Welcome to PBCC!
A MESSAGE FROM PASTOR TREY
As of the June PBCC Board Meeting, it is now official that Powell Butte Christian Church can safely re-open its doors for in-person worship on Sunday Mornings – with social distancing guidelines in place, of course.
Based on square footage of our Worship Center and our Historic Chapel, we have determined that as a public venue we can accommodate around 100 people for the 8:30 service in the Worship Center, and around 60 in the Historic Chapel (plus some from overflow into the Fellowship Center, if needed). This is going to help a lot, seeing that we would typically see around 400 people or so during a typical weekend for worship here at PBCC.
Some people are eager to come back; some are still hesitant for various reasons: feeling under the weather themselves, not wanting to risk their health by being around too many people too soon, connecting well with the home watch parties… So we know that we are likely to be fine with accommodating the size of crowd we anticipate. BUT – just in case…and in keeping with the strict guidelines required by the government – we are putting in place a “save our spot” system for all three services on Sunday mornings.
What this means is that you will need to let us know as best you can the following information:
- That you will be joining us for the upcoming Sunday
- Which service you will be attending
- How many in your family will be with you for worship
You will have to do this each week. If we have a good idea of our numbers and find ourselves in a situation where we MIGHT have to turn someone away at the door – a visitor, perhaps, that didn’t know about this “save our spot” system – because we are too full, then we can be proactive in preventing that scenario by arranging for others who also had planned to be at that service to consider being flexible and switching services for that week in order to free up some spots.
Is this a little inconvenient? Yes. But it’s important to remember that throughout Church history, God’s people have been choosing to give up some of their privileges in order for others to be served. In addition, we know that when you DO come and join us that there will be a different look, different feel, different expectations of worshipers, all of which will be a little inconvenient at first as well. I would ask, as your pastor, to learn how to work within the new guidelines with a cheerful and humble heart. After all – we ARE going to be able to connect with more of our brothers and sisters in Christ (though it looks different than the way we were used to doing it before the shelter-in-place made fellowship more difficult).
Please keep praying for the health situation around the world. Please continue to pray for the church, that we might find God’s wisdom and have the boldness to continue to follow His lead.
It will be awesome to see many of you again! Stay healthy and safe. Let us know if you need anything.
I love you and love serving as your pastor,
Love
Pastor Trey
Trey Hinkle
Lead Pastor
Scott Knutz – Board Chairman
Troy York – Chairman of the Elders
Worship Service in person Reservation
Why Reservations
You may wonder why any church would ever require reservations for people to come to church. It certainly doesn’t serve the cause of Christ to turn people away at the door of a church because a lack of “reservations.” And we agree - which is why we have chosen to comply with the state’s guidelines for opening of churches during Phase 2 in this regard. We don’t want to re-open in a way that compromises Phase 2 in Crook County. That’s not a great witness to the love and faith of a Christian community.
Based on our square footage of the Worship Center, we know how many people can legally and safely attend each of our services. By utilizing a reservation system, we can know ahead of time if and when we are approaching the maximum limit for each service, and consequently we will be able to connect with certain people who plan to attend to see if they would be willing to - for that particular week - give up their seat so that others (perhaps visitors who do not know about the reservation need) can participate in the service.
If we all work together, staying flexible as conveniently as we can, we can make sure PBCC never has to turn anyone away for joining us for worship on any given Sunday.
We thank you for your gracious understanding and partnership during this unprecedented time for our community and our church. God is still in control and we will continue to worship Him and look to Him for guidance.
Trey
Trey Hinkle
Lead Pastor
Powell Butte Christian Church
Reservation Instructions
Select the Reservation button below. This button will take you to a web site called "Event Brite". At this site you will be able to select the date(s) you would like and the number of sets you would like for your family.
Reservation not needed for the outside 9:30 service.
9:30 Service
New 9:30 OUTSIDE Service
FOR THOSE PLANNING TO ATTEND THE 9:30 SERVICE...
