COVID-19 Guidance

August 19, 2021

Considering the recent rise of COVID-19 cases in our state and county, the elders want to remind our congregation to strongly consider the updated guidance of the CDC and Marion County Health officials. Furthermore, we encourage families to consult their doctors to determine what they should do in order mitigate risk. The elders know that families will make different risk assessments and encourage everyone to seek the Lord in all their decisions.

The elders also want to remind everyone that we’ve continued our enhanced sanitation efforts in all our KIDS classrooms, using professional sanitation measures each week. Further, they want to emphasize that if you or anyone in your family show any cold or flu-like symptoms, please stay home and watch our service online until you are symptom free or cleared by a physician. 

For families not comfortable gathering in large crowds indoors, we will continue to offer additional seating in our Adult Education Room. Castleton KIDS busy bags are available each service to serve families who choose to have their children sit with them in worship.

Currently, we are not requiring masks, but our elders are watching the mask guidance of our health officials and monitoring new information to determine if this is something that is necessary to require of all our congregation in the future. Please know your elders continue to pray for wisdom and ask for your prayers as they lead our congregation.  

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Pastor Tommy Johnston at and/or Pastor Eric Swanson .

May 13, 2021

Brothers and sisters, as many of you know, beginning Sunday, May 16, masks will be available, but not required in our worship services.

Hopefully, you can see from our recent communications that this was not an easy decision for your elders. Although the amount of study and prayer that led to this change can not be summed up in this short update, the elders share a collective burden to make sure everyone understands the reasoning for their decision even if they do not fully agree with it.

We strongly encourage everyone to watch the recent CORE Class: The Authority of Church & State. In this class, Pastor Tommy makes a biblical case for why the elders believe God gave the local church the authority over matters of worship and why the elders have decided to now leave mask wearing to each individual conscience in our worship services. We are truly thankful for the many freedoms Christians enjoy in our country and for the governing authorities God has instituted for our benefit. Our elders will continue to exhort our congregation toward giving respect, honor, and obedience due to government officials as they exercise their sphere of God-given authority in our community. 

Your elders know that faithful Christians can have their consciences calibrated differently on this issue. They want to allow room for disagreement within our congregation, believing that our shared unity in the gospel is stronger than this momentary, yet difficult, matter of conscience.  

As this Sunday approaches, we hope each of our members commits to pray and to think deeply about this matter, in order to be firmly convinced in their own minds before the Lord (Rom. 14:12). We think it is wise for each member to consider not only the elder’s teaching on the different spheres of God-given authority (Rom. 13:1: Matt. 18:18), but also on a variety of other important factors such as the latest CDC health guidelines for high-risk individuals, Marion County health data, and the recently passed Senate Bill 263. 

Finally, we encourage everyone to be on guard to avoid passing judgement on one another in matters of conscience. This is an extraordinary situation where matters of conscience are made visible within our worship service; therefore, everyone must remain vigilant to keep our hearts from either flaunting their freedom or judging others with whom they may disagree.  

We will continue livestreaming our services and the seating in the Gym will continue to be available for those we desire it. Additionally, all summer local outreach events will comply with current Marion County health guidelines.

May we continue to give one another lots of grace and “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:2-3) 

If you have any questions concerning this decision, your pastors will continue to make themselves available to you. Email any questions to Pastor Tommy Johnston at and/or Pastor Eric Swanson .

April 28, 2021

REVISED CHANGES

Since the announcement of the upcoming changes to our Gathering Guidelines, the elders have continued to pray and discuss whether these upcoming changes are still the best decision for our congregation. This is a complicated issue on a variety of fronts and calls for careful shepherding as our congregation falls on a wide spectrum of judgements concerning the continued risks related to COVID-19.

In order to shepherd the congregation well, the elders believe it's necessary for Pastor Tommy to teach on a variety of biblical considerations that go into making a decision like this. Lord willing, Pastor Tommy will teach on these issues on Wednesday, May 5 at 7 p.m. This special CORE Class titled, The Authority of Church & State, will allow us to address the important questions raised by our people as well as prepare our congregation for the upcoming changes. This event will be livestreamed and recorded.

