Damascus Community Church & Damascus Christian School update on COVID-19 emergency, March 19, 2020
In the midst of our new, ever-changing reality, the leadership of Damascus Community Church and Damascus Christian School want to encourage everyone to lean into the One who is unchanging. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. God is our rock in times of trouble, and He will see us through.
We continue to closely monitor the progression of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and are prayerfully reviewing all the latest guidelines and recommendations from a multitude of reliable sources. As executive orders, guidelines, and recommendations are presented, we continue to seek God’s wisdom to discern how best to adapt to the current situation while at the same time caring for the spiritual, emotional, and educational needs of our church and school families and staff.
We are also deeply committed to the health and well-being of all our church and school families and staff. And by God’s grace, we continue to have seen no presumptive cases presented by anyone associated with Damascus Community Church and Damascus Christian School. With that said, we are adding additional guidelines to continue to ensure the safety of our families and staff which take effect today Thursday, March 19, 2020 and will remain in effect for the next 31 days. Details on how this will impact the activities and functions of the church and school are listed below:
Church Activities:
- Sunday Worship Services:
- We have made the difficult decision to not gather in person on campus for a minimum of 4 more weeks. However, we invite you to join our live-stream worship service each Sunday at 10am on our YouTube Channel.
- A replay of the video will be available for viewing soon after the completion of the service. It can be accessed at the church website at http://www.damascuscc-media.org/sermon-video/
- You can also access sermon notes and an audio version on our website as well.
- All other in person activities, events, and meetings are cancelled or postponed until further notice. However, we are encouraging all ministry leaders to connect online through video conferencing tools.
- Church Office Hours
- In an effort to care for the health and well-being of our church staff, we have asked them to embrace a “Work from Home” model as much as possible. Some will strictly be working from home.
- We have also streamlined the number of staff members on campus each day to no more than 2 or 3 in a scheduled rotation moving forward for the foreseeable future. With this in mind, we ask for your patience as we do our best to follow up on phone calls, emails, etc.
- We have also added an “after hours” phone number (503-489-7297) if you have an urgent matter and you need to speak to someone right away. You’re also welcome to leave a prayer request as we continue to pray for the needs of the DCC/DCS community.
- Tithes and Offerings
- During this challenging time, we also want to take a moment and thank those committed givers that continue to graciously support this ministry. If you are unsure how to give in this situation, please consider one of the following options:
- Online at our website: Please use our Giving Portal to set up a one time or recurring gift.
- Bank Bill Pay: Most banks offer a bill pay service that can be used to set up a recurring gift.
- U.S. Postal Service: Simply drop a check in the mail.
- During this challenging time, we also want to take a moment and thank those committed givers that continue to graciously support this ministry. If you are unsure how to give in this situation, please consider one of the following options:
School Activities:
- All in person school classes and activities have been suspended through April 28, 2020. However, the school is planning on resuming on April 1 through a digital and distance learning platform. School families will be receiving more information from Principal Davidson about this in the days to come.
- Teachers will be onsite in a limited, intermittent capacity to prepare lesson plans and curriculum for both take home packets and online distance learning options for our students. They will not be available for meetings.
- School Office Hours
- Principal Davidson will be onsite during the week and he is available by phone at the school office (503-658-4100).
In addition to the summary of church and school activities, it’s also important to share with you how we will be communicating during this time. Below is a list of communication tools that will be used by the church and school to continue to keep our families and staff informed. In light of our current situation, it is critical for families and staff to check emails and our website on a consistent basis to stay up to date on all the latest information.
Church Communication:
- Website
- We have set up a special page at the website as a source of information for our families. Click on the button labeled COVID-19 Resources and Updates on the front page to access it.
- Also, In an effort to help our community groups stay connected, we have added group update links on our Community Groups page.
- Prayer Chain & Emails
- Our weekly DCC Newsletter
- Some announcements or updates may be shared during the livestream on Sunday mornings at 10 am, so be sure to tune in.
- Throughout the week we will also be sharing things like:
- Articles or links we’ve discovered related to the virus that might be helpful
- Worship songs and encouragement to get you through the week
- Reminders of announcements, schedule changes, etc.
- Opportunities to serve others in this difficult time
- Ways for parents to engage with their children in family worship
- And something we’re calling “Pandemic Ponderings”
School Communication:
- Website
- We have added a page to share information in regards to distance learning.
- We have added a page to share information in regards to distance learning.
- Emails
Lastly, it’s important to remember that this is uncharted territory for all of us. DCC and DCS will continue to do everything possible to meet the spiritual and academic needs of our families during this time. However, as we strive to do what’s best for all involved, we will make mistakes. It’s crucial for each of us to remember to stay calm and be gracious to one another as we work together to honor God in our interactions. Not only within the DCC/DCS community, but also in Damascus and the surrounding communities. This is an opportunity for God’s love to shine through the lives of the families and staff of Damascus Community Church and Damascus Christian School. Let His light shine brightly through you!
By His Grace,
The DCC Elder Council / DCS School Board