EFFECTIVE – April 10, 2022
The church Board has voted to revert to STAGE 1 of our Mosaic COVID-19 Response Plan.
STAGE 1 – CONFIRMED (COVID-19) CASES IN TEXAS
- All worship, ministries, and meetings in our church remain active.
- Extra sanitation and cleaning will be performed throughout our facilities.
- If you are not feeling well, it is best to stay home and watch our services on our live stream via Facebook.
- We recommend no handshakes or hugging. Communicate love through words rather than physical contact.
- Wash hands with soap thoroughly for a minimum of 20 seconds.
- Avoid touching your face (mouth, nose, eyes) with hands.
- Cover all coughs and sneezes with a tissue and wash your hands thoroughly afterward.
- Live stream services available if feeling uncomfortable attending Mosaic in person.
- Church bulletins will be available.
EFFECTIVE – Sept 12, 2021
A 1-page update and the entire 3-page Mosaic COVID-19 Response Plan.
Anyone who attends in-person worship services at Mosaic that subsequently test positive for COVID-19 should notify the church office as soon as possible and make us aware so we can communicate appropriately and attempt to prevent church community spread.
- The Mosaic Church office (pastoral staff), upon being notified, will do the following:
a. Attempt contact tracing to assess the extent of exposure.
b. Retain all information confidential.
c. Notify all individuals who were in close proximity (Sabbath School & those in adjacent Sanctuary seats) to the exposed person and inform them that someone who tested positive for COVID-19 was at church the past Sabbath and recommend they seek medical attention.
d. An email will be sent to all church members informing them of the possibility and potential COVID-19 exposure.
e. A text message will be sent, out of an abundance of caution, notifying church members that a COVID-19 alert was distributed to their email client so church members can make informed decisions concerning their individual and family’s health. - These steps will ensure better communication during the current rise of the Delta Strain and allow for continual and ongoing in-person worship services without the need to close the church facility or its associated services.
- Please remember to follow and continue to practice our existing precautions already outlined in our current COVID-19 policies and procedures. Here are four:
a. Watch your distance (minimum 3–6 feet).
b. Follow all aspects of proper personal hygiene, including handwashing (20 seconds minimum).
c. Wear a mask if unvaccinated and if vaccinated, wear a mask if needed for your safety and that of others as we encourage responsible immunization/vaccination.
d. If you are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms or have recently been exposed to someone with COVID-19, we welcome you to worship with us via our online services at live.MosaicSDA.org until 14-days without symptoms before returning to Mosaic.
EFFECTIVE – June 18, 2021
The church board granted an exception and approval to change food served at the church and potlucks on Stage 2 of the Mosaic COVID-19 Response Plan.
It has been proposed and approved to bring in prepackaged food for VBS, Adventurers, Pathfinders, and Evangelism on church premises as well as to begin allowing potlucks with restriction (see below).
Potluck Policy
1. Kitchen one-time deep cleaning by a special cleaning service prior to any preparation of any food.
2. Food is to be bought by the church and prepared at the church
3. Food preparers; Limit 6-7 individuals only in the kitchen and wear masks and gloves
4. Prepared and served from the church kitchen by food preppers that are masked and gloved. Food should not be prepared anywhere else.
5. The door should be placed back on the kitchen entrance and kept closed during potlucks.
May 20, 2021
Vaccinated individuals are not required to wear a mask but we recommend unvaccinated individuals wear a mask and we encourage responsible immunization/vaccination.
We are also no longer requiring temperature checks. The seating layout in the sanctuary has also been adjusted to increase social distancing without restricting seats.
Mar 5, 2021
On Tuesday (03/02/2021), Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order (No. GA 34) relating to the opening of Texas in response to the COVID-19 (C-19) pandemic. This mandate will go into effect Wednesday, March 10, 2021.
Some of you may be wondering how this will impact our current C-19 restrictions at Mosaic. As many of you already know, Mosaic’s pastoral staff along with the board of elders, have been closely monitoring C-19 and its impact on our church family.
