Mask update:
LA Public Health order is requiring masking for everyone while indoors at public settings & businesses, regardless of vaccination status. UBC will be implementing this in our in-person gatherings beginning this Sunday, July 18th, as well as in our weekly gatherings. Thanks for your cooperation.
On behalf of the Elders,
Pastor Bryan
Dear UBC,
Good news. As you are aware the entire state reopened in full and LA county has also aligned with the protocols to include the lifting of all capacity limitations and social distancing. Beginning this Sunday (6/20/21), UBC will also implement those changes. The Health Officer order is ambiguous in its relation to Places of Worship, so we are implementing it to the best of our judgment. The mask protocols therein are a bit complex and we will continue to follow the guidance as required or recommended for similar settings. In short: vaxed – no mask, unvaxed – mask indoors.
As a reminder, our position that we believe most accurately represents the Biblical teaching on complying with governing authorities in all contexts can be summarized with this statement: Comply with the governing authorities unless you are commanded to sin (Matt 22:21; Rom 13:1-2; 1 Pet 2:13-15). In the context of our current pandemic, we don’t believe the protocols to be commanding sin and therefore will defer to the guidance and recommendations as they become effective. This would include both those directives having legal obligations and those without, but that are still strongly recommended, unless we determine the latter are not applicable to our setting.
It’s our conviction that people in general, but Christians in particular, have a Biblical obligation to obey civil government (unless commanded to sin). If we do this well and with wisdom, I believe we will be more effective in our gospel witness and experience less unprovoked opposition in ministering the gospel.
Regarding masks, the most recent order for settings similar to ours still requires unvaccinated people to wear a mask when indoors (outdoors is optional and if you have been vaccinated you are not required to wear a mask). However, in settings where masks are required for only unvaccinated individuals, the order strongly recommends everyone wear a mask regardless of vaccination status as an option (4. Face Masks, pp 3-4). That’s not a requirement but a recommendation.
Thanks for cooperating and hopefully in the coming weeks, requirements and recommendations will continue to be lifted. If you have any questions please direct them to myself, the Elders or Deacons at office@universitybiblechurch.org or in person.
In Christ,
Pastor Bryan
Dear UBC,
It was wonderful being back in the Sanctuary on Christmas Eve after 21 weeks of outdoor services. As of December 19th, the LA County Public Health Department authorized places of worship to meet indoors. We have the added advantage of making use of our larger Sanctuary and downstairs facilities which will give us more room to stay compliant with social distancing requirements. All the previous and current protocols that you have grown accustomed to will remain. This Sunday we will also cordon off every other row for you so please make use of all of our pews front and back. I’m looking forward to seeing you and worshiping with you again tomorrow.
Pastor Bryan
Dear UBC,
We are launching our UBC courtyard services at 11 am.!
As a reminder, we are meeting all the requirements to ensure that our facility is safe as well as adjusted our cleaning guidelines to meet the requirements of the most recent order. You will notice signage posted at several places reminding you of the social distancing requirements, the use of face masks, frequent hand-washing for 20 seconds and others.
Our worship service will continue its normal start time at 11 am. When arriving at UBC, you will be greeted at the door by an usher who will take your temperature and direct you to the courtyard. Congregating in the foyer and lobbies won’t be permitted to support social distancing requirements.
Seating in the outdoor courtyard is arranged at six-foot intervals and staggered throughout. Families can sit together but members who are not of the same household must sit six-feet apart. If you are in an at risk category it is strongly recommended that you make use of our recordings which will continue to be available for you after the service on our website.
Face masks will also be required and we are asking everyone to please bring their own masks, hand sanitizer, and bottled water as there will be no beverages or snacks. We will have extra disposable masks and hand sanitizer available on site. During the service, face masks must be worn.
What about our Kids program? UBC kids church will continue to meet in a modified format. Children must remain in care of their household unit and not interact with other children at any time. All play areas have to remain closed as well. For those families who are unable to attend in person, Esther will be conducting the usual Zoom kids church at 10:15 am and then a separate program will be prepared for the kids attending the in-person courtyard service with their parents. Please also remember children will need to wear a mask unless under 2 yrs of age or if they have a respiratory condition.
Services will run slightly shorter than usual- about 1 hour. Please also remember to keep a distance of 6 ft. from each other when outside of the church building while still on the property grounds. Unfortunately, we won’t have any all-church lunches during this time or any other afternoon programming.
Finally, our weekly Bible studies will continue to meet through Zoom.
I’m looking forward to seeing you and being refreshed by your presence. We will also be celebrating the Lord’s supper as we share communion together as the body of Christ.
If anyone has any questions please feel free to contact us at office@universitybiblechurch.org or give us a call at (310) 474-9065.
