{"id":24791,"date":"2020-05-11T19:22:22","date_gmt":"2020-05-11T19:22:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sangabpres.org\/?p=24791"},"modified":"2023-08-01T15:20:23","modified_gmt":"2023-08-01T15:20:23","slug":"reflection-reopening","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sangabpres.org\/reflection-reopening\/","title":{"rendered":"Reflection: Reopening?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.22″ transparent_background=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_has_shadow=”on” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”750px” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”on” width_unit=”on” custom_width_px=”750px”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_button button_url=”http:\/\/sangabpres.org\/?page_id=3027″ button_text=”Return to Reflections” button_alignment=”right” _builder_version=”3.16″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”14″ button_text_color=”#e09900″ button_border_color=”#e09900″ background_layout=”dark” button_letter_spacing_hover=”0″ button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”on” button_letter_spacing__hover=”0″ button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_post_title categories=”off” comments=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.87″ parallax_effect=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”][\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” disabled_on=”on|on|off” _builder_version=”3.23.4″ height=”4px” hide_on_mobile=”on”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.4″ header_font=”|on|||” header_font_size=”66px” header_line_height=”1.7em” text_orientation=”justified” max_width=”750px” hover_enabled=”0″ use_border_color=”off”]
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When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, \u201cPeace be with you.\u201d<\/h2>\n

John 20:19<\/em><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

This last week nearly every state in the country has practiced some form of \u201creopening,\u201d following its own set of phases and preconditions to determine the safest way to allow for more mobility and business interaction.\u00a0 You can review the slide presentations for the State<\/strong><\/a> and the County<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

I believe this has led to massive confusion.\u00a0 Guidelines are developed state by state, sometimes by city and\/or county, and they are not consistent.\u00a0 I happened to go to an outdoor shopping area, to pick up some food at a very small takeout restaurant, who had two other customers, neither of whom were wearing masks.\u00a0 Actually, I felt most uncomfortable with one customer who was \u201cwearing\u201d a mask, pulled down around his neck so that he could speak vociferously and constantly as he moved back and forth around the food counter, at one point almost bumping into me.<\/p>\n

The State of California allows for some variance in county guidelines.\u00a0 So, for instance, though the State allows for curbside retail business interactions, San Francisco does not.\u00a0 Though the State hopes that schools and colleges and universities may welcome students back to the classroom by late summer or early fall as part of \u201cStage 2,\u201d Los Angeles County is including schools as part of \u201cStage 3.\u201d\u00a0 And while the State lists FOUR phases, Los Angeles County lists FIVE\u2014but on closer examination, it seems that \u201cStage 5\u201d is simply the declaration of \u201cfully normal operations,\u201d whereas the State includes the opening of concerts, conventions, and live audience sports events as the \u201cend of stay-at-home order.\u201d<\/p>\n

For churches, this has been confusing because, for instance, Los Angeles County does not mention in-person worship services.\u00a0 However, the State does, as part of Stage 3, along with hair and nail salons and movie theaters.\u00a0 Since the County lists salons and theaters in Stage 3 (along with schools), I believe that in-person worship is not allowed until \u201cStage 3,\u201d and the State or the County are NOT giving any indication of a date for reaching Stage 3.<\/strong>\u00a0 Though I hesitate to anticipate anything since things change from day to day, I would expect that Stage 2, which has just started, will be settled and analyzed for Coronavirus increases before Stage 3 is considered.<\/p>\n

The County continues to state, in an overview of the May 8th<\/sup> revision, \u201cAll indoor and outdoor public and private gatherings and events are prohibited.\u201d\u00a0 And even though some retail shops have been allowed to open, they are not to allow customers inside the store.<\/p>\n

As each sector reopens, the County has set protocols which will be tailored to its specific circumstances.\u00a0 I expect that when it is time for churches to begin in-person worship services, guidelines will be developed along these lines, including things like (not a comprehensive list):<\/p>\n