1) As of this email, reservations will not be required for the 9:30 service (you will still have to make a reservation for the 8:30 and 11:30 services in order to prevent overcrowding inside).
2) You may bring your own lawn chairs if you would like. However, on the southwest side of the chain-linked playground area, we have placed a rack of metal folding chairs that will be available for people to grab and place on the west lawn (socially-distanced, of course), and then return to the rack after service has concluded.
3) Communion emblems will be available at a table as you arrive at the west lawn area. We will be utilizing the pre-made package of juice and wafer combination. There are two peel-off seals - the first allows you to get to the white wafer, and under the wafer is a second peel-off to get to the juice. If you find you are having a difficult time of it, please ask someone to help and we will gladly show you how it's done.
4) This service would be a GREAT time for families to come together to worship. By being outdoors, all the little noises that younger ones may make will not be distracting. The music will be loud and exciting, and I'll be on a microphone during the sermon, so there should be no worries about "wriggley" youngsters.
5) There will most likely be a need for people to serve on a set-up and a tear-down team for the instrumentation and amplification system we are using. If you could help in either way, please let me know and I will direct you to the person in charge of all that. Remember that we have no manned nursery available for our Sunday services right now, unfortunately. The PBCC Board has determined, with advice from our Nursery coordinator, that there is too much liability right now with the strict guidelines for sanitation of child care facilities.
Notes
Additional Information
1) We are now offering KINGDOM KIDS (K-5th grade) during the 9:30 service.
Jenny Hinkle, our Children's Ministry Director, has set up an outdoor learning area so that they can maintain safe social distancing, according to the guidelines set up by the CDC.
2)We are still live-streaming both the 8:30 worship service.
3) Also still strongly encourage you to get together with others to have Sunday morning "watch parties" in smaller groups.
4) LATEST NEWS from the Leadership of PBCC is this: Our 9:30 Outdoor “Worship on the Green” Service is much more popular than any of us would have imagined. Praise Jesus! I am very grateful for all those who have made this possible – from the band, to the worship leader, to those who have made the stage and got power out to the stage for us. Thank you to the greeters, the set-up crew, the tear-down crew --- EVERYONE who has had a hand in helping. Thank you! Thank you!
5) NEW SCHEDULE!!!
The Board voted this past Monday evening to arrange our services in a slightly different manner Beginning SUNDAY, AUGUST 2. PLEASE TAKE SPECIAL NOTE!!!
As of Sunday, August 2, we will be combining the 10:30 service with the 9:30 service outdoors. This will continue for the near future, as long as the weather holds up for us. It’s so great to be able to meet together in the beauty of nature outdoors, and socially distanced, with no masks. We will have Gabe and Jeremy taking turns leading our worship out there, so it will be comfortable for all who attend.
WE WILL STILL HAVE OUR 8:30 SERVICE both IN PERSON (with masks, of course) and STREAMING ONLINE. The new schedule will NOT affect the 8:30 service at all.
WE WILL STILL HAVE OUR 11:30 SERVICE in the HISTORIC CHAPEL (again, with masks). The new schedule will NOT affect the 11:30 service at all.
The only thing to remember is, if you are going to be a part of the 9:30 service, know that by being outdoors, you may want to consider bringing shade of some sort: an umbrella, a pop-up, etc. We aren’t
6) One last thing regarding Sunday Services. For those who are interested in learning more about Creationism, please note that at 9:30 in the Fellowship Hall, D.C. Lundy will be teaching through Answers in Genesis. D.C. has made an extensive study in the book of Genesis, including the days of Creation, and has a passion for teaching the Biblical concepts and worldview that is foundational to our trust in God's Word as inspired by the Holy Spirit and without error in its original form. This would be a great opportunity for those who would like to learn how to better defend the faith. Social distancing will be necessary, so space will be limited. Come ready to be amazed and informed!
