Church Family,

Visible smiles are about to become a more common sight at FUMC Bastrop, Texas. The church council met on May 23rd to discuss if there is still a need to wear a mask in services. The council decided and approved that the mask mandate would become an optional personal choice. A face mask will no longer be mandatory for worshippers. Therefore, wearing a face mask in church on Sundays and during the week will be optional starting  Sunday, June 6th,  2021, during all three services: 8:30, 9:45, and 11 A.M. In addition, we can return to our typical spacing of seats for in-person services.

In the Sanctuary, you can choose to wear a mask or not to wear a mask. It is your personal decision. In addition, to adjusting the mask requirements, the hymnals will be placed back in the pews to be used for singing hymns, and we will no longer take your temperature upon entering the Sanctuary. Advance registration for services is no longer needed, and we will stand while singing the hymns. The offering plate will not be passed down each row of pews. You can find the offering box at the back of the church. There will be no passing the peace, and Communion will be taken at your seat using the packaged wafer and juice.

If you feel that you are health compromised or uncomfortable with an optional mask situation, the Fellowship Hall will be available for mandatory mask services. The Fellowship Hall will be mandatory mask only. Members will observe the service on the big screen. We now have the technology to project what is happening in the Sanctuary into the Fellowship Hall.

All services will still be available for viewing on our YouTube Channel. The Sunday service is posted live to the channel at 9:45 A.M. A recording of the service is available any time after the 9:45 service concludes.

These changes are a fabulous development! Our loving Lord has seen us through this pandemic and will be with us through this next transition.

In His Service,