Ministries

Welcome to Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church

We are indeed glad to tell you that Pleasant Valley has re-opened for live worship!  Your safety is foremost in our minds as we plan this re-opening, so the experience will look and feel different.  You must decide for yourself, based on your individual circumstances, whether to attend.  Please know that no one will judge you whatever decision you make.  We will continue to live-stream the service just as we have for the past seven months.  If you are in a high-risk group, we urge you to continue worshipping with us online for your safety.  If you want to attend in person and fill out the reservation form, you agree that you and everyone in your party will follow the protocols outlined at the bottom of this page.  Note that we will be celebrating All Saints Sunday on November 1 but there will be no communion.

Reservations are required for everyone. 

So that we can plan to seat everyone who wants to come safely, we must ask you to make reservation at least 48 hours in advance.  We need your name and the number/names of people attending with you.  Family units can be seated together, but we are required to space other attenders at least six feet apart. When we reach our maximum capacity (around 18-20 depending upon family units), we will start a wait list for a second service at 9 am.  If enough people are interested in a second service, you will be contacted to confirm.  You will have to make a new reservation each week by noon on Friday.

You will have to observe safety protocols.

Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:4)

  1. No one will be admitted without a face covering. Disposable masks will be available at the church if you don’t have one.  You must keep the mask in place the entire time you are in the building.  This is a mandate from the North Texas Conference that we had to agree to in order to re-open.  There are no exceptions.
  2. We will practice social distancing – no congregating in the entry, seating will be spaced at least 6 feet apart. You will be escorted by an usher to a reserved seat.  We will meter at the front door to avoid crowding and when the service is over, we will leave row by row as directed by an usher.  No hugging or shaking hands.  *Please note: While we all understand the deep need for fellowship, it is most safely done outside with social distancing and masks.
  3. The restrooms will be restricted to one person at a time, using an “Occupied/Available” sign on the door.
  4. Please bring your own Bible. Hymnals and pew Bibles have been packed away for safety.
  5. Hand sanitizing stations will be available.

 Be prepared for a service that is very different than usual.

We are following guidelines from the Texas Department of Health Services and the Centers for Disease Control for houses of worship to keep our church family safe.  In addition to the safety protocols outlined above, here are some of the changes you can expect:

  • The church will be professionally cleaned before November 1. We will be looking for volunteers at each service to assist with disinfecting touch points before and after the service.
  • No bulletins or hymnals. The order of worship, hymns and readings will be projected on the screen.
  • For safety, the choir will remain on hiatus through the end of the year. We will have special music from socially distanced soloists and small groups.
  • We will have hymns led by Taylor and others but we ask you not to sing. Experts have concerns about congregational singing as a source of virus spread.
  • There will be no attendance books. We will have cards in the entry for you to record your attendance.
  • We will not pass the offering plate. It will be placed on a table at the back of the sanctuary for you to drop in your tithes and offerings.
  • There will be no Sunday School at this time.
  • Nursery/child care will not be available.
  • When Communion resumes (to be determined), we will use individual cups and wafers.

Although our service may look and feel different, what a joy it will be to gather together again!   We are looking forward to seeing those who feel comfortable attending.  We want to assure those who remain at home, however, that physical presence does not define our church or our worship.  We are one in the Spirit and we worship as one family.  Thanks be to God!

If you have questions, please call Pastor Deniece (469-247-6215) or Ginger Nichols (972-740-6055).