Worship Guidelines

Worship Guidelines at Westover Hills UMC

Updated March 2022

With joy we greet friends, neighbors, seekers and weary travelers to worship! Here is what you can expect when you attend a worship service at WHUMC in this season:

  • Masking is advised but not required. We ask that persons not living in the same household continue to practice distancing and limiting physical contact (handshake, hugging). 
  • Each person attending, as well as all volunteers, will be asked to self-screen health requirements listed on a poster at the entrances. Parents/guardians are asked to monitor their children, for COVID-19 symptoms (e.g., fever above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, sore throat, headache, muscle pain, gastrointestinal issues, chills, and new loss of taste and/or smell). If any symptoms appear, please remain at home or exit the worship service, notifying an usher.  Anyone that has been knowingly exposed to COVID in the past ten days is asked to wear a mask. 
  • When we celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion on first Sundays and other special days, we will offer communion with bread and individual cups or juice. We will also have pre-packaged communion elements (a wafer and grape juice) available for those who prefer them.
  • Nursery for children ages 4 and under is open. Caregivers are wearing masks. Masks are not required for children.  Children of all ages may also choose to stay with their families in worship.  Noise is expected! 
  • Children’s small group begins after the children’s message during worship except for first Sundays, when children remain in worship for communion. ON days where children’s small group is help, children ages 5 through 5th grade are invited to leave the sanctuary with that day’s adult leader.  Children are not required to wear masks, but parents may choose to have their own children wear a mask.  Effort will be made to maintain distance between children during small group time.  Children who wish to remain in “big” worship may certainly do so. 
  • Four gender-neutral, fully accessible restrooms are available on the ground floor. Handicapped parking is available in the paved parking lot behind Tablespoons Bakery, with level sidewalks leading to the front of the church. 
  • There is no dress code for worship. Some choose to dress informally and some more formally.  All are welcome!