COVID Communications

Updated: July 25, 2020

July 25, 2020 – August Opening & Other Updates

Dear Family Bible Church,

August Returning to In-Person
We’re back with another church update! Join us in August for in-person services. We’re excited to be meeting together again. We will continue to keep extra safety measures in place:

    • Masks covering your nose and mouth are still required.
    • We’ve moved some classes around to different rooms to help with social distancing.
      • Crossways (Jr. High & High School) – Now meeting in Room 6
      • Remain (College & Career) – Now meeting in Room 7
      • Adult Sunday School – Now meeting in Room 8

Still Available Online
As always, we will continue streaming the services online via YouTube, Facebook, and our Sunday Services page. For those who are more vulnerable to COVID-19, the elderly or at-risk, please continue joining us online.

Men’s & Women’s Bible Study
We’re also planning to kick off the Men’s & Women’s fall Bible study on August 19th. My wife and I will be leading a study on what it means to trust God through the trials. We’ll be hosting it in a new format:

    • Both men and women will be meeting together in the Worship Center.
    • We’ll be having it in-person on Wednesday evenings only – 7:00-8:30PM.
    • It will also be recorded and available for viewing online.
    • If you missed the summer marriage series, feel free to check it out here: fbcaz.com/marriage40.

Women’s Retreat
For the latest update regarding the FBC Women’s Retreat and/or to register, please visit: fbcaz.com/womens-retreat.

We’re so thankful we serve the God who can be trusted. We pray you’ll find hope and encouragement as you hold tightly to our Savior.

“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” Hebrews 10:23-25 (NLT)

Blessings, Pastor Tim and the FBC Elders.

Pastor Tim Klontz
602-750-3166
[email protected]

 

July 2, 2020 – Online-Only during July

Dear Family Bible Church,

The FBC Elder Board is continually in prayer together and meets weekly to discuss how to best lead and protect our church family. After meeting this morning, and in light of the recent prompting of Governor Ducey and Executive Order to limit large gatherings, the elders feel like the safest thing we can do as a church is to return to online-only services for the month of July. With that said, we will not be having any events or services meeting in-person/on-site from now until the end of July when we revisit the current situation.

Project Serve and BOOST have also both been cancelled. The only scheduled exception is that we will still have the last marriage class available in-person (with less than 50 people in attendance), and that will wrap up Tim & Jill’s summer studies.

We are dedicated to providing options online during this time. Here are ways you can stay connected:

    • Sunday Morning Worship Service
      • LIVE at 10:30AM via the website, Facebook, or YouTube
    • Online Sunday School
      • Pre-recorded videos with Pastor Tim Klontz teaching through the Gospel of Matthew (Now posted early – available weekly by 9AM on Saturdays)
      • Live ZOOM meetings with Doug Sandy teaching through the book of Judges (Sundays at 9AM)
    • NEW Mid-week ZOOM Life Group for Everyone – Thursdays from 6:30-8:00PM via ZOOM starting July 9th with Pastor Dave Mayer teaching verse by verse through the Gospel of John. Contact Dave Mayer at 602-920-6623 for more information. The ZOOM link will also be posted on the Ministry Updates during Covid-19 page, under the “Life Groups” tab.

Please continue to join us ONLINE and keep the faith amidst the ever-changing times we’re in. God is faithful and He can be trusted.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)

Blessings, Pastor Tim and the FBC Elders.

Pastor Tim Klontz
602-750-3166
[email protected]

 

June 20, 2020 – Face Masks Required

Dear Family Bible Church,

Beginning June 20, 2020 Family Bible Church will require everyone 6 years old and above to wear a face mask of cloth or paper covering their nose and mouth before entering our building as required by the City of Chandler during COVID-19. If you do not have your own face mask, we will provide one for you.

If members/volunteers arrive at our facility during a time when it is not open for public services (e.g., worship practice, cleaning of the building, etc.) and they can consistently maintain 6’ or more of social distancing from any other non-family member, then they shall be permitted to not wear a mask inside of our facility during that time. Masks are also not required to be worn by our pastors, teachers and worship team during their ministry time, as long as they can maintain a distance 6’ from each other and 12’ from the congregation.

We will not be serving any food and are allowing only bottled water during services. We recommend washing hands often and the use of hand sanitizers. Please refrain from all hugs and touching while visiting our facilities.

We will continue to provide ministry online during this time, and strongly recommend anyone who may feel vulnerable, weak or frail to watch from home. If you are sick you must stay away. If anyone becomes ill after attending a service, please contact Pastor Tim Klontz at 602-750-3166 so we may determine any necessary future steps.

We desire to stay open to minister more effectively, so we appreciate your faithful support of us and these new directives.

Blessings, Pastor Tim and the FBC Elders.

Pastor Tim Klontz
602-750-3166
[email protected]

 

June 6, 2020 – Services Return In-Person

Dear friends of Family Bible Church,

We’re excited that the doors are now open for both in-person and online services. We’ve set up the Worship Center in a way that accommodates social distancing.  The Worship Service begins at 10:30AM. Sunday School Classes start at 9AM with less space for social distancing.

Since things are different as we start back up, we want you to know what to expect if you decide to worship with us in person.

  • An entrance will be open so you will not need to touch a door handle.
  • Bulletins will be available for you to pick up from a table near the hand sanitizer.
  • Our ushers, greeters, and pastors will NOT be initiating hugs or handshakes.
  • We are not requiring masks to be worn at this time although you may if you wish.
  • We won’t be offering donuts, snacks, or coffee, but you’re welcome to bring bottled water with you.
  • We ask people not to gather in the foyer before or after the service, rather fellowship outside.