On behalf of the Elders, Pastor Bryan
Dear UBC,
Well, we had 6 weeks back together before having to roll back to our old schedule of broadcasting our services. On Monday Gov. Newsom ordered all indoor businesses to close, including places of worship. So beginning this week, our Wed night prayer meeting and Bible study will only meet on Zoom at their normal times, 7 and 7:30pm respectively. Our Sunday morning service will be recorded and broadcasted by 11 am on the UBC website and our Kids church program will meet on Zoom at 10 am. I’ll update you more as plans and circumstances change. Be encouraged to not let this take your eyes off the gospel and off the opportunities that the Lord is giving us each day to “give an answer for the hope we have” in Christ Jesus our Savior. (1 Peter 3:15)
In our sermon last Sunday from 1 Samuel 9 we saw how God was in control. If he guides lost donkeys and lost kings for his purposes he surely is in control of our futures. Keep your heart trusting and steadfast in Him.
May the Lord bless you this week as you keep your eyes fixed on Him, Pastor Bryan
Dear UBC,
Sunday, June 7th, marked our first in-person service in 12 weeks! We are authorized by the Mayor and LA County Public Health Department to resume our Sunday services in modified form and are following the state protocols for houses of worship. We have met all the requirements to ensure that our facility is safe as well as adjusted our cleaning guidelines to meet the requirements. You will notice signage posted at several places reminding you of the social distancing requirements, the use of face masks, frequent hand-washing and others. As a result there will be some modifications to our programming that will stay in effect through the 21 day evaluation period at which point they may be modified or continued/discontinued. Here’s an overview of what to expect at UBC beginning this Sunday:
Our worship service will continue its normal start time at 11 am. When arriving at UBC, you will be greeted at the door by an usher who will direct you to take your seat in the sanctuary. Congregating in the foyer and lobbies won’t be permitted to support social distancing requirements.
Seating in the sanctuary is marked by blue tape at six-foot intervals and staggered throughout. Families can sit together but members who are not of the same household must sit six-feet apart and the blue tape will help you keep these distances. If you are in an at risk category it is strongly recommended that you make use of our remote broadcast service which will continue to be available for you to watch at home with an internet connection.
Face masks will also be required and we are asking everyone to please bring their own masks, hand sanitizer, and bottled water as there will be no beverages or snacks. We will have extra disposable masks and hand sanitizer available on site. During the service, face masks must be worn and it is strongly recommended that congregants don’t sing. We can still participate by lightly humming the lyrics/tune and reflecting on the lyrics.
What about our Kids program? UBC kids church will continue to meet in a modified format. Children must remain in care of their household unit and not interact with other children at any time. All play areas have to remain closed as well. Esther will be emailing all the parents about the program details which will follow the fun Bible lesson and games that we have been doing on Zoom over the past 2 months. I know this will be hard not allowing the kids to go outside or to play together, but for at least the next few weeks this will be a requirement.
Services will run slightly shorter than usual- about an hour-1:10 minutes and once we are dismissed, all guests and visitors will need to vacate the building without congregating in the foyer. Unfortunately we won’t have any all-church lunches during this time or any other afternoon programming.
Finally, our weekly Bible studies will continue to meet through Zoom for the time being. We recognize that not everyone will feel comfortable returning to service now and please don’t feel obligated to if you are not ready. This will be the beginning of a phased reintegration of our programming that will take time and move according to the required guidelines.
If anyone has any questions please feel free to contact us at office@universitybiblechurch.org or give us a call at (310) 474-9065. I’m looking forward to being refreshed and encouraged in seeing you soon.
On behalf of the Elders, Pastor Bryan
Dear University Bible Church,
In compliance with our Governor’s orders, Mayor Garcetti and the LA County Public Health Officer have issued orders that prevent us from gathering in person. We are honoring God, by honoring the Scriptures which teach us in Romans 13:1 to be subject to the governing authorities. So we are honoring Scripture in subjecting ourselves to our state and local authorities. Our Governor, Mayor, local authorities and medical community need our prayers.
We are postponing all of our weekly activities and events at least through May 15th or as directed. However, we will be making a circumstantial accommodation for worship by broadcasting our Sunday morning service which will include worship, prayer, and the preaching of the Scriptures through our website. Join us Sunday mornings over the next few weeks through the sermon library on our website that is accessible here. Each Sunday’s broadcast will be available by 11am and can be watched and re-watched. Whereas we won’t be able to be meeting together in person for a few weeks, this is still the time to be the church and to minister to our neighbors and those in need. If anyone is in need of items that you aren’t comfortable shopping for please let us know and we want to help serve.
We have much to be thankful for during this time. Many throughout our city will have time to be alone with God in ways they didn’t avail themselves to – so let’s pray this season will be used by the Lord to draw many seekers to him in faith in Jesus their Messiah. We’ve been praying for revival and the Lord can certainly use this means for his glory. It’s also a great time to be with family, read some good books, devote yourselves to prayer, and thank God for the first world blessings we have here in the U.S. Most people in our world do not have access to what we have, no primary or secondary care, no social services programs, no tax breaks, no bailouts, God is still good and we are blessed in abundance. Let’s thank him this week and worship him together this Sunday by watching our broadcast and communing with our Lord.