We have read the Governor’s mandate and our body of leaders, who have a vested interest in Mosaic getting it right, struggled with the choice of what would be the proper course of action for our demographic. Will we get it right?
By following God’s leading and discerning will for our church family, I believe we will get it right!
In the meantime, Mosaic will remain at Stage 2 of our C-19 response plan and our re-opening “protocols & procedures” will remain unchanged and in place until further notice. We are committed to monitor and assess the effects of the mandate before any changes are introduced.
We will continue, as our practice has been, to oversee C-19 and its impact to Mosaic on a day–by–day and weekly basis because your God-given life and your health are what matter most to your Mosaic church family; we not only want you to be safe, we want you to feel safe.
Therefore, look around. We may not fear, as the psalmist did, “the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, (Psalm 91:5 NIV), but we still live in a violent and sometimes frightening world. However true that may be, the Bible states: “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV).
Have a great Sabbath and a wonderful weekend in the protecting and saving power of Christ Jesus.
Dec 24, 2020
We are open for church services and a few Sabbath School classes. Please view Mosaic’s Reopening Plan (CLICK HERE)for the precautions we have taken.
Mosaic is on a 3 Stage Response Plan for COVID-19. We are currently at Stage 2.
Click here for details of each stage. This is the plan we will be using going forward.
Dec 22, 2020
Good news! We are downgrading to Stage 2 after completing our 10-day quarantine church closure, which officially ends today, December 22, 2020.
As many of you know, Mosaic temporarily closed its doors after we were informed of a non-symptomatic COVID-19 (C19) incident at our facility. Upon being notified, we closed the facility consistent with our protocols, policies and procedures.
We have also taken extra steps, out of an abundance of caution, and had a professional cleaning company, specializing in C19 deep cleaning, to properly disinfect our facility. Consequently, we are now prepared to open our doors of our facility again with a higher degree of confidence that everyone’s safety has been taken into consideration.
As a result we want to remind and invite everyone to our Christmas Candlelight Service scheduled at 6:00 PM on Thursday, December 24, 2020 at Mosaic. We look forward to seeing you for this special Christmas service.
In preparation for our candlelight service, I’ve been reflecting on the event of the year. Do you remember being in lockdown for more than eleven (11) Sabbath(s)?
I do!
When we finally re-opened the doors to our facility, the Board of Elders took considerable bold and courageous steps to develop some stringent steps as part of our reopening plan. It’s important to point out that since then, we have never had anyone (by God’s unwavering help and unbelievable grace) contract C19 while in our facility.
Let me quickly tell you why! It’s worth stating for those who may not know the steps we have taken to mitigate the C19 risk.
I want to share some of the relevant factors to commencing in person worship we have taken to mitigate the C19 risk. In sharing these steps, I hope to create a deeper level of confidence that the Mosaic facility has been the subject of good C19 mitigation steps.
Here’s a brief outline of some of the steps that Mosaic has taken throughout the year:
Prior to entering the facility, everyone has his or her temperature taken. Mosaic has marked the rows and chairs in the sanctuary for social distancing. We have adopted special cleaning protocols. In addition to the special cleaning protocols, we wipe down microphones, and other commonly used surfaces, with disinfectant. We have C19 safety procedure reminder signage throughout the facility. Mask wearing is mandatory now. These are good basic steps.
In addition, Mosaic has installed plasma ionization units on all of its air conditioning and heating systems. These ionization units remove minute particles of matter in the airflow of these A/C and heating systems, including the C19 virus. Mosaic purchased the ionization units from one of the top companies in the industry, Global Plasma Solutions (GPS). The White House, Harvard University, and Boston Children’s Hospital are among many that are using these units. GPS research and measurements have shown that after 30 minutes of airflow from the A/C and heating systems, 99.4% of the particles have been removed.