In summary, in order to shepherd the congregational well, the mask requirement will extend one week, through Sunday, May 9. Beginning Sunday, May 16, masks will be available but will not be required.

Your continued grace and patience is greatly appreciated, and we hope you'll reach out to your leaders if you have questions pertaining to this change or the upcoming changes to the gathering guidelines.

May God continue to uphold our unity in the Spirit. Jesus is King!

Questions? Eric Swanson

April 9, 2021

UPCOMING CHANGES

Throughout this contentious year in our country the Lord has shown his abundant grace to us as a church, as we’ve eagerly maintained our unity in the Spirit and the bond of peace. It is only by the great grace and mercy of God that we’ve deepened our love for one another even as opportunities for division continue to grow. 
 
Our fellowship is now faced with another pressure point as news broke Tuesday that the statewide mask mandate was officially lifted, while Marion County continued their mask order indefinitely. We are aware that members of our church land on a wide spectrum concerning government restrictions during the pandemic. Since the beginning of the pandemic, our leadership has sought the Lord as they seek to honor the governing authorities God has placed over us (Rom. 13:1), soberly considering the health and safety of all our members and guests (Gal. 6:10) and, above all, holding fast to Christ and our mission to proclaim His gospel to a gathered community of believers and beyond (Heb. 10:25). 
 
On Tuesday, our elders met for their weekly prayer meeting and prayed for wisdom to discern what course of action is best for our church community considering these recent developments. The whole elder council agreed that our church will continue to require masks during the entirety of our services through Sunday, May 2. Beginning Sunday, May 9, masks will become optional.
 
Our leadership has chosen this date in an effort to give everyone who desires a vaccine the opportunity receive one.  As of March 31, everyone 16 and older is eligible to receive a vaccine in Indiana, and appointments are increasingly available. To be clear, we are not requiring vaccination, but simply want to give those who desire to be vaccinated time to do so. 
 
We understand that not everyone will agree with this decision, but we hope that you’ll understand the reasoning behind the policy and continue to give grace to all even if you don’t agree on this momentary matter. 
 
We are so encouraged that so many of you have refused to put stumbling blocks before your fellow church members and have given grace to those who differ on matters of conscience. Thank you for your commitment to the gospel and considering others interests more important than your own. Let’s continue to declare together that our righteousness is Jesus Christ alone, and not in any works of the flesh as differing matters of conscience will surely continue. 
 
As always, this decision is based off current knowledge, and leadership will consider revising this policy if new information arises. Pray for your elders as they hold all their plans with an open hand before the Lord.
 
Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. – I Peter 3:8
 
Jesus is King!
 
Questions? Eric Swanson
March 25, 2021

First, we want to praise the Lord for the decline in COVID-19 infections over the last couple months. It's been so wonderful to see so many of our families able to worship with us in person over the last few weeks. Recently, both the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), Governor Holcomb  and Mayor Hogsett made announcements regarding state and local COVID-19 guidelines.

As always, your elders are seeking the Lord as to how we best lead our church through these changes and work hard to take everything into consideration. In light of these recent announcements, here are some changes taking effect this Sunday, March 28.

  • Capacity: This Sunday, you'll notice that we've added a few more rows back into the sanctuary to accommodate the increase in attendance. Gym seating will continue to help with overflow and to accommodate any high-risk individuals. 
  • Chairs: Additionally, we will no longer require three seats between families. In order to ensure everyone is comfortable during worship, before taking your seat, ask to make sure the nearest families are comfortable sitting closer than three seats. You can also let an Usher know your seating preference!
  • Coffee: Lastly, the cafe is back! This Sunday, we hope the smell of church coffee brings a sense of normalcy back to our lives and helps us get ready for worship! Coffee will be available before and in-between services.

Masks: As of today, masks will continue to be required and will be required on Easter Sunday. We will continue to monitor guidance from our local health officials and notify you of any changes in the coming weeks.

Please remember to pray for your elders and hold all our plans with an open hand to the Lord.

Let us continue striving to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”(Eph. 4:2-3)

Jesus is King!

Questions? Contact Eric Swanson

November 19, 2020

"Gather Again" Update

Since the beginning of the Covid crisis, the elders of Castleton Community Church have sought the Lord's wisdom to care for the health congregation both in body and soul.