If anyone is not feeling well or feels vulnerable to sickness, we encourage you to worship from home.

We will continue streaming the services online via YouTube, Facebook, Roku, and our Sunday Services page, for those who aren’t able to join us.

We love you all and pray that God continues to bless and protect you.

Blessings,

Pastor Tim Klontz
602-750-3166
[email protected]

 

March 17, 2020 – No In-Person Services

We have good news: Our God is NOT a God of fear!  God is still on the throne, He’s in complete control and He is with us!
Isaiah 41:10 (NLT) “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

In light of COVID-19, several people are asking:

  • Will we be having church on Sunday?
  • What about special events (Men’s Retreat, Crossways, Remain, etc.)?

There will be some changes to the way we are doing things, temporarily.

Due to the Governor’s request and at the advice of our President, we will NOT BE HAVING SERVICES ON-SITE this Sunday. However, we will still be streaming them on-line at https://fbcaz.wpengine.com/. We will also have several online Sunday School Classes available. We need to hear God’s word and worship with His people more than ever. So visit the website for the latest information on how we will be serving our body.  The Sunday School Class information will be posted this Saturday.

There seems to be a lot of fear in America right now, but the promises of God are still true!  God is bigger than the coronavirus.  His name is above any other.

At Family Bible Church we want to deliver a message of hope and reassurance.  Our hope is that you remain connected and intentional about being connected with this local body of believers, whether that’s through calls, texts, streaming the service or Sunday school class.

Regardless of the events in the world, our mission remains the same:

We are committed to making disciples of Jesus Christ who become faithful and fully devoted followers of Him, ready and prepared to do works of service so the whole body of Christ may be built up in unity and purpose.

So, join us this Sunday from your home for our service to be encouraged. Let your friends, co-workers, and neighbors know that we have a message of hope for everyone. We want to ask you to help us share that message during this anxious time. Pray for our nation and for our leaders, pray for our healthcare providers, and for all of those in our country and around the world who are directly or indirectly affected by the coronavirus. We need God’s help.

As for events we currently had scheduled outside of our Sunday Services:

  • Men’s Retreat: Bison Ranch Retreat Center has contacted us and canceled the event. You will be receiving a refund. We will follow up with more details in the coming weeks.
  • Men’s and Women’s Bible Studies, Crossways, Remain, Relevé: these ON-SITE events have been postponed until further notice. Please keep an eye on your email and our website for updates.

The leadership at FBC is committed to praying for you and pursing ways to remain connected to the fellowship during these uncertain times. We will resume on-site services as soon as we have been advised it is safe to do so. 

Prayerfully,

Pastor Tim Klontz and the leadership at Family Bible Church

Joshua 1:9 (NLT) “This is my command — be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

 

March 13, 2020 – Initial Impacts

We are planning on holding our Sunday Services on March 15,2020

As followers of Jesus Christ we are not driven by fear, but we do have a responsibility to keep Family Bible Church a clean and safe environment for you and your family to gather together to worship.  As part of the plan we would encourage you to pray for those affected by this crisis.

Family Bible Church is making a few adjustments in the way we do services in order to reduce the chance of viral transmission:
See Also CDC recommendation at the end of this page.

Information Table
We will have a table outside the building with medical staff that will provide brochures on Coronavirus Precautions and with hand sanitizer for people to use.  WE DO HAVE A LIMITED SUPPLY SO WE ASK IF ANYONE HAS SOME AVAILABLE THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO DONATE OR IF YOU HAVE SOME TO BRING FOR YOUR OWN USE, PLEASE DO SO.

Our Greeting Team and Ushers
You will still be greeted by a familiar face, but we have instructed our greeters not to engage in handshakes/hugs/fist bumps temporarily which can encourage the spread of illness.  We ask people attending the services to do the same as an act of care and love for the church body.
Meet and Greet
We typically have a time of meet and greet at the beginning of services. That time will be temporarily eliminated.

If you or someone in your family is ill
We would also ask that if you or anyone in your household is currently sick, please refrain from attending services this Sunday.  Although it’s not likely that you do have coronavirus, other illnesses weaken the immune system and make people vulnerable to infections for illnesses such as the Coronavirus. Also, if you have respiratory or immune system issues, you might consider not attending at this time.

Options for Services if I choose not to attend:
Family Bible Church has several options available to you if you decide not to attend services this weekend on campus.

You can visit https://fbcaz.wpengine.com and click to the Watch Online Link.  On that page you can watch the services live from your web browser, use airplay to cast the services live to your TV or watch online via our Roku Channel on any Roku enable TV.

If you have any questions, please email our safety and security team lead Steve Scott at [email protected]

Sincerely,

The Family Bible Church Leadership Team.

These are the CDC recommendation for the Coronavirus:
Coronavirus Precautions
To help contain the spread of COVID-19, health officials have issued the following recommendations:

  • Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Refrain from touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
  • Minimize close contact (recommended no hand shaking or hugging)
  • If you are sick, with cough and/or fever you are encouraged to stay home.
  • Cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue or bend of your elbow, and throw the tissue away.
  • Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces that are frequently touched.

Other Facts:

  • Incubation time between exposure and exhibiting symptoms is 14 days. That’s why folks are being asked to quarantine for two weeks
  • There is currently no vaccine. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.
  • Older people and those with underlying conditions like diabetes and heart or lung diseases are at the highest risk of death from the coronavirus. Children rarely get sick, and healthier young or middle-age people might get ill but can fend it off at home.
  • Things get serious around age 60, with the risk increasing with age and getting quite grave around age 80.