Abounding Grace Family,
Grace and Peace in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In light of recent developments regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19), we want to keep you up-to-date on what the church is doing in response. The health and safety of our church family and the larger community is our top priority, so we are taking precautions to keep everyone safe. At this time it is imperative that we get the facts and respond appropriately with faith and wisdom. This type of response will guard us from the natural tendencies to either overreact, underreact or respond in fear. Our faith in Christ Jesus should lead us to respond in love and care for our people, our city and the world.
On Sunday, March 15, 2020 we will meet for our Sunday worship experience at 11am. This gathering is for those who are healthy and comfortable meeting in person with the family of God during this time. For those who are not feeling well or are uncomfortable congregating at this time, we will stream our service on Facebook. We ask that you offer love, grace and respect to those who respond differently than you during this health crisis in our city and world.
After meeting as a pastoral staff with Dr. Pierre Arty, M.D. and considering the directives of the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we are responding to this is a public health safety concern in the following
ways:
- We will have hand sanitizer available at the entrance of PS34, in our main traffic areas and at the entrance to the auditorium. We are asking congregants not to shake hands, kiss or hug.
- Beginning in April we will be distributing communion in sealed packaging.
- We are disinfecting highly-touched surface areas, such as doors, stair rails, all seats in the auditorium, bathrooms, desks, lunchroom tables etc.
- We are suspending food distribution at the Fellowship Table for the next month.
- We will have adequate hygiene and cleaning materials so that bathrooms are continuously stocked with soap and paper towels.
- Kidz Rock is taking extra precautions sanitizing all surfaces, toys, classrooms and bathrooms used by our children. We ask parents with sick children to keep them home.
- We have instructed our staff and volunteers to wash their hands regularly throughout the day and to stay home if they are sick.
- We are prepared to live stream our weekly Sunday worship experience Sundays at 11AM.
- Most importantly, we are prepared to follow any public health directives that might be forthcoming.
Take the necessary precautions
It is critical that we all continue to practice proper prevention measures recommended by public health officials:
- Stay home if you’re feeling sick, including fever, cough, or shortness of breath.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or sleeve.
- Wash your hands regularly with soap for at least 20 seconds.
- Avoid touching your face.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- If you need a coronavirus test, call 844-NYC-4NYC. Cost will not be a barrier to testing and treatment in New York City.
- If you have any of the various risk factors that makes you vulnerable to the COVID-19 which include diabetes, history of cancer, weakened immune system, heart disease, along with obesity, lung disease, consider tuning into the live stream to minimize the chances of exposure to the COVID-19.
Watch our Sunday Worship Experience Online
We will livestream our Sunday 11AM service on Facebook this Sunday the website is
facebook.com/agminnyc.
Thanks for your continued support
You can continue to give your tithes and offerings online at aboundinggrace.nyc
or on your cell phone by texting “GiveGRACE” to 206-859-9405.
Register for Updates
Stay informed by registering to receive updates by email or text, and by visiting our website
AboundingGrace.nyc.
We care about you!
Always know your safety is our priority as we follow the guidelines given by our federal, state and city authorities.
For more information and updates, visit:
• NYC Dept of Health and Mental Hygiene:
https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
https://www.cdc.gov/
• Helpful Fact Sheet:
https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/
Lastly, let us remember the Apostle Paul’s words in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid (fearful), but gives us power, love and self-discipline”. Family, “do not be afraid” is the most repeated command in Scripture. Let us rest in the Lord who is our peace. We are held in our Father’s hands and are confident that he will guide us during this very sensitive time in our world. With that in mind, we are absolutely committed to the health of our church family.
Blessings,
Pastor Louis Carlo and the AGM Pastoral Team
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