Our COVID-19 Response
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Updated December 23, 2021
Q: When will ESC open for all to attend in building Sunday worship service?
A: We had every expectation that we all would be able to come together again for in-person worship soon. However, with the resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Indiana caused by the new Omicron variant, which was recently reported in Indiana, we must once again postpone the start of our in-person worship service to the public.
Please continue to trust in God and join us online at our normal start times as we hear a powerful message from our Senior Pastor Jeffrey A. Johnson, Sr. Please continue to check here for updates.
Q: Why are you only inviting a small group of people to attend the live tapings?
A: Phase II of our reintegration plan, the church reintegration committee made up of a diverse group of the medical, church council, staff, and other professionals, voted to allow a small group of (50 total) staff, church council, ministry leaders, and volunteers to be invited to attend the taping of our live worship service to help us get back into “ministry shape.” As we continue to prepare for full reintegration, the committee met again on August 8/25 to discuss the impact of the delta variant and the importance to make the “safety” of all members, ESC’s number one priority. With that, the committee voted to cautiously increase the number of participants from a total of 50 to 200. We will move forward safely under the guidance of medical, local, and state officials. During Phase III you may also expect the following:
All ESC ministries by alphabetical order will receive an invitation to attend the live recordings. The seats will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
Masks are required
Vaccination cards are required
We want to hear from you and will be sending a survey to all members to learn your perspective of returning to in-building worship services.
Service ministries (Ushers, Greeters, Security, Barnabas, and Choirs) will have an opportunity to re-engage in ministry meetings starting in October at our Main Campus to practice and prepare for in-building worship services.
Please Note: Identified meeting rooms will adhere to specific occupancy loads and we will ask all persons to adhere to our in-building COVID-19 protocols and screening process.
Q: Why do we have to wear masks if we’re fully vaccinated?
A: Safety is our number one priority. It is important that we continue to take the precautions that have been proven to keep us safe. Medical officials have reported that wearing masks, remaining socially distant and washing hands regularly helps to stops the spread of COVID-19.
Q: When we open back up will it be for members only or can others attend as well?
A: Our final phase of reintegration will include everyone. Although we are not there now, we will joyfully announce when we are fully open to everyone.
Q: Will we still have the option to attend church online?
A: Yes, we will continue to stream our Sunday Worship and Noonday Bible Study as we have for several years now.
Q: What is the timeline to fully reintegrate back to church and ministry programming/activities?
A: It is difficult to project when we can fully reintegrate back to ministry programming and activities, but it is our prayer to be able to do so no later than the start of 2022. By then, science and medical professionals should know how effective the vaccines are. We should also know if the current vaccines protect against the new variances that are being detected around the world. Additionally, we will know if the COVID-19 positivity rate increases during the upcoming flu season.
Teens/Youth
Q: When will we have teen church in person again?
A: We will offer teen church in person once we are confident that we can do so without exposing others to COVID-19. The key to being able to do so is for our eligible youth and teens to be vaccinated. We will look to our science and medical professionals and reintegration committee to help make that decision.
Q: Will all teens have to be vaccinated to attend church?
A: At this time, we are only inviting vaccinated members to worship service. Until we reach herd immunity, we will take the strongest safety precautions available to protect our youth and teens from contracting COVID-19 while attending church.
Q: Why can’t we come together now?
A: Safety is our number one priority. While it may appear that we are not moving forward fast enough, we are obligated to follow the guidance of God, science and medical officials.
Taping ESC Services During COVID-19
A LOOK BACK: TAPING EASTER PRODUCTION IN COVID-19 TIMES
Message from Pastor Johnson re: J&J Vaccination News
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
You may have already heard the news about the FDA and the CDC calling for a pause in using the Johnson & Johnson vaccines out of an abundance of caution. They are investigating reports of “extremely rare blood clots” in six cases in the U.S. out of nearly seven million vaccinations administered so far. You can click here and here for a few articles with more details.
It’s critical that we keep you informed because you are a part of our Eastern Star Church family and dynamics can change during a pandemic with new vaccines to help save lives.
