As we finish updating the Sanctuary and plans on returning to worship inside, we have reviewed our Covid guidelines for worship. With the current surge in cases and high transmission rates in our area, we have revised our Covid policy to the following practices.

• Masks are still required indoors (except for taking Communion)
• Social distancing will still be maintained
• Singing will return with masks
• Hymnals, Bibles, Stephen Ministry cards, Electronic giving cards and pencils will return to the pews. Communion cards and attendance books will not.
• The Drinking fountain will remain off, water bottles will remain available
•  Windows will be open, as able, and fans on to help with air flow through the building
• Communion will continue every Sunday as follows:

Communion Best Practices for Health and Safety

• All assistants wear masks and wash hands before communion
• All are invited to altar rail to commune at the 4:30 and 8:00am services. 
• Please be ready to assemble before the altar when it is your turn to avoid unnecessary lingering. We are aiming for six communicants on each side of the altar.
• You are invited to either stand or kneel before the altar
• Privately sealed communion of bread and wine is available in the narthex, and you are welcome to partake from your pew or bring to altar
• Individual breads are offered at altar by elder/pastor with gloves
• Individual wines are separated and offered in tray by elder
• We will not be using the common cup at this time
• Continuous communion will be offered at 10am service one side at a time.

As always if not you are not feeling well, please stay home. We thank you for your understanding as we continue to navigate through these unusual times.

Jesus said, “Lets Do Something”

For the next 50 days, we are committing as a church to do something to bring new life into our lives, our families, and our world.  Please look below for suggestions about what you can do.  Once you decide on something to do, please complete the submission form at the bottom with your name, a way to contact you, what you would like to do, and we’ll reach out to you.  Once you complete one of the DO’s, send in a photo (digital works, printed 5×7 would be even better!), and we will put it on our Mark 16:9 Project Wall in the church.  Digital photos can be sent using the submission form below.

Thanks for DOING something for Jesus this Easter.

Lets Do Something

Do Up	Do In	Do Out
Worship	Family Time	Serve
Study	Meal	Give
Pray	Invite A Friend	Try

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Worship

In the next 50 days, I will commit to worship with us in person at Immanuel.

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Study

In the next 50 days, I will commit to read God’s Word by yourself or with someone.

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Pray

In the next 50 days, I will commit to pray for and/or with someone.

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Family Time

In the next 50 days, I will commit to host a special event with your family.

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Meal

In the next 50 days, I will commit to have a special meal with someone dear to you.

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Invite A Friend

In the next 50 days, I will commit to invite a friend to an even (for example, church, meal, family event, etc.)

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Serve

In the next 50 days, I will commit to serve people in need in our community.

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Give

In the next 50 days, I will commit to make a financial contribution to capital needs at Immanuel.

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Try

In the next 50 days, I will commit to start something new to reach out to anyone who is far from God.

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Contact/Picture Submission:

will be “Family Cottages”, small groups of families with a mentor meeting weekly, initially on Zoom. Read more details and sign up at this link:

Signup link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f094faead2ba3f58-family2

Dear Immanuel family,

Over the past weeks, church board members have met and developed actions and precautions which are meant to reduce and control the COVID19 risks while attending a worship service.  These steps have been developed based on guidance from the U.S. Center for Disease Control, the Illinois Department of Public Health, and are described below.  Because worshiping under these conditions is significantly different that our worship prior to COVID19, please read the descriptions below prior to attending a service.  We understand that even with taking these actions, some people may not feel comfortable attending worship at this time and for this reason we will continue to provide internet streaming of services.  

GENERAL PREPARATION

Worshipers should ensure their health prior to attending services by taking their body temperature and not attend the service if they are experiencing a fever or feel ill.  

Worshipers over the age of 2 are expected to wear facial masks while in the church building.  Please come with your personal facial mask.  A limited number of facial masks will be available at the church.

To help maintain social spacing, please plan to arrive up to 15 minutes prior to the start of the service.

Elders and Ushers assisting with the service will have their body temperature confirmed upon arrival and will wear gloves as well as facial masks.    

Pastors will wear masks and remove them only when distanced.

The drinking fountain will be roped off and bottled water will be available.  

Washrooms will be available.

Cleaning of frequently touched services will be done after each service.

