April 2021 Update – Postponement of Gatherings

Both Locations:  Hollywood Campus and Harmony Toluca Lake Campus

As so many places in our County begin to slowly open up, with limits, the question of when we will return to in-person worship is ever present.

The answer is: we are cautiously hopeful for worship in the sanctuary to begin this fall.

That said, returning in person will not look the same as it did in February, 2020.  Reservations will need to be made online each week by Thursday afternoon. You will have to be seated by an usher and likely not in “your” regular seat.  Masks will be worn by all and no congregational singing will happen, at least at first.

And…..there won’t be any coffee in the courtyard. Nor, I’m afraid, any cake.

As more and more people get vaccinated and herd immunity builds, these prohibitions may change between now and re-opening.  But for now, these are our projections.

Also, just as we have placed enormous effort into first going online from home, and then moving to Sunday live streaming; there is an incredible amount of work to do before re-opening.  We need to relocate our media team from the floor of the sanctuary up to the balcony.  A reservation system needs to be developed, as do our offering and attendance systems (no more passing plates!)  And our children’s ministry needs to be re-invented for our new realities.

The sanctuary is being mapped for socially distanced seating and choir/music placement.  An overall strategic plan for reopening is being developed which will need approval by our Board of Trustees, our Governance Board, and our District Superintendent.

So, know that as much as we too are eager to see you and greet you in person, we will wait until we have the plans in place to do so safely.  Also know that even when we do come back in person, we will continue to live stream our services on Sunday morning at 11 am.

Meantime, watch for some special parking lot “camp meetings” happening this summer.  I covet your prayers as we plan for this next phase of ministry in the heart of Hollywood.

Please be with us for LIVE worship services at the links below:  

 10:30am on Harmony Toluca Lake Page 

11am on HollywoodUMC Page