As cases of Covid-19 are on the rise in our state and county, the elders saw the need to address concerns from our congregation and to put forward a plan to best care for everyone in this difficult time.

On Monday, the elders decided that on the Sunday's of Nov. 29 & Dec. 27, we will only offer online services. Their desire is to mitigate risk to our congregants following the potential increased gatherings during the holiday season. Our goal is not to diminish the importance of the gathered church, but to take seriously the cautions of our local health officials and do our best to avoid an outbreak that may cause us to miss more Sunday's together.

Outside of these two Sundays, the church plans to continue our Sunday morning in-person services and our full slate of Castleton KIDS ministry, while continuing the protective measures already in place. For those worshiping at home, we love you and encourage you to continue to worshiping with us on our livestream. We'll continue to provide Castleton KIDS curriculum at castletoncc.com/kids.

Sunday Morning Guidelines

We want to continue to stress the importance of staying home if you feel sick or were in close contact with anyone testing positive for Covid, wearing your masks correctly for the entire service, and doing your best to maintain safe social distance. We will continue sanitizing the church between services and We praise God for His protection over our church, and we trust Him for continued care for the months to come.

Please remember that the elders hold these plans with an open hand, and will communicate any necessary changes.

Let us continue striving to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”(Eph. 4:2-3)

Jesus is King!

Questions? Contact Eric Swanson

July 15, 2020

"Gather Again" Update

After much prayer and planning, we are excited to announce that Phase 3 of our Gather Again plan will begin Sunday, August 23.

Lord willing, we will gather again for worship, in our building, at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. These services will last an hour and we are committed to continue livestreaming these services on our website.

Until then, we will continue to gather Sunday evenings at 5 p.m. on the lawn, weather permitting.

Why August 23rd?

There are a number of factors that determined this date for our elders and want to communicate a few of them to you.

First, we value highly the ability for everyone in our congregation to gather. The outdoor services have allowed the greatest number of worshipers to gather safely and at the same time. Once we move back indoors, we are aware that many may not be able to gather. We also don't want to underestimate the local outreach potential our outdoor services are having in our community. 

Second, we wanted to wait till after area schools begin to publish their plans for classes this fall. We know worshiping as a parent with young children is difficult in this season, and we want to serve the families as much as we feel is safe and the government allows. We will communicate our full Sunday School plan for kids in early August.

Third, during this season we have taken advantage of our empty building by updating some parts of our facility! We feel like we can be ready both with the updates and our new sanitation efforts by August 23 but not earlier. We can't wait to show you the updates!

What will Gathering indoors look like?

We'll give a more robust description of what to expect along with video as this Sunday approaches, but here is a glimpse of what it will look like.

Social Distancing

We will strictly follow the guidance from our local authorities and health officials and will maintain social distancing guidelines. We will be limited to 80 worshipers in the Sanctuary and 80 worshipers in the Gym per service. We will stream the service in the Gym on two large screens. We will ask everyone to RSVP for a service each week so we can avoid turning away people because of capacity issues.

All rows will be spaced 6’ apart, and empty seats will be placed between households in order to respect social distancing. After the service, ushers will dismiss attendees by row, and we welcome you to fellowship with one another on the front lawn and not in the church building.

Sanitation

To ensure a safe environment on Sundays, restrooms and high contact areas will undergo sterilization before and after each service. Hand sanitizing stations will also be available throughout the building. We will ask all worshipers to self-screen for symptoms prior to coming to church and ask they stay home if they show any signs of illness.

It may certainly feel different, but we will be worshiping the same Lord!

Striving for Unity

We have already seen the devil sow seeds of disunity in our church and so we ask that you do not allow those seeds to take root. Let us strive to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”(Eph. 4:2-3). Let’s not give the devil a foothold, by being gracious toward those who come to different convictions on gathering indoors and be willing to give up your rights so that you might not cause a hindrance to the gospel (1 Cor. 9:12,15-23).

Questions? Contact Eric Swanson

June 17, 2020  

Phase 2 "Gather Again" Update

We praise the Lord for the special gathering we had together last Sunday! This week, our staff evaluated the beginning of Phase 2 including our outdoor gatherings and we want to help plan for the next couple weeks.

