March 2, 2022 - Indoor Worship Update
Following CDC guidelines we are moving to “MASKS OPTIONAL” starting March 6, for all activities on our campus.
Please continue to monitor your physical symptoms, and those of your children, and worship with us online from home if you suspect you may be coming down with an illness.
Thank you for your patience and great attitude throughout the pandemic!
August 7, 2021 - Indoor Worship Update
In order to curb the spread of COVID-19 in our community and in accordance with new CDC guidelines, we ask that everyone, vaccinated and unvaccinated, wear a mask indoors for the time being during our worship services and classes at Northlake. Extra masks are available at our resource tables.
Full Elder’s Statement:
Jesus instituted a radical command to his followers: to love one another as He loved and continues to love all of mankind. The apostle Paul amplified this to his Philippian audience when he urged them to attend to the needs of others as much as themselves. As our world, nation and our faith community here at Northlake continue to deal with the twists and turns of the coronavirus, we remind ourselves that the steps we take to avoid and minimize infection are as much for others as they are for us. We’ve prayerfully followed the guidance of the CDC and those in our church family who’ve been close to this evolving disease. We’ve instituted procedures and precautions to protect us corporately such as separate outdoor worship activities, providing disinfection products, pre-packaged communion, masks for those who need them, making ventilation enhancements, spaced seating – and for those particularly at risk, joining us in classes and worship remotely through platforms like Zoom and Facebook Live. The Northlake family has joined together in this effort, observing social distancing, wearing masks, and, as they became available for various ages and were able, getting vaccinated, which is the biggest help of all. All of these actions have helped minimize the impacts of the virus in our congregation and beyond.
Now we have to deal with variants of COVID. As the medical and scientific community weigh those impacts, we are again reminded that we are each our “brother’s keeper”. Even though many of us have been vaccinated and have gotten used to resuming our normal routines without masks, the steep rise in COVID cases now make it prudent to again “mask up” in our public interactions, even at church. Let’s be considerate about where we sit and who we hug if they’re not from our immediate family or someone we’re regularly in contact with. And if you’ve not been vaccinated and are not medically compromised, please seriously consider getting vaccinated in consultation with your medical provider as the vaccines have proven effective in helping curb the virus, reduce the risk of spreading it to others, and minimizes the severity of symptoms even if one experiences a “breakthrough” case of COVID. These measures together demonstrate personal responsibility and care for others, protecting you and those you come in contact with every day. Consider these reasons:
- Humility – I may not know I have COVID as it’s clear people can spread the disease before symptoms appear.
- Kindness – I may not know if the person I am near has a child battling cancer or cares for an aging parent…while I might not be concerned about my own risk and could be feeling fine, transmitting the virus to them could have devastating consequences.
- Community – I desire my community to thrive, students to return to schools, businesses to remain open, and employees and customers to stay healthy. Bending the curve on COVID helps us all!
This is not a time to be afraid but a time to be assured that God cares for all of us. Jesus consoled his followers that God cares for the birds of the air, the flowers of the field, and so much more for us who are created in His image. And Peter’s letter to the early Christians is just as applicable today as when he urged those believers to “cast all your worries on Him, because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)
Our prayer for you, Northlake family, is for each of us to care for one another in the loving kindness of Christ as God continues to provide, protect and watch over us all.
-Your Elders
Additional CDC resources can be read here.
June 24, 2021 - Indoor Worship FAQ (Updated)
Northlake is meeting indoors
• Occupancy in various spaces has been limited – this includes arranging seating to provide for social distancing.
• Ventilation has been checked to support the maximum occupancy in building spaces.
• Heating/air conditioning filters have been replaced and upgraded throughout to capture smaller particles including trapping viruses.
• Hand sanitizer stations have been placed in various locations for convenience.
• Face masks for those who didn’t bring their own will be available.
• Our facility has been cleaned and is ready to welcome you back to Northlake.
What about masks and vaccinations?
• As of June 27, 2021, the indoor worship service will be “mask-optional” for vaccinated persons as will classes and other activities held indoors.
• Unvaccinated persons are strongly encouraged to continue to wear masks.
• Vaccinations are encouraged but we will not be asking about your vaccination status. If you are medically able and eligible, please consider getting vaccinated to protect yourself and others.
Outdoor worship option
For those who desire to continue to meet outdoors, we have activities planned for you, too. These are oriented toward families with children but are open to anyone.
We’re doing everything we can to make our worship, class, and other activities’ experiences together safe ones and in accordance with the CDC’s Considerations for Communities of Faith https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/faith-based.html – other CDC guidance applicable to us include:
• Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html
• Guidance for Unvaccinated People – Large Gatherings https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019- ncov/your-health/large-gatherings.html We are continually monitoring CDC guidance as well as state regulations and will make necessary adjustments going forward.
May 27, 2021 - Indoor Worship FAQ
Why is Northlake choosing now to resume indoor, in person worship?
• Increasing heat and humidity outdoors.
• CDC guidelines are green lighting indoor full capacity worship services and indoor choruses for vaccinated persons (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019- ncov/vaccines/pdfs/choosingSaferAct.pdf)
• Lower rates of Covid transmission in our community.
• High rate of vaccination among our members – estimate over 90% of eligible persons who responded to survey.
• Ability to continue outdoor service for children/teens/others who would like to stay outdoors.
• A very good ventilation rate with outdoor air in auditorium and other indoor spaces.
• An estimate of only about 120 to attend indoors at this time, allowing physical distancing.
What’s been done to make it safer for us to return to in person activities in our building?
• Occupancy in various spaces has been limited – this includes arranging seating to provide for social distancing.
• Ventilation has been checked to support the maximum occupancy in building spaces.
• Heating/air conditioning filters have been replaced and upgraded throughout to capture smaller particles including trapping viruses.
• Hand sanitizer stations have been placed in various locations for convenience.
• Face masks for those who didn’t bring their own will be available.
• Our facility has been cleaned and is ready to welcome you back to Northlake.
What about masks and vaccinations?
• The indoor worship service will be “mask-optional” at seats with masks worn in transition (i.e., entering, leaving, away from seats, moving about). This approach would also be followed by classes held indoors.
• Vaccinations are encouraged but we will not be asking about your vaccination status. If you are medically able and eligible, please consider getting vaccinated to protect yourself and others.
For those who desire to continue to meet outdoors, we have activities planned for you, too. These are oriented toward families with children but are open to anyone.
We’re doing everything we can to make our worship, class, and other activities’ experiences together safe ones and in accordance with the CDC’s Considerations for Communities of Faith https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/faith-based.html – other CDC guidance applicable to us include:
• Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html
• Guidance for Unvaccinated People – Large Gatherings https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019- ncov/your-health/large-gatherings.html We are continually monitoring CDC guidance as well as state regulations and will make necessary adjustments going forward.
March 16, 2021 - Phase 2 announcement
In Phase 2 of our reopening plan, outdoor worship services have been added.
Services will be held on the back lawn, Sunday mornings at 11am, weather permitting. Social distancing and masks are required. Services will be recorded and available to view online later that day.
August 18, 2020 - Phase 1 announcement
In Phase 1 of our reopening plan, small group in-person meetings may be held on Northlake’s campus.
Guidelines for small in person small groups can be download here:
