Dear CABC Family, 

In conjunction with updated policies at many of our local school districts, all programs for children and youth will return to optional face coverings for both students and adults. With the acknowledgement that sickness and germs are still always around us we urge all who participate in programs here at CABC to continue to monitor and remain aware of your own, and your children’s, symptoms and to either mask up or stay at home until well.  

As has been stated previously, we understand that there are differing views on all sides of this decision. Let’s give grace and show love to each other in our differences so that we can strive for the unity of the body that Jesus wants from us. Please keep in prayer all those who have been and continue to be affected by this ongoing pandemic. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out. 

-Pastor Josh & CABC Leadership 

Dear CABC Family,

We are incredibly excited to begin our new fall season of ministry. It seems like forever since we have been able to talk about School of Christian Living beginning again on Sundays after worship and having programs for kids through adults resume on Wednesday nights with AWANA, Pulse Youth, and Adult Bible Study. Our MOPS program is returning to a daytime support for the moms of this community and our Preschool is at full capacity. There is great enthusiasm to have Christ shared with kids, youth, and adults of all ages in some familiar and some new ways this fall.

One reminder about our fall this year is that COVID concerns still inform how we approach our fall schedule. We are committed to providing in-person opportunities for connection and growth in our walk with Jesus. To help make that happen there may be things that have to change or adjust as we go throughout the fall. Please know we do not make any changes lightly and what we do change is always with the health and safety of our church family at the forefront. 

Therefore, starting Sept. 8th with the beginning of our preschool year, and with many other ministries kicking off in the next week, we will be asking all children ages 2 through 12th grade and volunteers in those ministries to wear a face covering while participating in our children and youth programming indoors. This is in step with what is being required of children and youth in schools currently. We will continue to monitor cases in our area and decisions that are made by local school districts as well. 

We understand that there are differing views on all sides of this decision. Let’s give grace and show love to each other in our differences so that we can strive for the unity of the body that Jesus wants from us. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

-Pastor Josh & CABC Leadership

At present, the news is filled with various details concerning Covid-19 restrictions changing or being lifted. We are monitoring the situation and the ongoing changes. The latest change to CDC and PA Department of Health guidelines is that fully vaccinated people are no longer required to wear masks; adults who have yet to be vaccinated should continue to follow mask recommendations. At this time, anyone participating in our Children’s Ministry programs (children and adult volunteers) will continue to wear masks or face shields in compliance with current guidelines. 

There likely will be more attendees in worship that are not wearing masks that will be seated next to individuals who feel more comfortable wearing masks. We encourage everyone to extend the same grace to each other at this time as we have throughout this pandemic. Please know that the Pulse location will continue to be an overflow option that typically is less crowded.  

We appreciate your prayer and patience and look forward to worshipping with you on Sunday. 

• If you are not feeling well (fever, cough, shortness of breath), please refrain from attending in person worship. We will continue to stream services online.
• Greeters and ushers will be present outside and inside the church to assist with instructions, seating, and to answer any questions. Seating is spaced with proper social distancing taken into consideration. If needed, we have additional seating available in the Pulse.
• Out of concern and care for others, we are asking attendees to wear masks while entering and exiting. If you do not have a mask, we will have some available.
• Please don’t linger in the Lobby on entry or exit.
• Lobby mailboxes are closed at this time.
• Bulletins will be placed on chairs prior to service. Daily Bread devotionals and Annual Report copies will be available at the Welcome Desk as a self-serve option.
• We request that you greet one another without handshakes or hugs and that you maintain proper social distancing of six feet from non-family members.
• The offering plate will not be passed; instead, offering plates will be available in several locations with ushers standing by if assistance is needed.
• There will be NO Children’s Ministry services; there will be a table in the lobby with materials provided by Miss Jess.
• There will be NO nursery available. Room 208 will be available as a quiet room if you need to step out with your little one.
• There will be NO School of Christian Living (adult) classes following worship.

We will have some additional changes for Sunday’s worship and, possibly, going forward for a period of time. Greeters will smile cheerfully, but not give hugs or handshakes; they will hold the doors for those coming in. Bulletins will be in a container–please help yourself; they will not be handed out.

Offering plates will not be passed—we will have the offering plates set where you can still access them for your tithes and offerings. If you choose not to come to worship, offering and tithe may still be mailed to the church, dropped by the church, or you can utilize our online giving portal, accessed through https://www.christabc.org/giving/. It is important to remember that CABC’s monthly expenses continue at their usual rate.

We will not have School of Christian Living or Children’s Ministry programming Sunday morning. All families should plan to sit together during our worship service. We will not have a fellowship time in the gym before or following worship service.

All non-essential gatherings will be postponed. All York County public schools have closed through March 29; CABC Preschool will be closed during this time and Wednesday night programs will not be held. There will be no Pulse Youth Dessert Auction tomorrow evening; it will be rescheduled. Financial Peace University, CYA’LL Luncheon, Women’s Bible Study, the Men’s Breakfast, the CABC Family Work Day and the Women’s Retreat are all on hold…we will keep you informed on when they will be rescheduled. Ministry meetings (for example Staff Relations, Missions, Women’s Ministry, etc.) will happen at the discretion of the leaders and those leaders will inform their committee members with updated meeting information.

Church staff is working to keep the facility as clean as possible and is conducting additional cleaning in high-traffic areas.

If you are staying home, and are in need of prayer or pastoral conversation, please feel free to contact the church (717-225-1876).

• Pray for those infected by the coronavirus around the world.
• Pray with gratitude for those who care for them.
• Pray with gratitude for health specialists and authorities who are combating the spread of infection.
• Pray for government officials and leaders to have the wisdom necessary to make wise and informed decisions out of care for the public good, particularly to those most vulnerable.
• Pray for all who at this time are feeling anxious.