Sanctuary Worship

Welcome To In-Person Worship

Whether you are planning to attend one of our Traditional worship services at 8:00a.m. and 11:00a.m., or our Contemporary worship service at 9:30a.m, we invite you to explore how our worship services have changed during the pandemic and the Worship Covenant to which we ask all who attend in-person to agree.

Learn What's New

We have updated our worship services in response to the pandemic to help keep everyone who attends safer.

Length of Sunday Worship Services

Sunday worship services will be approximately 45 minutes in length. This adjustment in service length allows time for cleaning the Sanctuary for the next worship service and prevents the crossing of paths for entering and exiting worshippers.

Sanitizing pews

In between worship services, the pews - the wood and the cushions - are fogged to ensure that what you touch and where you sit has been sanitized. The disinfectant foggers emit a fog that is odorless, kills the virus that causes Covid-19 in seconds, and dries quickly.

Exiting the sanctuary

When exiting the Sanctuary following the service, please plan for those in the back of the Sanctuary to exit first, with those in the front rows exiting last. This helps ease traffic flow and maintain social distancing.

Purifying the Air

Advanced air purifiers have been installed for the Sanctuary and Narthex (the entrance into the Sanctuary). These air purifiers kill 99% of many kinds of airborne molds, bacteria and viruses - including such viruses as H1N1, and the virus that causes Covid-19. Importantly, while the air traveling through the air conditioning system is being purified, this does not eliminate the need for masks (for those who are not yet fully vaccinated), and social distancing, since those around us may impact the air we breath prior to it traveling through the air conditioning system.

Social Distancing - between pews and within pews

To foster social distancing of six feet, every other pew will be open for seating. To foster social distancing within each pew, “spacers” are draped over the back of the pew to identify places for seating and to ensure 6 feet remains between each party. These “spacers,” which are grouped for parties of 1, 2, 3, 4+ persons, will help you quickly identify open seating to accommodate the number of persons in your party.

Offerings

In lieu of passing offering plates, Offering Boxes are in the Sanctuary to receive your Sunday offering while entering or exiting the Sunday worship service. Thank you for honoring God and the ministry of Ocala West UMC with your thoughtful giving!

Connect cards

Before each service, a Connect Card will be placed on the pew where you sit. This Connect Card will help you offer prayer requests, share your attendance, and sign up for upcoming groups and events. Just drop the Connect Card, with your offering, into an Offering Box as you exit.

Sharing Attendance

We invite you to share your attendance with us each Sunday. A Connect Card will be provided for you to write you name and the service time you attended. In the event the church office is informed that a participant in the Worship service you attended is diagnosed with Covid-19, we will contact you with the contact information you have provided.

Holy Communion

When celebrating Holy Communion, packaged elements for holy communion (with liturgy) will be placed on the pews with your Connect Card. The elements will be blessed during the service for you to partake during the worship service or at home.

Bulletins

In lieu of bulletins, the main screens in the Sanctuary will be used to highlight what is happening in the worship service.

We Covenant To Keep Each Other Safe

Everyone who attends Sanctuary Worship at Ocala West UMC agrees to the same covenant to help provide a safer worship environment for everyone. We invite you to read and agree with the Covenant below.

Updated Sanctuary Worship Covenant

Please Share Your Attendance

Mask Requirements

Masks Optional for Fully Vaccinated / Masks Required for Unvaccinated

If you are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, then masks are optional. If you are not fully vaccinated (two weeks after the last dose of the vaccine), or if you are unable to be vaccinated, please wear a mask from the time you leave your vehicle until you return to your vehicle.

Mask Only Seating Available

Sanctuary seating space will be provided for those who need or desire to wear a mask, and who feel more comfortable sitting only with those who are masked. This area is marked by gold spacers.

Social Distancing

Please remain 6 feet away from those who are not in your “party.” Please do not congregate on church property before or after service. Please do not approach or touch other people or their belongings.

Hand Sanitizer

Please use hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizer stations are available for your use. Some transmission of the virus which causes Covid-19 is through touch, so washing hands and using hand sanitizer is important for everyone's safety.

Congregational Singing & Chancel Singers

The congregation is invited to sing throughout the worship service. If not fully vaccinated or unable to be vaccinated, please wear a mask. Those singing in our Choirs and Praise Team have been fully vaccinated. Fully vaccinated means two weeks after the last dose of their vaccine.

Unwell?

If you or someone you have been in contact with have been unwell, please do not attend in-person services according to CDC guidelines. Please join online worship.

Traveling?

If you have been fully vaccinated, please join us for in-person worship. If you have NOT been vaccinated and have been traveling, please refrain from attending in-person services according to CDC guidelines. Please join online worship.

Covid-19 Positive

If you or someone in your party tests positive for COVID-19, please contact the church office 352-854-9550 or the weekend urgent care number 352-462-4877.