Jason Earle, Armando Lopez, Michelle Rader

September 03, 2020

Members from our Executive Team have heard you - and here's what's next for weekend gatherings this fall.  Want to learn more or have questions?  View the response on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/454158615

Join the team for a Virtual Town Hall on Wednesday, September 9 at 7pm to learn more from our COVID-19 response team and to get your questions answered. Register: https://damascus.infellowship.com/Forms/444563

Jason Earle

June 22, 2020

As you may be aware, the Governor officially announced the state’s transition to phase two for those counties that are ready. Frederick County also moved to phase two allowing retail businesses and personal services to operate up to 50% capacity (with masking and 6-foot distancing). Religious facilities are able to accommodate 50% capacity, up to 250 people. The gathering rule of 10 or under is still in effect for meetings/gatherings in social settings.  

As a church leadership team, our desire to ensure we prioritize the safety of the congregation. As we consider whether to reinstitute in-person services, we also have to weigh the quality of the experience which would currently need to include masking, six-foot distancing, no or limited singing, no Children’s Ministry, and no fellowship in the lobby. In essence, the worship service would be very different from the experience we all know and love.  

At this time, we’re going to continue to devote our effort to delivering high-quality online services and events. God has allowed us to reach many more people with the gospel message. The soonest we would institute in-person worship services would be early fall. Another update will be provided in late July.  

We will be holding a drive-in event on campus on July 18th which will feature worship and a message. More details to come. Small groups are encouraged to meet outside if every member of the group is comfortable, otherwise, continue to meet over Zoom. If you are comfortable with hosting a worship service watch party on your lawn or in your home, feel free to invite friends and neighbors. Let’s use this time to re-discover the art of neighboring and look for ways to build relationships with our neighbors. For a resource with ideas on reaching your neighbors, click here: Neighboring Toolkit.  

Please check out the website for ways to serve: www.damascus.com/events and to join a new online small group small group catalog.

We miss seeing your faces! While it’s hard not being together in-person, we trust that God is growing us and still using us to build His Kingdom. After all the Church isn’t a building, it’s an unstoppable movement!

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

Rajendra Pillai, Armando Lopez, Jason Earle

May 15, 2020

On Wednesday, Governor Hogan announced the “safer at home” phase, lifting the stay-at-home order and transitioning the state into phase one. This new phase allows retailers, some personal services (hair salons) and houses of worship to operate up to 50% capacity with masking and social distancing. However, the Governor made clear that the application of gradual re-opening is determined by county government officials and the Frederick County Executive recently announced that the stay-at-home order will be effective until May 29th.

As the county moves forward, our leadership teams are actively looking at all options on ways we can meet while ensuring safety for everyone. This would translate into new ways of doing community. Watch for more information on this in the weeks ahead.

As we anticipate moving into phase one in a few weeks, we will explore the feasibility of a “drive-in” event as well as how smaller ministry teams may be able to meet outside while maintaining social distance.

Join us in praying for our state and local leaders as none of this is easy. Whatever steps we take, we will do so with the objective of protecting the health and safety of our congregation in alignment with local guidelines.

In these moments, we remember the words of Jesus to His disciples in Luke 21:13 – “this will be an opportunity for you to testify.” We are planning to double-down on our mission to proclaim Christ and present everyone mature in Him! (Colossians 1:28).