Your body of leaders at Mosaic consider the now installed plasma ionization units to be a significant enhancement to our safety protocols as we progressively open up our church during the C19 pandemic. We want to communicate how we value your safety and want to make your transition back to corporate worship as easy as possible.
We hope that this purchase and installation of the plasma ionization units, along with our safety protocols to mitigate C19 exposure at Mosaic, will help alleviate some of your apprehension as you make individual and family decisions to worship our Lord and Savior together as a church family on-site. We realize that it is virtually impossible to remove all risk. And yet, we also believe that we can provide in-person worship services safely and responsibly.
We will continue, as our practice has been, to oversee C19 and its impact to our church family on a day–by–day and weekly basis. If conditions change that warrant us to reconsider our decisions, or if we find that those attending are not able to commit to observing our precautions, we may need to temporarily close again.
We believe if we choose to act cautiously and respectfully toward others, we can continue to enjoy worshiping our creator and redeemer together in-person while moving forward with the right balance of faith and responsibility. In the meantime, celebrate the reality of the Bible promise; “I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord” (Psalms 122:1). God bless…
Dec 14, 2020
Closing for a few days
Starting today (December 14, 2020), the church will be closed until December 22, in order to help fight against the spread of COVID-19. Please refrain from gathering at the church during this time.
We ask that you postpone all scheduled activities at church until December 23, 2020. Thank you for your cooperation.
In the meantime, join us for worship online at: http://www.mosaicsda.org/live/
Remember to save the date for our in person Christmas Candlelight Service scheduled onsite at 6:00 PM on Thursday, December 24, 2020. We look forward to seeing you for this special Christmas service.
Let us know if you have any questions. Otherwise, have a great day and a wonderful week in the protecting and saving power of Christ Jesus.
July 9, 2020
As many of you know, Mosaic’s pastoral staff along with the board of elders, have been closely monitoring the positive rise of COVID-19 cases and its potential impact on Mosaic members currently worshiping in-person. We have read the recent written statement by the Texas Conference and have seen its corresponding YouTube video recommendation to re-close its sisterhood of churches.
Our body of leaders, from our church family, who have a vested interest in Mosaic getting it right, struggled with the choice of what would be the proper course of action for our demographic, to either close or remain open for in-person worship services. Did we get it right?
We believe we did! After consulting deeply with the executive officer of the Texas Conference, as well as our continuing discussions with our sisterhood of churches in the surrounding area, along with our review of Governor Greg Abbott’s executive order (GA-29) issued July 2, 2020, and since there is no state or local directive to close the “essential services” provided by churches, it was decided, for the time being, that we will remain open for in-person worship with the stringent precautionary protocols we have outlined in Mosaic’s reopening plan.
The protocols in our reopening plan are demanding and rigorous, yet we have decided, without the prompting of any state mandate or directive, to modify item number four (4) of our reopening plan. Please note that statement 4.3 from our reopening plan, which relates to the second service, will temporarily require facemasks for the remainder of July, as it is required for our first worship service.
However, please note that this change, which now requires facemasks for second service also is temporary. It will expire by the end of July and will revert back to “recommended use” during second service at the end of the month.
We have made this change to our reopening protocols for two reasons:
First, because your God-given life and your health are what matters most to your Mosaic church family. We not only want you to be safe, but we also want you to feel safe.
Second, because being Christlike means considering the needs and safety of others irrespective of our personal decisions. Hence the required facemasks for everyone that chooses to attend our second service until the end of the month.
We realize that it is virtually impossible to remove all risk. And yet, we also believe that we can provide in-person worship services safely and responsibly.
This is why we encourage you to make the right choice for your respective families or individual situations. You are truly the experts of your own conditions and are best suited to make these determinations whether to attend our worship services in person or not.
Please understand that church attendance is a completely voluntary choice. For those currently attending Mosaic on a weekly basis that for whatever reason may not be able to participate online or find that in-person worship is what they need in their spiritual journey, we will; therefore, cautiously remain open to provide for those particular needs.
