Gathering Guidelines
Welcome back, Willow! After over a year, we’re so excited to gather in-person for weekend services and kids and student programs. We closely monitor CDC guidelines and state mandates and have been working tirelessly with medical professionals and local officials to make this a safe experience for all who attend.
Here's the most recent update (May 14, 2021) about our gathering guidelines from Senior Pastor Dave Dummitt!
Hey, Willow!
It has been life-giving to gather and worship in person as a church family with health and safety as a top priority.
You may be aware that yesterday, the CDC released new guidelines stating that fully vaccinated people can gather in most indoor and outdoor spaces without masks—this is a big milestone.
Starting this Sunday, May 16, we are moving to a mask-optional policy at all Willow locations (except our South Lake and Chicago campuses) for adults who are fully vaccinated. Masks will still be required for kids and students over the age of 2 and for those who are not yet fully vaccinated.
We recognize this is exciting for some and may cause anxiety for others, and we are committed to providing a safe environment for everyone attending in person. Each of our Willow locations will have a designated space where masks are still required. If you are not vaccinated or prefer to be around those who are wearing masks, we invite you to sit in these areas.
While the mask policy has shifted, our commitment to your health and safety remains unchanged. We will maintain a high level of cleaning and sanitation before and after events and gatherings, have hand sanitizer readily available, and encourage social distancing in our auditoriums and lobby. If you have any cold/flu symptoms or have been exposed to COVID-19, please join us online.
Regardless of your perspectives on vaccines and masks, let’s keep compassion, kindness, and grace at the forefront of our actions and attitude.
See you this weekend,
Dave Dummitt
Senior Pastor
Safety Precautions
Your health and safety is a top priority for us! Let's work together to make our weekends a fantastic experience for all who serve and attend.
We will...
- Hold the doors for you to keep the surfaces clean.
- Provide visuals for social distancing by marking off seats, utilizing floor decals, monitoring bathroom capacities, etc.
- Make hand sanitizer readily available.
- Refrain from passing offering baskets to handouts (as always, you can give online!)
- Stagger dismissal to avoid exit bottlenecks.
Out of concern for others, we ask that you kindly...
- Wear a mask at all times unless you are fully vaccinated (in accordance to the CDC's guidelines). If you cannot or do not wish to wear a mask, please join us online!
- Do not attend if you have been exposed to COVID-19 or are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms.
- Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer frequently.
- Maintain proper social distancing and avoid congregating before or after services.
Frequently-Asked Questions
The auditoriums are limited to a maximum of 25% capacity. Rows are blocked off to ensure safe social distancing. We encourage you to only sit directly with members of your own household. We will also provide a designated seating area for individual who wish to keep their masks on.
Doors will open about 15 minutes before the start of the service. If you have children, we ask that you allow 20–30 minutes for check-in.
Please refrain from bringing food or beverages into service at this time.
Here at Willow we strive for best practice and the highest standards of care for our congregation and staff, therefore a masks are required for all kids, students, and unvaccinated adults. If you are fully vaccinated, you are welcome to remove your mask!
Absolutely!
Yes! We are so excited to see your kids and students. In order to safely gather, we do require registration so that we have proper distancing and volunteer ratios. Please view your campus page (linked above) for registration information.
Any child age 2 and older is required to wear a mask.
On site remote viewing will be utilized if we reach capacity in our auditoriums.
We hope to host small- to medium-sized gatherings in the future! At this moment, we are only able to hold worship services and kids/student programs in order to maintain proper cleaning and distancing protocols.
Please notify the church by emailing [email protected] if you test positive after you have attended a service. If we have specific contact information of the infected person, we will notify those in direct contact with them.
Participation Acknowledgement
Last but not least, for the safety of all joining us, we ask that you review, acknowledge, and abide by this participation agreement when attending a Willow Creek service or event:
- There are inherent risks with any gathering, especially if I am considered to be in a high risk category or live with or have daily contact with anyone that is considered to be in a high risk category. I understand these risks and fully assume all responsibility.
- I understand that safety precautions are in place and I agree to abide by all guidelines communicated verbally or in writing.
- I agree to follow COVID-19 prevention guidelines from the CDC, including, but not limited to, frequent hand washing or use of hand sanitizer.
- I agree to wear a mask at all times while indoors at any church campus and/or activity.
- I agree to maintain proper social distancing (at least 6 feet) while indoors or outdoors at any church campus and/or activity.
- I agree not to congregate inside the building. I will go directly to my seat and leave the building immediately after dismissal.
- I agree that I will not visit any church campus or participate in any church activities if any of the following statements are true:
- I or anyone in my household have any underlying health conditions that increase our health risk for COVID-1;
- I or anyone in my household are awaiting COVID-19 test results due to concerns of being infected;
- I or anyone in my household have had any cold or flu-like symptoms, such as fever, cough or shortness of breath, within the last 14 days;
- I or anyone in my household have been in contact* with anyone diagnosed with COVID-19 within the last 14 days;
- I or anyone in my household have travelled internationally in the last 14 days to countries identified by the CDC as Level 2 or Level 3 for COVID-19 risk. The list of level 2 and level 3 countries can be found here
- I, or anyone in my household have travelled to any of the domestic states deemed restricted by the Cook County Department of Public health found here
- I agree in the event I become symptomatic or COVID-19 positive within 14 days after attending a service, I will notify the church via email ([email protected]).