Camelback Extends Suspension of Public Worship Services thru January 30, 2021

Dear Camelback Family and Friends,

It’s a new year and we can all look forward to the possibilities in 2021. Our hope at Camelback is that we can resume some of the ministries we enjoy once COVID is brought under control. The current situation shows that we are not out of the woods quite yet.

With the escalation in the number of positive tests and hospital cases in Maricopa County, our board met again yesterday to talk about when our church services might safely resume. We have been challenged by the increasing numbers following the holiday season. Just recently, Arizona was identified by one statistician as the biggest hot spot in the world for COVID cases.

The board members voted to extend the suspension of in-person worship services through January 30, 2021. At that point we will again look at the numbers to see whether or not our county has come down off the current spike. If the numbers come down, we will look to resume in-person worship services on February 6. If the numbers continue to escalate, we will adjust our plan accordingly.

The vaccine is being disbursed as quickly as possible. Yet it may still take awhile to become available for everyone. As a result, COVID will likely be around for the near future. Please know that we will do our best to make in-person services available as long as we can worship together safely. For now, we will continue to live stream our service each Sabbath via our website and YouTube Channel.

I miss you all and hope to worship together as a church family real soon. As always, feel free to reach out to your pastors if you have any questions or if there is anything we can do for you. And as James encouraged the church to do, keep praying for one another so that we may be healed (and protected from harm) during these challenging times.

Pastor John

Guidelines for Attendance When Church is Open

Here is the essential information to know before attending Camelback:

• Sabbath School will begin at 9:30; worship at 11:00.

• There will be no on-campus lower division Sabbath School classes at this time. You can enjoy these classes from home via Zoom.

• No one should feel obligated to return right away.

• Masks are required for admittance in the sanctuary. Disposable masks are available on site.

• Physical distancing is required for seating and socializing while on site. Every other row in the sanctuary will be roped off.

• There will be no congregational singing for the time being.

• Tithes and offerings will be collected at the end of the service.

• Upon arrival, a team will ask you several questions and your temperature will be taken with a no-contact thermometer. This is to make sure that no one who has been recently exposed to COVID-19 or is currently symptomatic is allowed in the building to share the virus with others.

• Our deacon team will assist with the flow of traffic and physical distancing throughout the morning.

• Please bring water with you as the drinking fountains have been turned off.

• Our luncheon ministry has been suspended for the next few months.