Does this mean that every Mosaic church member will attend this Sabbath? We hardly doubt it.
Every worshiper and worshiping family has to determine for themselves when is the right time to go back to church. This is vitally important so that no one has to feel guilty for not worshiping in person. You will know when the time is right.
In the interim, please understand, no one is urging anyone to attend services. We are simply leaving our worship services open for those who may desire and personally choose to attend and can do so responsibly.
If; however, you choose to attend Mosaic, please review the protocols of our reopening plan again (click here to review) and kindly observe the following:
1. If you have been in contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19, please remain home and participate with us via our streaming services (mosaicsda.org [or] facebook.com/mosaicsda [or even] www.youtube.com/mosaicsda)
2. If you are over the age of 65, or if you have any underlying health issues, no matter what your age, please consider participating via our live stream
3. Remember our new protocol, you must wear a facemask for the second service until the end of July, except when participating on the platform or if you have a valid medical reason that makes it difficult for you to comply
We will continue, as our practice has been, to oversee COVID-19 and its impact on Mosaic on a day–by–day and weekly basis. If conditions change that warrant us to reconsider our decisions, or if we find that those attending are not able to commit to observing our precautions, we may need to temporarily close again.
Nevertheless, we believe if we choose to act cautiously and respectfully toward others, we can continue to enjoy worshiping our creator and redeemer together in person while moving forward with the right balance of faith and responsibility. In the meantime, celebrate the reality of the Bible promise; “I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord” (Psalms 122:1). God bless…
Jun 6, 2020
Welcome back!!!
Jun 6, 2020
After being in lockdown for more than eleven (11) Sabbath(s), we will be reopening the doors of Mosaic Christian Fellowship SDA for in-person worship on June 6, 2020. We have downgraded to Stage II of our COVID–19 response plan.
We are reopening according to the State, Texas Conference Guidelines for Churches (for conference guidelines, (click here), and in addition to the Reopening Plan prepared for Mosaic. You can view Mosaic’s Reopening Plan (click here) for the precautions we have taken. This is the Reopening Plan we will be using going forward. Have a great Sabbath and a wonderful weekend in Christ Jesus.
May 15, 2020
If you wish to be tested and screened for COVID-19 you can receive information on how to proceed at the following:
Texas Dept. of State Health Services: TXCOVIDTEST.ORG
Phone: 512-883-2400
April 29, 2020
On April 27, 2020, Texas Governor Greg Abbott released executive order GA-18, which outlines the minimum standard health guidelines for reopening churches and places of worship. Mosaic will be complying, not only with the guidelines of this order but with all local, state, and federal health official requirements.
Currently, Mosaic’s pastoral staff along with church leaders will be exploring the best options as we prepare to reopen our facility for in-person worship in the future. However, we will remain at stage III (click here) for our 3-stage document) over the next few weeks to ensure a smooth and safe transition.
When Mosaic does open, be mindful that our ministries models should be adjusted to accommodate the decisions of the government by slowly phasing gatherings into our building for the well–being of our community. This will not be a one-size-fits-all and we will provide stages, when we reopen, that will ensure the health and safety of everyone in our church family, guests, and community.
In the meantime, please keep all the pastors of Mosaic and our body of church leaders in prayer before our Savior, Christ Jesus, as we collaborate to reopen Mosaic for active in-person ministries and in-person worship services. Have a great day, a peaceful Sabbath, and a wonderful weekend in the protecting and saving power of Christ Jesus.
April 12, 2020
April 9, 2020
The Texas Conference recommended that we have a 3-Stage Response Plan for COVID-19. Currently, Mosaic is at Stage 3. Click here for details of each stage. This is the plan we will be using going forward.
MARCH 25, 2020
Dear Mosaic Church Family,
The Texas Conference is joining other organizations in closing its church buildings for at least 30 days effective March 17, 2020. For more information, click here Mosaic will no longer hold regular office hours. Our staff and pastors remain committed to serving you remotely. If you need to contact someone on the team, please visit our contact page.
