December 18th, 2020 - Message from PV
Good evening Pleasant View, as promised, we have an update concerning our deeply loved church family. We thank you for your attention and patience as we navigate through these difficult decisions.
In light of a recent surge in COVID cases affecting over 30 members of the congregation and staff, and;
Looking ahead to the upcoming Christmas and New Year’s holidays, which provide extra and atypical opportunities for the virus to spread, and,
Understanding that is a priority for this Ministry Team to help ensure adequate staff in the coming weeks to properly enact Sunday services, and;
Having heard input from health professionals who are advising extra caution based upon several factors including conditions at the local hospital, and,
In recognition of the fact that Pleasant View Church has been operating at or near full capacity, but with reduced staff and volunteers since June, 2019, resulting in increased workload for that duration,
It is the decision of the Ministry Team to close PV services for (4) weeks, starting this Sunday, December 20th. That means that there will be no, in house, Sunday services this Sunday, December 20th, and we will re-open on Sunday January 17th.
Of course, we will continue to offer our Bible based services via livestream and YouTube and we welcome you to join us at PleasantVChurch.com. The 9:30 service will be live, and will then be posted to YouTube to allow viewing at any time.
During this closure, the church will be closed to all public, community events, however, we will continue to allow the use of the building for private gatherings. This means that if you rented the All Purpose Hall for a dinner or Christmas party, you are still allowed to utilize the building for that purpose. Of course, we recommend that you follow CDC guidelines and meet in the manner that you deem appropriate, and best for your family.
The building will continue to undergo Green Speed hygiene treatment ensuring the safety of subsequent groups as they use the building.
Again, to summarize, PV will not have in building services starting December 20th, until we re-open on January 17th, 2021. Please join us via livestream or YouTube during this brief closure and we are excited to begin the new year, in worship and fellowship, together and in person, in 2021.
Thank you for your prayers and support,
Pleasant View Ministry Team
December 4th, 2020 - Message from PV
It is past time for some communication addressing current health conditions and PV’s intentions moving forward. We thank you all for your grace and patience in a time when it feels as though every move is being scrutinized and evaluated. We know there are no perfect people, no perfect churches, no perfect plans, etc. However, we do serve a perfect God. We have His perfect Word, and praise God, we have been given His perfect Son and amazing grace to all who receive Him.
We remember God’s direction, from His Word as it pertains to meeting as a local church body. We are commanded to encourage each other towards love and good deeds, (Hebrews 10:24), and to continue to meet together, as a church (Hebrews 10:25); we are told to help one another work through our problems, (Galatians 6:2); we are to teach and admonish each other, (Colossians 3:16); we are to praise God together, (Psalm 150: 1-6) and so much more.
We desire to follow God’s commands and that is why we are committed to staying open as a church, to praise and worship our Lord together.
However, we also recognize that current conditions require a thoughtful approach. There have been several members of PV who have come down with Covid-19 and we are praying for their quick recovery. Some have reported feeling as though they were hit by a truck and others stated that the virus caused little more than a mild cold. Regardless, the impact on work, school, childcare, and family is almost always severe.
In response to an upswing in illness we are reinstating many of our earlier protocols to help reduce passing the virus between members. You will hopefully recognize the following and remember that many of these are quite simple to follow, they just require a little effort from all of us. You may notice we will be putting signs back up to help us all remember.
As always, If you are experiencing any COVID-19 related symptoms; fever, coughing, shortness of breath, fatigue, etc..; or believe you have been exposed, please follow CDC guidelines found here: COVID-19: When to Quarantine | CDC
And of course, we would love if you would continue to join us online at PleasantVChurch.com during this period.
We are still asking all who are able, to park in the lower two lots. This allows the upper lots for our more senior members as well as those who need to park closer to the building.
We have been sanitizing the building and all surfaces since we first opened in June and will continue to do so. In case you’ve forgotten Pleasant View has contracted with an outside company and they are using a sanitation system called, GreenSpeed Hygiene System. This system has been used in hospitals for years and is being used by other churches at this time. After application, GreenSpeed continues to sanitize all surfaces for an entire month. This means that after one service vacates the auditorium, your seat, and anything else you may contact, will be sanitized before you even arrive.
We are again recommending that everyone avoid physical contact with those outside of your household. This would include handshakes, hugs, etc…
Service start times remain unchanged, (9:30 and 11:00am) but their durations are now shortened from 1 hr to 45 minutes. This means that services will be from 9:30-10:15 and from 11:00-11:45. This allows 45 minutes between services for arrival and departure and will reduce congestion.
We continue to refrain from passing the offering plates. We ask instead that, if you are able, and as God prompts, please give through our Realm Connect program, or use the offering box that is at the Welcome Desk. This box will be available before, during, and after the service.
We ask that, if you are able, before or after the service, please fellowship outside of the building, in the front yard, or anywhere else that may suit. Yes, it’s getting colder, so you might want to bundle up. If you have small children and are uncomfortable being so near the road, we understand if you need to use the lobby or the park area in the back of the building.
There will be no food or drink offered within the building at this time, but you are welcome to bring your own. Yes, that means the coffee bar will be closed again for the time being. If you choose to bring your own food or beverage, please keep it with you at all times.
There will be no bulletins handed out, but there will be a stack of sermon notes on the Welcome Desk if you are interested. You may also choose to print out sermon notes from home, ahead of time, or view them on your phone during the service. Additionally, all materials will be removed from the seatbacks, so if you bring your own notes, bring a pen as well.
We are again going to close off every other pew. As you fill in the auditorium, we ask that you please, fill in from the front back, and if you are the first to a pew, please sit towards the middle so that remaining options exist at either end. Households are encouraged to sit together to save space.
In the event of an overfull auditorium, we will utilize auxiliary seating which is available, in our two large classrooms, (equipped with screens streaming the service) for certain staff and volunteer members.
Our children’s department, KidZone, has not stopped in following their safety protocols and will continue to serve our members and their children for as long as they have the staff to do so. A detailed description of that plan can be found on Realm, at our website, pleasantVchurch.com, and on the KidZone Facebook page.
Finally, the biggest change to our protocol is that we are now recommending that all participants wear masks while inside the church. You will notice that all in leadership will be striving to lead by example in this area. We understand that this is a difficult decision and we hope you realize that there is really no perfect solution, and someone will probably be upset no matter what we decide. It has not escaped our notice that many of our prominent members have been absent from the building for months. Our church family has been wounded and we are trying everything to heal. We hope that each of you understands how important you are to the body of Christ. Every member is vital and we strongly desire to see our beloved church healthy and well again in every sense of the word.
We serve an amazing God. He has given us everything we need. He will see us through.
We thank you so much for your attention to these adjustments. We are so grateful for your grace, patience, and understanding. We will be communicating more frequently as new challenges arise and simply to keep everyone informed.
We hope to see you soon.
Pleasant View Church Leadership
June 14th, 2020 – Message from PV
Re-opening plan for the Church
Pleasant View friends and family, we have watched in wonder as God has worked His will throughout
America and the world in these uncertain times. We are daily reminded of something that many outside
of our country know intrinsically; that God works in bad times just as much as in good, and maybe
more so. We serve an amazing God.
Now it is time for the next chapter in this story; it is time to re-open the doors of Pleasant View.
Beginning on Sunday, June 21st, 2020, Pleasant View will be opening its doors for worship.
We are so grateful to all of those in leadership who worked so hard to bring the same, Bible based,
Christ-centered content you have come to expect from Pleasant View. We will continue to offer this
Biblical teaching and Christ-centered worship, online, as we move forward towards communal worship
within our building.
It is important to note, we will not be simply opening the doors and diving back in as normal. There will
be some ongoing changes as we work towards our goal in phases. Please take the time to read
through this statement in its entirety as that will help greatly in adjusting to some differences.
First, and foremost: God is our focus. He is the reason for everything that we do. We are not trying to
make any political statements, we are not trying to take any popular stand, we are, and always will be,
striving to follow the commands God has given us in the Bible. We are commanded to encourage each
other towards love and good deeds, (Hebrews 10:24), and to continue to meet together, as a church
(Hebrews 10:25); we are told to help one another work through our problems, (Galatians 6:2); we are to
teach and admonish each other, (Colossians 3:16); we are to praise God together, (Psalm 150: 1-6) and
so much more.
We desire to follow God’s commands in this area and that is why we are re-opening.
The following is intended to help you understand what changes are being made and the easiest way to
transition back inside PV.
If you are experiencing any COVID-19 related symptoms; fever, coughing, shortness of breath, fatigue,
etc..; please continue to join us online at PleasantVChurch.com
When you arrive at Pleasant View, you must park in the two lower lots. These are the lots to the left of
the building, behind the cemetery. To reach them, simply circle the building counter-clockwise, (to the
right), and you will see the entrance. The only exceptions to this parking restriction are for the elderly or
infirmed. They may park in the upper lot, if they so choose. As you walk towards the building, you will
notice new signs along the path, at the entrance, and inside the building. These signs will have the
main changes listed as reminders and for quick reference.
Pleasant View has contracted with an outside company to sanitize our building and all surfaces within.
This company will be using a sanitation system called, GreenSpeed Hygiene System. This system has
been used in hospitals for years and is being used by other churches at this time. After application,
GreenSpeed will continue to sanitize all surfaces for an entire month. This means that after one service
vacates the auditorium, your seat, and anything else you may contact, will be sanitized before you even
arrive.
At this time, we are recommending that everyone avoid physical contact with those outside of your
household. This would include handshakes, hugs, etc…
The use of masks, or other PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) is welcome, but is not required for
staff, volunteers, or guests. A box of extra masks, (if they can be procured) will be placed by the
entrance for any who may have forgotten theirs, or would like to wear one. Our front doors will be
propped open.
Service start times remain unchanged, (9:30 and 11:00am) but their duration will be shortened from 1
hr to 45 minutes. This means that services will be from 9:30-10:15 and from 11:00-11:45. This will allow
45 minutes between services for arrival and departure and will reduce congestion.
We will not be passing the offering plates for tithes and financial gifts at this time. We ask instead that,
if you are able, and as God prompts, please give through our Realm Connect program, or use the
offering box that will be placed at the Welcome Desk. This box will be available before, during, and
after the service.
We ask that, if you are able, before or after the service, please fellowship outside of the building, in the
front yard, or anywhere else that may suit. If you have small children and are uncomfortable being so
near the road, we understand if you need to use the lobby or the park area in the back of the building.
There will be no food or drink offered within the building at this time, but you are welcome to bring
your own. If you choose to do so, please keep it with you at all times. Do not leave any food or drink
unattended.
There will be no bulletins handed out, instead we invite you to print out Pastor Jay’s sermon notes
from home, ahead of time, or view them on your phone during the service. Additionally, all materials
will be removed from the seatbacks, so if you bring your own notes, bring a pen as well.
Within the Auditorium, we are asking congregants to respect each other’s space and we will help by:
closing off every other pew. As you fill in the auditorium we ask that you please, fill in from the front
back, and if you are the first to a pew, please sit towards the middle so that remaining options exist at
either end. Households are encouraged to sit close together to save space.
In the event of a “packed house” we will be initiating a planned reorganization of the auditorium which
will be explained, prior to the service beginning, by Pastor Jay. We will also have auxiliary seating
available, in our two large classrooms, (equipped with screens streaming the service) for certain staff
and volunteer members.
Our children’s department, KidZone, will be re-opening simultaneously and a detailed description of
that plan can be found on Realm, at our website, here, and on the KidZone Facebook
page.
We thank you so much for your attention to these adjustments. We are so grateful for your grace,
patience, and understanding and we could not be more excited to begin meeting again, in person
starting June 21st, 2020. If you are uncomfortable meeting at this time, please do not feel obligated to
return. We realize that everyone has different thoughts and emotions at this time and we promise to
strive to live in peace with one another, as commanded in Romans 12:18. Remember that our doors,
and our hearts will be wide open when you decide to visit.
These changes will be continually fluctuating as time goes on and new challenges arise or dissipate and
we thank you again for your understanding.
We hope to see you soon.
Any questions or concerns please feel free to reach out to leadership via Realm or by using this email address: pleasantviewinfo@pleasantvchurch.com
Pleasant View Church Leadership Team
April 2nd, 2020 - Message from PV
Updated Message from Pleasant View Leadership
It is my hope and prayer that you all are doing and feeling well during this challenging time for all of us! As some of you may know, the ministry, business, online-filming, and editing teams as well as the task force team at Pleasant View have been meeting via technology to make every attempt that we as a body can stay connected on Sunday mornings. We sincerely hope that you join us each Sunday and participate in the chat room where we can connect with each other. Although it may not be as sweet a fellowship as it was a few weeks ago, I challenge you to remember that our God is in complete control. This is absolutely stretching all of us, but God can and will use us in so many unique ways that we never anticipated! This is our time to shine as Jesus’ hands and feet being there for family members, neighbors, and those in need.
As you know, we have been given a stay-at-home order through the end of April. In light of this daunting news, we plan to continue with our Sunday morning taped services at least through this time period. We will communicate with you when the online services will return to onsite services. What a SWEET reunion that Sunday morning will be!
For Pleasant View congregants, please reach out to your small group leaders, deacons or pastors if there is anything we can do to help you during this time of quarantine. Also, please remember to use this time to connect with friends, family and neighbors who don’t know Christ. It is He who gives us peace! So invite everyone to come join us online on Sunday mornings. It really is a “come as you are” service right now! God’s Word brings peace and frees us from the fear that so many are dealing with at the present time.
We are working towards live streaming the service. We hope to have this up and running within a few weeks. Click here for the link for the Sunday stream. Remember, the services are at 9:30 AM and 11 AM EST. You can also locate the video on our Church YouTube Channel or in the Sermons section of this website to watch anytime after the service times, or in the event of any technical issues with our online service.
Thank you so much! Stay strong and stay in the Word. This can be a time when we all grow so much in our faith! Watch for other resources like KidZone lessons via the Youtube channel and our upcoming Good Friday service!
Tom Wise Pastor of Worship
March 19th, 2020 - Message from PV
COVID-19 Message from Pleasant View Leadership
The Coronavirus is a serious public health issue that we as a Leadership Team have been monitoring very closely each day. As you all know the government has taken drastic measures in an attempt to contain the virus and stop its spread. The government has asked that all gatherings of ten or more people be stopped as an additional measure to contain the virus.
Due to these measures we as a Leadership Team have decided to take the following steps:
All Church services are cancelled for the next four weeks effective immediately
- We will be doing online services starting Sunday March 22nd with more details to follow later this week. Online services will continue until we are able to meet in person again. We will work to make sure these online services are done as professional as possible but please be patient as we work through the challenges of setting them up.
- Cancellations include all reservations of the church, Night of Worship and programs where ten or more meet such as Jr. High (Ignite). Ignite is looking at doing a Sunday lesson online, we'll communicate the details as they become clear.
- Hearts for Hunger will continue to operate to provide food to those still in need. They will however be changing the delivery of the food to minimize contact.
Small Groups and Senior High Youth Group please meet at your discretion
- Each small group should decide on their own if they would like to meet. We understand the importance of still having a connection during this time we just ask that you use good judgement and common sense.
- Joel and Cali, our Youth Leaders, will be in communication with parents to discuss if they would like to continue to meet. If you are a parent of a Senior High Youth please feel free to reach out to Joel and Cali to discuss how to proceed.
We will reevaluate and communicate any additional changes as quickly as we can
- As the situation still unfolds we are uncertain if four weeks will be enough time. We as a Leadership Team will keep evaluating the situation and make adjustments as needed. We will do our best to communicate any changes to the church in a timely manner.
We understand with this announcement there may be some that are upset we are taking such drastic steps. We want to acknowledge that these are very drastic steps but we feel they are the correct steps to be obedient to the authorities that God has placed us under (Romans 13) and to ensure the safety of our Church members, especially our elder members.
During times of uncertainty and fear we have to always remember, we serve a BIG God, a God much bigger than any issue we face including the Coronavirus. In these moments we can't live in fear, but instead need to live in faith and know that God is going to see us through this time of uncertainty.
Proverbs 3:5-6 states, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
Philippians 4:6-7 states "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
We need to replace our fear with faith, we need to replace our anxiety with trust in the God that knit us in our mother's womb. He will grant us peace through this moment of uncertainty.
Lastly we want everyone to do something some may find odd. Look at this time with optimism as this is a great opportunity to exercise our faith and our belief in our
powerful God. This is also a time when we as a Church can shine to a world that is turned upside-down by these recent events. Pray and look for opportunities
to share the hope and light of our God who keeps us stable through these times. Despite our separation remember we remain a church body! We can still serve each other in prayer and other ways despite not meeting together in a church building.
Any questions or concerns please feel free to reach out to leadership via Realm or by using this email address: pleasantviewinfo@pleasantvchurch.com
Pleasant View Church Leadership Team