Our priority is always you and we will continue to educate and provide access for black and brown communities near our main church campus and city-wide that are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
CDC research shows some of the factors for disproportionality include discrimination and lack of healthcare access. Eastern Star Church is committed to ensuring that you have the same healthcare access, equity, and education as all populations.
I believe that God has called us to rise up and serve our communities while in the throes of the second-worst pandemic in our nation’s history. He has ordered our steps. And we are so grateful for your support in the ROCK Initiative to make available continued COVID-19 educational and outreach efforts. We are the messengers but we rely on health experts to provide the information and direction to serve our communities.
We take heart in statistics that the U. S. has vaccinated more than 190 million people so far, with few health-related complications proportionately and a decrease in COVID-19 deaths. But we must remain vigilant in following social distancing guidelines and wearing our masks to prevent an upsurge in the virus again. Some states lifting restrictions are already seeing a rise in COVID-19 cases.
Philippians 2:4 says, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others.” Continue to protect your loved ones, friends, and neighbors. We are all God’s children.
God bless,
Senior Pastor, Jeffrey A. Johnson, Sr.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT COVID-19 AND VACCINATIONS
Worried about getting the vaccine? Or NOT getting the vaccine? Eastern Star Church The ROCK Initiative recently invited leading medical experts, including Dr. Virginia Caine, director of the Marion County Health Department, and Dr. Jerome Adams, former U.S. Surgeon General, to address some of the top concerns about COVID-19 and vaccines. View “Critical Conversations: Answering Questions about COVID-19 Vaccines” below, and make sure to share it with your family and friends.
NEED HELP?
Check out the resources you need to get your questions answered about COVID-19 and how to get vaccinated against the virus. Please pass on these resources to your loved ones as well.
Marion County Health Department
You can schedule an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccination, find eligibility requirements and answers to Frequently Asked Questions, learn about the latest COVID-19 rates in your county, and more at ourshot.in.gov, a site hosted by the Marion County Health Department.
Indiana State Health Department
OR CALL 211
MINIMIZE THE SPREAD OF COVID-19
We all need to make sure that we are protecting ourselves, our families and our communities against this deadly virus. As former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams shared, it’s critical that we continue to practice these 5 W’s to minimize the spread of COVID-19.
GET INVOLVED
YOU CARE. WeCARE.
During this time of crisis, your generosity helps us provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to essential workers, feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, counseling services and financial relief to smaller churches.
Every week, we are sharing the gospel to more than 20,000 online and TV (Channel 40) viewers.
When you donate to WeCARE, your contribution directly benefits people in need throughout your local community!
Help us support the growing needs of our neighbors during this difficult period.
COUNSELING SERVICES AVAILABLE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
We genuinely care about you. If you have a need for prayer, counseling or guidance, please contact us at wecare@easternstarchurch.org. You can also contact these services for counseling:
Know the Symptoms
WHEN SHOULD I GO TO THE DOCTOR?
Symptoms for the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). People with these symptoms or a combinations of symptoms may have COVID-19:
Cough
Shortness of Breath
Or at least two of these symptoms
Fever
Chills or repeated shaking with chills
Sore throat
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Muscle Pain
Stay uplifted during these strange times! What better time than now to be more intimate with God. Subscribe to our channel for inspiring content.
ESC Pastor Jeffrey A. Johnson, Sr., joins ESC Associate Pastor Jay to discuss the impact COVID-19 has on the Black-American community in the Waiting Room podcast. Episode: “You Can’t Make Me Doubt Him”
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF
Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus, which is believed to spread mainly from person to person. Take these steps to avoid exposure:
WEAR A FACE MASK IN PUBLIC
The CDC also recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, including grocery stories and pharmacies. The cloth face covering should …
fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
be secured with ties or ear loops
include multiple layers of fabric
allow for breathing without restriction
be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape
If you can’t purchase a face mask, you can make one at home using a T-shirt or a piece of cloth.
LIFE IN QUARANTINE
ADVICE FOR COVID-19 CAREGIVERS
KEEPING CHILDREN HEALTHY WHILE SCHOOL’S OUT
IF YOU HAVE ANIMALS