Sabbath School content is available for all ages. Adult quarterlies (including Quarter 2 Bible Study Guide) are available online, as well as many resources for children and families.
Updated: March 18, 2020
Please note these new changes, in addition to the ones posted on March 13, 2020, regarding our Mosaic life:
1. Effective immediately, our worship experience is moving to online-only—which means, no in-person worship services over the next several weeks. We will offer an 11:10 AM live stream service. This service will be streamed on our Facebook page: (https://www.facebook.com/mosaicsda).
2. Mosaic will host an online Sabbath School feature on March 28, 2020:
- For our lower children’s divisions and adult classes.
- We will be providing links to prerecorded Sabbath School lessons, created by our local leaders. We want to encourage parents and children to view the content together as a family.
3. Although our facility will not be available to groups larger than 10 individuals, Mosaic church life will continue in a variety of ways through online platforms, chat groups, shepherd/care groups (no larger than 10 people preferably in homes), phone calls, text messages, email, and a variety of online applications.
4. Avail yourself to “Adventist Giving” online for returning tithes and offerings. If you prefer, you may come to the church office during the week with your tithes and offerings and place them inside the box, on the wall, outside the church office door.
5. We look forward to worshiping online together.
Updated: March 13, 2020
Dear Mosaic Church Family,
Today the governor of Texas declared a statewide public health disaster as a result of coronavirus COVID-19. He stated that Texas is on the verge of being able to significantly ramp up its testing capacity.
These declarations are good news and yet, if any of you are currently fearful over our current events, remember: “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). I want to assure you of the fact that God continues to be in control from behind the scenes even though we may not be able to see or even understand it all; we know His presence is with us.
These developments have caused us to make some changes to Mosaic’s current plans. Please note the following adjustments to our Mosaic life:
1. Effective immediately, we will be rescheduling our church business meeting. We will notify you of the new date.
2. Our Adventist Youth Meeting is being canceled until further notice.
3. Our worship experience for March 14, 2020 (first and second service) will remain unchanged—which means, Mosaic will be open tomorrow and offer both a 9:00 AM and 11:10 AM service. We will also live stream our 11:10 AM service on our Facebook page: (https://www.facebook.com/mosaicsda).
4. We have taken steps to clean and disinfect high–touch areas and surfaces, in addition to the normal cleaning routine, and have also set up a table (in the fellowship area) with hand sanitizers.
5. Sabbath School classes remain unchanged. More information will be available in the days ahead.
6. All lunch (potluck) and food at the church will be suspended until further notice.
7. Church bulletins will be available but will not be distributed by the greeters at the doors.
8. During this time, maintaining a sense of community through Care Groups (including prayer meeting, Bible study, etc.) and other fellowship will be important. Your Care Group leader will communicate with you how your group will continue to meet. As a church, we are committed to doing all we can to facilitate continued engagement.
9. Tithe and offering will be collected at the rear doors of our sanctuary. The deacons will not pass our offering bags.
10. Regarding your tithes and offerings, please take advantage of Adventist Giving Online. If you prefer, you may come to the church office during the week with your tithes and offerings.
11. We encourage you to continue following the recommendations from the CDC such as washing your hands for 20 seconds, staying home if you feel sick, covering coughs and sneezes, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces. For a full list of recommendations click here. (http://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public).
12. One of the best ways to ensure a healthy immune system is to continue to follow health practices that are well-known to us: eat healthy foods, get regular exercise, expose yourself to some sunlight, get some fresh air, and rest.
13. For the latest information regarding Mosaic’s response to the coronavirus, see our website. In this time of national uncertainty, please know your pastors and church office staff is here to serve you. Note: Office hours will remain the same.
Finally, let us not forget that God is still on His throne. The story of Scripture is the history of God reversing the enemy’s efforts to thwart His kingdom. So, from the words of the psalmist let us take heart, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble – therefore we will not fear” (Psalm 46).