August 19, 2021 Update

On August 4, 2021, the risk of transmission in Dallas County moved back to level Red. After moving online temporarily, we believe we can safely resume indoor services again on August 22. We continue to rely on the cooperation of our faith community to hold the umbrella over each other by following the Communal Responsibility Guidelines. Read these guidelines below.

Registration is required for each service to help our staff contact attendees in the case that someone has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or any variant and symptoms started within 48 hours after attending the Gathering. Registration opens on the Saturday prior to service and closes on Friday. You can register for an upcoming service here.

We will livestream each service here. If you are considered high-risk or if you’re not ready to meet indoors, we invite you to join us online. We also encourage small groups to view the livestream service together when possible.

Notify staff at health@lifeindeepellum.com if you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or any variant and symptoms started within 48 hours after attending the Gathering.

Communal Responsibility Guidelines

Life in Deep Ellum desires to be not just a church in a community, but a church for a community. This is based on our core values — in particular, respect, authenticity, and service. As we transition into reopening our building for Gathering services, we hope to live out these values in a way that continues to respect and protect the vulnerable in both our faith community and the city of Dallas. To that end, we ask that as you consider attending Gathering services, you agree to uphold certain commitments that reflect our communal values:

Your Commitment to LIDE:

• Agree to self-screen for the following symptoms prior to arrival:
  • Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea
• Not attending if you have a pending or positive COVID test, known contact with someone who was COVID positive in the last 14 days, or experiencing symptoms listed above
• (For Pre-K and up) wearing a mask that covers nose and mouth inside the building at all times unless eating or drinking in Mokah. Food and drink are not allowed in the Venue at this time.
• Practicing social distancing and good hand hygiene
• To notify staff at health@lifeindeepellum.com if you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or any variant and symptoms started within 48 hours after attending the Gathering.

Our Commitment to You:

• Staff and volunteers will be required to self-screen, wear masks, social distance, and practice good hand hygiene
• Staff and volunteers will help enforce safety guidelines
• All adults serving in LIDE Kids will be vaccinated (new requirement)
• Disinfect high-touch surfaces
• Limit Venue capacity to 20%
• Keep the Venue well ventilated
• Modify liturgical elements of service to reduce high-touch surfaces and crowding
• To notify attendees of possible COVID exposure within 24 hours of being notified by COVID positive person (who will be kept anonymous)

Livestream option will be available for all indoor services here. We strongly encourage those who are considered high-risk to participate in the livestream service.

LIDE Kids will be available for Toddlers and up.

July 30, 2021 Update

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated masking guidelines on Tuesday, July 27, recommending that vaccinated people wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission of the Delta variant. Dallas County is one of those areas. The CDC guidelines for unvaccinated people has not changed; unvaccinated people (including children ages 2+) should still wear masks and practice social distancing, particularly in indoor environments.

We will be following CDC guidelines throughout the Life in Deep Ellum building. We are asking everyone to wear a mask indoors until further notice.

Notify staff at health@lifeindeepellum.com if you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or any variant and symptoms started within 48 hours after attending the Gathering.

May 28, 2021 Update

The CDC has updated its guidelines for fully vaccinated people; those who are fully vaccinated may now safely resume pre-pandemic activities without masking or distancing.  The CDC guidance for unvaccinated people has not changed; unvaccinated people should still wear masks and practice social distancing, particularly in indoor environments.

In light of this updated guidance,LIDE has decided to make masks optional throughout our building going forward for those who are fully vaccinated. We encourage those in our community who are not yet vaccinated (including children ages 6+) to continue wearing masks while in our building. We feel that this update is in line with our desire to be the Umbrella Man for our community–even if we get wet in the process. Wearing a mask if you are not vaccinated is holding the umbrella over our neighbors in Dallas County and doing our part to reduce the spread of COVID-19. During our Gathering service, we will be providing a “fully masked” room in the Prayer & Practice Center with a livestream of the service for those who would like to worship in person in a fully-masked environment.

Notify staff at health@lifeindeepellum.com if you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and symptoms started within 48 hours after attending the Gathering.

May 6, 2021 Update

Since March 2020, we’ve tried our best to contribute to our community’s recovery from the pandemic by moving all services online. Although the pandemic is not over, we believe that we can return to indoor services in a way that will serve our faith community without contributing to community spread. Here’s how we plan to reopen safely:

• Limit Venue capacity to 10%
• Group attendees by households or “pods”
• Require masks, social distancing, and provide sanitization supplies
• Keep the Venue well ventilated
• Staff and volunteers will disinfect high-touch surfaces
• Modify liturgical elements of service to reduce high-touch surfaces

Most importantly, we could not open up responsibly without the cooperation of our faith community members. Our values of respect and service have always been at the heart of our community, and for this reason, we trust that we can ask attendees and volunteers to commit to Communal Responsibility Guidelines. You can read more about these guidelines at service registration.

Registration will be required for each service. Registration opens on the Saturday prior to service and closes on Friday. You can register for an upcoming service here.

We will livestream each service here. If you are considered high-risk or if you’re not ready to meet indoors, we invite you to join us online. We also encourage small groups to view the livestream service together when possible.

LIDE Kids

Our services are going to be multi-generational for a while. LIDE Kids will not meet as a group. We provide in-service opportunities for them to engage with their lessons.

Toddlers/PreK: Check out a Grab-And-Go tote bag full of simple activities! Cleaned and disinfected weekly.

Elementary: Your services will be digital! Because of this, here’s what you may want to bring for your elementary-aged children:

• What to Bring: a device and headphones
• Why: Kids can listen to their own experiences during the sermon.
• How: They will receive a sheet with a QR code and a wrap-up activity! 

We look forward to continuing to not just be a church in a community, but a church for a community. We hope that you’ll join us in enacting that vision!

August 5, 2020

We’re grateful for your support as we’ve taken the time to discern how to move forward. We’ve decided to structure our reopening plans for our Faith Community around the Dallas County Guidance System. Our current intention is to reopen 2 weeks after the county moves to the yellow phase. As Dallas County moves into each new phase, we plan to host Community-Wide Zoom Gatherings to review our reopening plans in greater detail. The Gathering Weekly Update is the best way to stay up to date with all of our upcoming events. Subscribe below if you’re not receiving this weekly newsletter!

April 30, 2020

Dear Community Members,

Since Governor Abbott announced plans to begin reopening the state, you may have wondered how it will affect LIDE. Our Board and Staff feel it is best to use caution and follow the state’s suggestion to “conduct as many activities as possible remotely.” Therefore, we will not resume our in-person services just yet. We plan to take the next 2-3 weeks to discern what will best serve this faith community. Though we are very much looking forward to being together again, our primary concern is the health and wellbeing of our people. There are a lot of questions and logistics to work through. We will take this slowly, listening to the guidance of state and county officials, and welcoming input from all of you. We will be together again when we can do so safely. For now, we’ll continue to provide digital experiences with the hope of keeping you connected and encouraged.

Please be praying for our leadership as we discern how to best move forward. We will let you know our collective assessment in a couple weeks once we’ve had the opportunity to observe how everything is developing.

Many Blessings! We miss you so much!

Joel and Rachel Triska