By popular demand, we have created a Lenten Photo-a-Day Challenge!

Sarah Matos and Pastor Mark (mostly Sarah) came up with the words for each day based upon scripture and traditional Lenten words & symbols. To participate, all you have to do is find a picture that you think/feel reflects, interprets and/or coincides with the “word” of the day and then post it on the church’s Facebook group page: Oly First Baptist (Community)

No explanations are needed for what you post. The only thing we ask is to stay away from making “political” statements through your visuals.

If you have questions about that, please talk to Pastor Mark, for clarification! Our focus is on God’s Reign & Kingdom.

Day 1: Prayer
Day 2: Anoint
Day 3: Treasure
Day 4: Consume
Day 5: Prepare
Day 6: Voice
Day 7: Wilderness
Day 8: Forgiveness
Day 9: Baptism
Day 10: Beloved
Day 11: Wait
Day 12: Teach
Day 13: Suffering
Day 14: Rejection
Day 15: Divine
Day 16: Cross
Day 17: Follow
Day 18: Glory
Day 19: Worship
Day 20: Love
Day 21: Rest
Day 22: Honor
Day 23: Home
Day 24: Freedom
Day 25: Holy
Day 26: Belief
Day 27: Light
Day 28: Life
Day 29: Heaven
Day 30: Clarity
Day 31: Truth
Day 32: Presence
Day 33: Service
Day 34: Hospitality
Day 35: Gift
Day 36: Celebration
Day 37: Grief
Day 38: Obedient
Day 39: Destroy
Day 40: Search
Day 41: Faithfulness
Day 42: Devotion
Day 43: Blessed
Day 44: Table
Day 45: Neighbor
Day 46: Restoration
Day 47: Hop

REOPENING GUIDELINES

Update as of 11-7-20:

At this time, we are still working to resolve issues with the boiler. Once that is completed an in-person service will be scheduled.

When in-person service resumes, until and only when we are at Phase 4 as a County, there will be no Sunday School, no mingling in the Narthex and no coffee/fellowship time after the service. We look forward to resuming these other activities in the future, until then we will follow all guidelines set forth from the CDC and the Governor’s office.

Save Your Seat

According the current guidelines, we are limited to 50 worshippers, plus support staff.

You will need to call/email the church office by Thursday of the week you want to attend to reserve a spot in the sanctuary for worship.

We will maintain a weekly list and a permanent list.

If you plan to attend every week, ask to be on the “permanent” list and you will not have to call each week. Also, if you cannot attend after making a reservation, please let us know ASAP, so someone else can take your place. This is not ideal, but it is the best way for us, currently.

What To Expect

In preparation for our reopening, the Church will have been professionally sanitized and most items (not nailed down) will have been removed from the sanctuary, such as Bibles, hymnals, pencils and no bulletins will be distributed. HOWEVER, you are encouraged to bring your own bible and a copy of the order of service, which you can print off beforehand.

To ensure everyone’s safety we have set the following guidelines and/or practices:

A protective face mask must be worn at all times. The Pastor and special music people will be allowed to remove face covering only while on the chancel/stage.
NO hugging, shaking hands or other direct forms of physical contact.—
Bathrooms will be open but no more than 2 people at a time. Individuals waiting to use the restroom must maintain at least 6 feet of distance between each person outside of the bathroom door.
The Nursery will be closed. The Crib Room will be opened, but without an attendant. It is available for parent(s) who need to use the changing table, access the space to calm/rock their child and/or any other reason. Bleach wipes, hand sanitizer will be available with the expectation that those who use the room, will wipe down what they touched/used when they are done.
Open, offering boxes will be located in the back of the church, near doorways. Offering plates will not be passed around during the service.

Entry and Exit

For the time being, we are limiting entry points to:

Back Ramp Door, off of Washington Street
Downstairs, Alcove door, that leads to the Lift and back stairwell

At each door there will be a designated greeter to offer hand sanitizer and make sure you are wearing a mask (masks will be provided if you don’t have one).

The greeter will also ask the following 3 questions:

(If ANY of these questions apply to you, please stay home for your protection and the protection of others)

Do you have or have you had any cold or flu-like symptoms in the last 14 days (to include fever, cough, sore throat, respiratory illness, difficulty breathing, loss of smell or taste)?
Have you recently traveled (within the last 14 days) from an area with community transmission of COVID-19?
Have you had close contact with or cared for someone diagnosed with COVID-19 within the last 14 days?

*** NO one will be allowed to enter the building who answers positive to ANY of these questions ***

As you enter the building, please maintain 6 ft. physical distancing by observing any of the tape markings on the floor(s).
Move directly to the sanctuary to sit in the pews clearly marked. Family/household units may sit together without maintaining physical distance. All others will be required to maintain 6-foot physical distancing, as directed by the Ushers.
After the completion of the service, the pews will be dismissed by rows and congregants will exit the building while maintaining physical distancing.

Other Ways To Worship

For those who are not comfortable being here in person, we will continue broadcasting and streaming live on Facebook Live as well as posting services on the church website. Details on how to access worship through Facebook are provided below.

Join us for Virtual Church! Sunday Service on Facebook Live

To access the service, follow these steps:

Log into Facebook.com or through the Facebook App
Click on Groups (found in left-hand links)
Once in Groups:
If you're already in the OFBC group, click on link on left
If you need to find the group, type: Olympia First Baptist Church into the search bar

Screenshots below for reference.

See you at church!