Hymnals and Bibles have been removed from the pews.  

The order of service will be displayed on the projector screens and e-mailed prior to the service for home printing or viewing with digital devices.  A limited number of large print bulletins will be available.  

If communion is offered, the elements will be distributed in a pre-packaged cup.  Grape juice and gluten free bread will be available.  If assistance in opening a package is needed, please ask an Elder or Usher for help.

Pre-post service beverages and snacks will not be available.  Children’s busy bags will not be available.

ENTERING,

To better control the spacing of people, we will be entering the church only through the large double doors on Grove Street.  As weather permits we will leave these doors open to avoid touching door handles.  You will be able to hang up coats and jackets as needed.  

If communion is being offered in the service, pick up the individual pre-packaged communion elements on the table in the narthex.    

Please wait for an Elder or Usher to direct you to an available seat.  The church seating will be filled from the center aisle beginning in the front and working toward the back.  Family groups will be asked to sit together.  To maintain distancing we will seat people in every other pew.  Different parties may be seated in the same pew but on opposite ends.  

SERVICE

Service times and formats

• 4:30 – traditional 
• 8:00 – traditional
• 10:00 –contemporary 

There will be no congregational singing.  Singing will be done by a lead worshiper.  

During communion if you need assistance in opening the elements container, please ask for help from an Elder or Usher.

Children will remain in pews during any children’s message.

EXITING

Please wait for an Elder or Usher to direct you to leave your pew.  Exiting will be from the back to the front through the outside aisles.  The north aisle will exit the building via the SW Carpenter Street door.  The south aisle will exit the building via the Grove Street door.  

There will be drop off for tithes and offerings in each aisle.

There will a disposal drop off for communion cups in each aisle.

Please avoid socializing in the building and proceed outside after the service.

If you are diagnosed with COVID19 within 14 days after attending a service, we ask that you notify the church.  Your privacy will be maintained but the church will notify the congregation of the report. 

Service Times

This weekend come worship with us:
Saturday: 4:30 p.m. (Traditional)
Sunday: 8:00 a.m. (Traditional)
10:00 a.m. (Contemporary)

The service will be streamed live at 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.

www.ilcdg.org/watch-live

or

http://streamingchurch.tv/ci/mf/media/notes_grid/church10301

It can be accessed later if you’re not available at that time.

What are the fees?
Fees are $0.30 per transaction, plus 1% for ACH (bank transfers) or up to 2.9% for credit cards.

Does my mobile giving appear on my end-of-year tax statement?
Yes, we receive reports from our text-to-give vendor that we incorporate into your tax statement.

What do I do when the offering plate comes by?
In our pews we provide “I give electronically” cards to place in the offering plate.

Is there a minimum amount?
No, our text-to-give vendor accepts any amount.

How do I know my offering was received?
First, you will receive an email acknowledgement from our text-to-give vendor. You can also
view your giving history through the web portal you view when texting “giving” to our text-to-give
number. Second, we are increasing our financial statements from annually to quarterly, so you’ll
see your offerings reflected in that statement.

What if I make a mistake?
Simply follow the instructions on your email receipt to receive a refund.

Does the charge show up on my phone bill?
No. When you text ILCDG to (206) 859-9405, you will be directed to a secure, mobile-friendly
giving site where you can enter a credit card, debit card, or bank transfer information. Your
mobile phone account is not charged.

Is my credit card information secure?
Our text-to-give vendor is compliant with Payment Card Industry (PCI) standards. Your card
information is encrypted for transmission using secure socket layers. A compliance fact sheet is
available upon request.

Is it ok to charge my offering on a credit card I carry a balance on?
We strongly discourage going into debt by giving using a credit card. For those who use their
credit cards for convenience or monthly points and cash rewards, please note the 2.9%
surcharge. Our preference is to receive as many of our gifts as possible from bank transfers, by
either check, Simply Giving, or text-to-give.

How do I link text-to-give to my bank account?
When you follow the link provided via text and follow the instructions to set up a secure account,
you will have the option to give via credit card or bank account. If you choose the bank account
option, you will receive instructions to verify your account. The verification process takes up to
five days.

What if I encounter technical issues?
Feel free to contact Michael Dunkin: with any technical or billing issues.