This Sunday, June 21, we will NOT gather outside on the lawn. We will continue worshiping together virtually through our livestream page. Please worship with us online at 10 a.m. at castletoncc.com/livestream or on Facebook Live.

We encourage you to continue gathering with your Phase 1 families.  If you need help finding a family to worship with at home, please fill out a Gather Again Request Form to connect with a Castleton family.

Mark your calendars for our next outdoor gathering on June 28 at 5 p.m. Bring your lawn chairs, dinner/snacks for your family, and come early to find a family circle. If you plan to park your car, please plan to arrive at 4:30. Lawn parking will close at 4:50. 

JUNE AT A GLANCE: 
June 21: 10 a.m. Livestream Online Service (no outdoor service)
June 28: 10 a.m. Livestream Online Service & 5 p.m. Outdoor Service

May 6, 2020  

GOD’S STRENGTH IN SUFFERING: COVID-19 UPDATE

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Since March 8, the saints of College Park Castleton have not gathered for worship under the direction of our local and state authorities due to ongoing risks of COVID-19. This pandemic has brought on a variety of challenges, unexpected graces, and much suffering. Our church family has experienced economic hardship, physical & emotional distress, and deep sorrow as we grieve the passing of one of our own and others unable to shelter with their loved ones. Our church is again learning how to weep with those who weep.

Amidst this great calamity, we praise the Lord for how He has remained faithful to His promises and given us strength in suffering. We rejoice as our unity remains strong in the Lord even while we’ve been apart. We’ve been encouraged through seeing families worship together, regular Sunday prayers, along with flourishing men’s and women’s bible studies. Furthermore, God’s people are finding fresh ways to bless those in need by making masks for hospitals and congregants, providing food for health care workers, and building the Castleton Community Pantry!

Our hearts’ desire is to meet together again and worship with the saints as we together long for the Day we are with our Savior and all His people forever. Over these weeks, your elders have prayed for you and sought to shepherd and support you with the love of Christ. They have also prayed for wisdom and diligently sought the Lord’s guidance for how to best “gather again” while still following our governing authorities and protecting the most vulnerable among us.

On May 1, Governor Eric Holcomb announced his BackOnTrack plan to systematically reopen our state over the next few months, including updated recommendations for places of worship. Under these new guidelines and continued guidance from Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, the elders are encouraging our congregation to enter into phase one of our church’s three-phase “Gather Again” plan.

Phase 1: “Gathering Again” in Homes

Lord willing, beginning May 17, 2020, we are encouraging College Park Castleton families who would like to do so to host 1-2 additional family units (limit 10 individuals) from among our church community and neighborhoods to worship together each Sunday morning in their homes.

Phase 1: General Guidelines

We understand there are a variety of factors and levels of risk at play for each individual or family; therefore, we want to offer a few guidelines and allow each family to decide what makes most sense for them. Above all, if you feel uncomfortable or unsafe hosting or being hosted, we encourage you to stay home.

In compliance with Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Indiana State and local guidelines, we strongly encourage that congregants in these gatherings 1) maintain a safe social distance, 2) wear protective masks, and 3) support healthy hygiene behaviors in their homes such as regular hand washing, providing hand sanitizer, and proper home sanitation measures. 

If you do not have access to a mask or hand sanitizer, the church has a limited supply available for host homes to provide. Please email Eric Swanson at to coordinate a pickup time for any needs.

In order to further mitigate the spread of COVID-19, we ask that once you gather with a family(s) for worship, that you continue with that same family(s) each Sunday during Phase 1. While we understand the desire to see more of our church family, keeping the same groups together will help isolate cases if there is ever an infection.

Before committing to gather with a specific family(s), make sure that all parties are comfortable with the arrangement and ensure that social distancing can be maintained in the home. We understand that staying socially distant in homes will limit the amount of people any one family can reasonably host, and that is our reasoning for limiting the in-home gatherings for Phase 1. If anyone in these groups tests positive for COVID-19 or exhibits significant symptoms, we ask that all members of the group wait at least fourteen (14) days before gathering again.

