent attendance, and we are especially thankful for all of the new families that are attending. In our efforts to remain socially distanced during worship services, the amount of seating available is limited. Going forward, once we deem the sanctuary and fellowship hall to be at max capacity, worship attenders will be directed to the FLC to view the service from there.

We know that there will be some that will view this decision unfavorably. We trust that you know these types of decisions are not made hastily. We long for the day that Covid is behind us and we can return to ministry at MEFC as “normal”. But until that day comes, we know that MEFC and everyone involved with MEFC will do our very best to carry on the message of Christ!

In HIS Service,

MEFC Leadership Team