Dear Springs of Grace Church Family,
Grace and peace. Rejoicing with anticipation in this advent season. Thankful for a Savior who brings joy to the world. I have prayed for you to walk this week in the “even as” love that God has for you.
This Sunday, because of the forecast for potential snow and cold, we will be meeting again at the ROSE BOWL at 7419 E. 11th Street at 10:30 am. I am looking forward to sharing with you some things God has been teaching me personally and worshipping together around His Word. While the forecast is for snow Sunday morning – the temperature is forecasted to be above freezing, so we are anticipating driving conditions being fine. As always, make decisions that you believe are best for you and your family, as we gather together in person or online through our livestream service.
One Hope Tulsa and the Rose Bowl are pleased for us to use the facility. They have established the following protocols for the facility that we will be following.
Protocols for Rose Bowl Facility Usage
Facility COVID-Mitigation Policies:
1. Masks must be worn at ALL times. (The CDC recommends asking kids age two and up to wear their masks.)
2. Keep at least 6 ft apart from non-household members while in the building.
3. No food/eating while in the building.
4. Contact tracing form, temperature check and hand sanitizer prior entry.
5. After the service, take conversations outside to minimize risk.
Expectations for Building Space:
1. Use the front door or west side doors on entry and exit of the building.
2. Use only the East side bathrooms.
3. No upstairs access without prior permission.
4. Do not attempt to enter classrooms (unless arranged with Alissa for parents and babies).
5. Warm drinks and food can be served in the Cafe before/after service. Games/sports supplies can be set up for children in the near west parking lot.
6. Guests should park in the east parking lot, the front parking lot, or the far west portion of the west parking lot.
Contact Tracing
We ask Springs of Grace to send out the form we’ve created, which asks for a name, email, and phone number for each household. We expect the group using the facility to contact-trace in the event of an attendee contracting COVID-19 within 48 hours of the service. Form is here: https://form.jotform.com/203157136859057
Bathroom use:
1. Wear mask in the bathroom.
2. Maintain distance and avoid extended conversation.
3. Maximum of three people at a time.
Set-Up
• Have volunteers to manage temperature check, pass out masks, and provide hand sanitizer at building entry. There should be stations at all three entrances (2 west side entrances, front south entrance) to prevent lines.
• Have a parking attendant at the west entrance to direct cars away from space where children will play.
Clean Up:
• Have 2-3 volunteers with wipes to sanitize all areas where families were sitting (railings, tables, chairs, any shared surface).
• Pack up all of your things quickly – the building will be closed 10 minutes after the service.
Reservable spaces:
• Please contact Alissa Hill (918-370-6237) if you would like to use the nursing room.
• The cry room is the conference room immediately to the right of the front doors.
• If you would like to maintain extra distance during worship, you may request to sit in the upstairs portion of the Rose Bowl.
It is the responsibility of the group using the facility to ensure that the facility’s policies are followed.
Please be in prayer for the McCoy family. Jared’s mom has tested positive for COVID. Please be in prayer for her and for protection for his dad. Pray for others who are being impacted by the virus. We are to weep with our fellow image bearers who weep and may God let us give the hope of Jesus in the temptations of hopelessness.
WE WILL BE HAVING OUR LIVESTREAM SERVICE AT 10:30 am. It is fine and may be best for some of you to join us for worship in that format. We are planning to have communion as a part of the service. If you can’t make it to join us in person, the communion bread recipe is here:
2 cups white or wheat flour; 2 Tablespoons olive oil; 2 Tablespoons honey; 1/2 cup plus 2 or 3 Tablespoons water. Cut oil and honey into flour using pastry cutter or fork. Then add water mixing until Dough ball forms. Shape into loaf or roll out flat. Bake on cookie sheet coated with olive oil at 350 for 45 minutes (For a gluten free option you can simply replace the flour with 2 cups of good gluten free flour).
Please continue to pray for those who can’t participate with us in the services. CHECK ON ONE ANOTHER AND IN THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, LET’S EXCEL AT LOVING ONE ANOTHER!
Please join us for worship at 10:30 am tomorrow at the ROSE BOWL or by livestream. You can find the link to this week’s livestream service at our website – www.springsofgrace.church or here: https://youtu.be/udfFh8AxsE0
Please pray for our service tomorrow. Please continue to pray for our missionaries. God is taking us through some challenging days, but the refiner’s fire is a kindness to make us more like Him.
How glorious it will be when we live as a church with that exceptional kind of love that is costly, impartial, and forgiving! That kind of “even as” love will let us make a difference in this city, for His glory. Join me by praying for me to be that kind of pastor and us being that kind of church.
If you have questions or needs, please let us know. Striving to be His church, by His grace, for His glory.
Love you very much,
Pastor Joe