To be clear, these gatherings are not exclusively being hosted within Castleton Small Groups.  If you choose to serve as a host, you can let the church staff or an elder know so we can support you and communicate any changes during Phase 1.

Striving for Unity: We unfortunately anticipate that the Deceiver is ready to sow division among our body as we form these gatherings. Therefore, let us strive to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love  eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”(Eph. 4:2-3). Let’s not give the devil a foothold; rather, let’s be gracious toward those who come to differing convictions on participation in such gatherings.

At-Risk Population

If you are included in the vulnerable population (see CDC At-Risk populations), we urge you to continue to follow CDC guidelines and worship at home during this time. If you need assistance of any kind to stay home and safe, please let us know here.

Our Hope

Our hope and expectation for these small gatherings is that each one be filled with the Spirit of Christ (Matt. 18:20), and that each individual would take advantage of this opportunity to intentionally invest in one another’s spiritual well-being through prayer, fellowship, and discipleship of one another and their children. Each week, we hope you’ll take advantage of the discipleship resources provided on our website and maximize these gatherings for God’s glory and your good. We also pray God would use these home gatherings for evangelistic opportunities as friends and neighbors witness the fellowship and hope we have in Christ.

Request to Host or Guest

If you are not in the vulnerable population and would like to host a family from our church or you need help connecting with a host family, you can let us know by filling out a Phase 1: Gather Again Request Form, and we’ll do our best to connect you with a family to worship alongside. We regretfully expect that some families may not be able to find a family to gather with for a variety of reasons; nevertheless, we ask that you remain patient and trust the Lord that He will continue to provide all your needs in Christ.

Like in all seasons, we plan with open hands and recognize our best efforts will most likely fall short and change over time, yet we will continue to hold fast to the One who is our sure and steady anchor and is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Phase 1: “Gather Again” in Homes Summary*

Summary: Lord willing, beginning Sunday, May 17, 2020, we are encouraging College Park Castleton families to host 1-2 additional family units (limit 10 individuals) from among our church community and neighborhoods to worship together each Sunday morning in their homes.

*subject to change if new directives are given by our governing authorities

Phase 1 Guideline Summary:

  • Limit home Sunday worship gatherings to 10 (ten) individuals or less
  • Maintain social distancing (6ft.)
  • Wear protective masks (available upon request)
  • Support healthy hygiene behaviors in host homes (hand washing, hand sanitizer, tissues, thorough sanitation efforts on commonly used areas)
  • Gather with same individuals each week to mitigate possibility of spread
  • Vulnerable populations encouraged to continue to worship at home
  • If you need help find a family to worship alongside, let us know by filling out a Phase 1: Gather Again Request Form
  • All other ministries will continue virtually

Phase 2: “Gather Again” Outdoors 

Summary: Lord willing, beginning Sunday, June 14, 2020, we plan to periodically offer special outdoor services on the church property, in addition to the regular Sunday morning livestream.

 Phase 2: Further Details

  • Livestream services will continue each Sunday morning at 10 a.m. and we encourage phase one in-home worship gatherings to continue meeting
  • Weather permitting, we’ll periodically gather outdoors for special evening services
    • Social distancing (6ft.) maintained throughout outdoor services
    • Protective masks will be available upon request
    • Hand sanitizer stations available
    • Vulnerable populations encouraged to continue to take strong precautions and remain in their vehicles during the special outdoor services
    • Communion is observed with pre-packaged elements and safe distribution

Phase 3: “Gather Again” Indoors

Summary: Presently, the elders are unsure when indoor services will commence. The elders and staff long for the day when we can worship together in our building, but there are a variety of factors that cause us to delay gathering indoors. Those factors include:

  • Our church sanctuary capacity is extremely limited with the social distancing limitations
  • Many of our church members are in the vulnerable population
  • Pastor Tommy is among the most vulnerable population and is unable to preach in-person without a mask
  • The entrances, exits, Atrium, and Commons are all narrow which make it difficult to social distance
  • Limited bathrooms increase risk of the virus spreading
  • Our sanctuary has limited ventilation and would stretch services across the day
  • We have many young families with young children and providing childcare is discouraged at this time

 

Zoom Q&A Meetings

If you have any questions regarding our “Gather Again” plan, we will be holding all congregation Zoom Q&A meeting next Friday evening, May 8, at 8 p.m. You can find details about this Congregation Zoom Q&A at castleton.yourchurch.com/zoom

Stay Informed   

All future communication will continue to be distributed through this page: castleton.yourchurch.com/updates. The best source of information on COVID-19 is the CDC’s website. You can find Governor Holcomb's BackOnTrack plan at: https://www.backontrack.in.gov/

If you have any questions, please email  .   

