Fairmont Responds

Our Reopening Plans

Fairmont’s Session, Worship Team, and Staff are very happy to announce that we are in the process of planning our in-person worship services. We will use three phases to open in-person services. We will follow the rules and guidelines from Ohio’s governor and our Fairmont medical advisors.

Phase I: We will begin in-person services April 18th at 9:00 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. The service will be a blending of the contemporary and traditional services. We will continue our very successful 10:30 a.m. streaming service (the Sanctuary will remain closed to the congregation). Face masks and social distancing will be followed. We will not have coffee time and we will not sing.

Phase II: Beginning May 16th, we will hold in-person services at 8:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall AND at 10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary. We will also stream this service at 10:30 a.m. while people are in the Sanctuary. We will have large, flat screen monitors mounted in the Sanctuary to enrich your worship experience in the Sanctuary. The balcony and main floor will be open for seating. Face masks and social distancing will be followed. We will not have coffee time and we will not sing.

Phase III: will be the elimination of face masks and social distancing. We will sing and will have coffee hour in Phase III. The Session, Worship Team, and Fairmont Staff want the re-opening to be a happy, joyous time for everyone.

If you have any suggestions, concerns, or questions, please call a Worship Team member:
Kimberly Gunlock 937-885-7080
Pete Shafer 937-689-0364
Cindy Youngerman, Chairman 937-433-2728

From Rev. Brian Maguire

Christ is Risen!

And so shall we!

On Sunday April 18, at 9:00 a.m. we will resume in-person worship in the fellowship hall at our causal service.

Then, on Sunday May 16 at 10:30 a.m. we will resume in-person worship in our sanctuary for our traditional service.

This reopening has been a long time coming and is possible thanks to the dedicated efforts of health professionals in our community and the increasing population of vaccinated adults. Fairmont’s session, has decided that although Covid-19 remains a real public health risk, with proper safeguards we can resume public in-person worship with a reasonable degree of safety.

We will still be following recommended public safety guidelines to reduce risks. You will be required to wear a face mask in worship, and one will be provided to you if you do not have one. You will be asked to sit approximately six feet apart from other household groups and alternating pews will be roped off. There will be no congregational or choral singing, at least initially. If you experience flu-like symptoms, we ask you to join us online that Sunday instead of in-person. We will not be holding coffee hour, at least initially. And we ask you to practice extra hand hygiene both by washing and with the newly added sanitizer stations throughout the church. Please understand that these safeguards are especially necessary to protect those in our community, like children, who are not presently vaccinated. They are simple gestures of mutual care and love.

We also recognize that many people will not feel comfortable returning to in-person worship. The Covid-19 pandemic will be with us, albeit at a less intense level, for a long time to come. Our online ministry presence has been valued by so many people both here in Dayton and across the country. Accordingly, we are continuing our online worship services at 10:30 a.m. every Sunday without interruption as a permanent part of our ministry.

It has been a long and lonely year for many. The church building seems oddly empty without the church, which is you. It is a delight to finally say, please join us for worship starting on April 18 for the early service and May 16 for the traditional service in-person at Fairmont!

Our Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic