GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH,
A VERY PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE. PSALMS 46:1
[Online Worship Service Details] [Daily Prayers and Messages]
More News and Updates below
September 23, 2020
We are pleased to announce that plans are underway to resume worship services at the Chapel on November 1 with services at 9:00 AM and 10:30 AM. There will be no “Stand-Around” at this time. Masks are required at all times in the Chapel and Broyles Center.
CDC covid guidelines and restrictions will be observed for worship including six [6] feet separation between non-family members.
For the month of October, in-person worship will continue on Sunday at the Terraces.
Online worship services will continue to be available to those wishing to worship in that manner. More details regarding times and access will be made available soon.
Plans for Sunday School classes are being made and will be announced by the leadership of each class. Space within the Chapel for classes will be available beginning October 4. Sunday School groups will also be asked to wear masks and observe safe covid practices. [no coffee or snacks]
June 16, 2020
BIG CANOE CHAPEL RESUMES
Re-open – Re-gather – Rejoice
JUNE 21ST, AT THE TERRACES, AT 9:00 AM
[Worship at the Chapel is Coming Soon]
It will be wonderful to be together again. Join with those you have not seen in a while and celebrate Father’s Day and worship in-person on June 21st at 9:00 AM at the Terraces. [Online worship will continue at 10:00 AM]
We look forward to seeing you at the Terraces. Here is what you can expect:
- Arrive 30 minutes early to allow for parking and the ushers to guide you to a seat which provides for recommended 6 feet distancing.
- Bring your chair, hat, and water bottle.
- Plan to wear a mask. Masks will be provided and can be picked up at the Chapel Office Wednesday or Friday 2:00 – 5:00 or at the Welcome Table on Sunday.
- Expect to hear the Good News from Len along with music led by Lamar.
- Follow the music and lyrics and sing along using your smart phone Chapellink app [download the app prior to the service at bigcanoechapel.org/chapellink-installation]. No bulletin or music will be distributed for safety reasons.
- Please do not hug or shake hands with those you meet, always maintaining distance between you and others. Remember, at some point, this will end,
- Be assured that restrooms and all surfaces have been sanitized and cleaned,
- Expect a service lasting approximately 45 minutes
We hope you will be able to join together for in-person worship at the Terraces and very soon at the Chapel. It will be a joyous and blessed time. However, if you are not feeling well, or if you are medically vulnerable, please stay home and join the online worship.
Len Walker
May 26, 2020 ……
Live Worship Services to restart at the Terraces!
The Board of Trustees under the guidance of our “Reopen Taskforce” have been closely monitoring information regarding Covid-19 trends in our state and locally in Pickens and Dawson County.
Currently, there is still a stay at home edict in the State of Georgia for the medically fragile and for those people over the age of 65 until June 12.
We are planning for a phased re-opening of Big Canoe Chapel. In Phase 1, we are targeting a re-open date of Father’s Day, June 21, 9:00AM at the Terraces (weather permitting), based on the status of new case infections in Pickens and Dawson counties.
We are currently finalizing safety procedures for re-opening and will be communicating next steps to all Chapel members through an eblast, Touchpoint, Facebook, and the Chapel website shortly.
In Phase 2, consideration will be given to opening the chapel building for worship services and small groups following the CDC guideline and new case trends.
Online worship services will continue and we encourage all those that wish to continue online to do so.
May 6, 2020
The Big Canoe Chapel anxiously awaits the day that we can worship the Lord together again in person. The decision to host live services again will be made with great concern and consideration for the congregation’s health needs. When that day comes, we will employ the strictest safety procedures available to us to protect your health.
A Task Force comprised of nine (9) Chapel members has been formed to formulate a plan for our re-opening. The Task Force includes Trustee and Chapel members some with medical expertise. The procedures in place when we reopen and the timing of the re-opening will be based on guidelines from the CDC, the state of Georgia, the national government, and the Christian Law Association. We will take into account the numbers and trends of COVID-19 infections in Pickens and Dawson counties in making the decision.
The decision to reopen will be made with a great deal of caution. To prepare you in advance, we will require that each person attending the live worship services wear a N95 mask to protect themselves and others. The Chapel is purchasing a N95 Mask for each person who will attend a worship service when we reopen. One (1) mask will be provided to each attendee at no cost.
Let us address the question of “When?”. Our plan is to re-open for live services when disease trends and guidelines from the various governing authorities suggest to us that we can safely worship together. We honestly don’t know when that will be. We expect to open first at the Terraces with outdoor services and eventually, as data trends allow, we will worship together again inside the Chapel. The final decision of reopening will be made by the senior pastor and his staff.
To reinforce our guiding principles, your and each congregation member’s health is our greatest priority in making this decision.
May the Lord bless and keep you,
Chapel Re-open Task Force
April 21, 2020
In a recent news conference, Governor Kemp announced that in-person church services will be allowed to resume with strict social distancing rules in place. The Governor went on to say, “I urge faith leaders to continue to help us in this effort and keep their congregations safe by heeding the advice of public health officials”. The Governor added that medically fragile Georgians should make plans to shelter in place through May 13, the day Georgia’s public health emergency expires.
At this time, the Chapel has made no firm plans to resume in-person services. The Chapel leadership is appointing a group to develop details of a conservative, safe, CDC based approach to resume in-person worship services, Sunday Schools and other Chapel activities. The overriding first priority will continue to be the health and safety of everyone.
We will continue to monitor developments in the community, the state, and the nation and we will communicate plans to resume Chapel activities as they are developed. In the meantime, our faith community has been blessed by groups meeting online, and by impressive numbers following the online daily prayers and Sunday worship services. For the present, we urge everyone to stay connected and join together online at bigcanoechapel.org.
May God bless and keep you, and may we be worshiping together in person soon.
Board of Trustees
March 30, 2020
Hopefully everyone saw a recent message from the POA wherein it was “….strongly recommended that use of the Alpha Boxes be discontinued until further notice due to concerns about transmission of the coronavirus. Items currently in the Alpha Boxes will not be destroyed and we would ask that you refrain from putting any items in the Alpha Boxes or removing any items until further notice…..”
We are so very grateful for your faithful offerings which we have received and hope we can return to using the familiar “Alpha Boxes” soon. In the meantime, will you please make your Chapel donations online at bigcanoechapel.org/give. If you prefer, leave your donations in an envelope in the Narthex which is open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4 PM, or mail them to Big Canoe Chapel, 10455 Big Canoe, GA. 30143. Your Trustee ballots, which have a deadline of April 6, may be returned likewise. Your donations allow your Chapel to continue its benevolent services in our local community and around the world. Thank you for your faithfulness.
We hope you will continue to stay in touch with the Chapel though the Sunday online worship at bigcanoechapel.org/online/ and Len’s daily information and prayer video. If you have any difficulty viewing the Chapel’s online services, let us know or visit bigcanoechapel.org/in-touch/.
May God Bless and keep you safe and healthy,
Board of Trustees
March 27, 2020
Recognizing the importance of our member’s health, and complying with all the CDC and government Coronavirus recommendations, for the good of all we have no choice but to indefinitely close all Chapel facilities and cancel all non-virtual meetings – this includes the Chapel Office, library, Broyles Center as well as Sunday Schools and Worship Services. However, the Chapel sanctuary will be open for your personal prayers from 8:00 to 4:00, Monday through Friday. Please use safe practices when entering and do not get close to anyone else who might be present. Most importantly, please don’t enter if you are feeling sick.
We will continue daily on-line updates, prayers, and on-line services filled with Christ’s teachings at 10:00 am each Sunday morning. In this challenging time, we hope you’ll join us.
If you have a need to speak to us, please leave a message at 470-273-6768. The Chapel staff is checking voicemail continuously.
While the Chapel may be temporarily closed, our financial needs continue. Your pledges, tithes, and contributions are more important now than ever. Please consider how you can continue your support by dropping off your checks in the Chapel’s postal facility alpha-box or simply go online at https://bigcanoechapel.org/
Stay well, stay safe, and above all, trust in our Lord.
God Bless,
The Board of Trustees
March 13, 2020
In light of recent announcements and developments concerning the Coronavirus and after much thought, considering various alternatives, and prayer, we have decided to suspend all group gatherings at the Chapel until March 30. This includes Worship services, Sunday School classes, group meetings, and library check-outs. The office will also be closed during this time.
We plan to make worship services available online Sunday, March 22 and Sunday, March 29. Please visit bigcanoechapel.org to view worship services and for other Chapel information, including updates and plans beyond March 30.
As a result of this break, we will miss three Sundays of collections. Any online offerings will be gladly accepted at BigCanoeChapel.org/give . You may also place checks in the Chapel’s alpha box at the Post Office.
We are making this decision after considering developments in the last several days regarding the coronavirus and out of concern for the health and safety of everyone. We will work to provide ongoing worship opportunities for everyone online and will keep you informed of future plans.
Len Walker
Board of Trustees
March 13, 2020
A message from Len….
Check this page regularly for future updates