May 2, 2020  

Yesterday, May 1, Governor Eric Holcomb announced the State of Indiana's BackOnTrack plan to systematically reopen the state over the next few months. This plan included recommendations for places of worship that will affect our congregation in the coming weeks.

This Sunday, May 3, nothing will change for our congregation, and we will continue to worship at home via our online service at 10 a.m.

Lord willing, early next week, your elders will communicate our church's plan to safely gather again. Please pray for wisdom and discernment as the elders seek to comply with the recommendations of our state and local authorities as well as shepherd our congregation with care and clarity.

Thank you, for your patience and for showing grace towards one another during this challenging season.

Stay Informed   

All future communication will continue to be distributed through this page: castleton.yourchurch.com/updates. The best source of information on COVID-19 is the CDC’s website. You can find Governor Holcomb's BackOnTrack plan at: https://www.backontrack.in.gov/

If you have any questions, please email  .   

March 19, 2020  

We want to update you and provide additional clarity on how we are planning future worship services and ministry events. Thank you for your patience as we navigate this challenging season.

Following the latest guidance from Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb and the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH), College Park Castleton will not gather in person but will offer online Sunday morning worship services until further notice.

In addition, all College Park Castleton ministry events and meetings are canceled or postponed until further notice. Our Easter worship service on April 12, 2020 will be online only. Our offices will continue to stay closed, and the staff is working remotely until further notice.

Sunday Morning Worship Services   

Sunday morning worship services will now be live streamed at 10 A.M. at castleton.yourchurch.com/service with recordings of the full worship services available at castleton.yourchurch.com/sermons 

Financial Measures & Giving

Our staff and elders are taking aggressive measures to freeze all non-essential spending while still focusing on the priorities of: (1) serving people inside and outside our church, (2) providing for our staff as they minister, and (3) supporting our global partners. Thankfully, our church was in a solid financial position prior to this season.

However, your sacrificial gifts are necessary to keep us ministering to all. Online giving is now the main way to support the ongoing ministry of College Park Castleton. You can give online at castleton.yourchurch.com/give. We are encouraging everyone to set up a new online giving account before we transition to self-governance on April 1.

A step-by-step tutorial video is available to help you set up a new online giving account.

Pastoral Care   

We care deeply for those who are affected by this and are praying for God’s leading and wisdom as we navigate the next few weeks. If you need assistance in any way or would like to help provide assistance, please fill out the Covid-19 Care and Assistance Form.

The most important thing we can do is pray. Please join our elders and staff for a special prayer time each Sunday night at 5 p.m. on Facebook Live and post any prayer requests to our Prayer Wall.

Stay Informed

All future communication will continue to be distributed through this page: castleton.yourchurch.com/updates. The best source of information on COVID-19 is the CDC’s website. If you have any questions, please email Eric Swanson at  .

Thank you for helping us keep College Park Castleton a safe place to know and trust Jesus.

March 14, 2020

Following the latest guidance from Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb and the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH),College Park Church Castleton will not gather in person but will post Sunday morning worship services beginning Sunday, March 15 through Sunday, April 5, 2020. 

In addition, all College Park Church Castleton ministry events and meetings are canceled through Friday, April 10, 2020. The church offices are also closed and the staff is working remotely until further notice.

Sunday Morning Worship Services   

Sunday morning full worship services will be posted each Sunday at castleton.yourchurch.com/service with recordings of each service available at castleton.yourchurch.com/sermons


Pastoral Care 
 

If you are in need of assistance or desire to assist our church family in need, please let us know here. Please know your leaders love you and will continue to care for you during this season.

Stay Informed

All future communication will continue to be distributed through this page: castleton.yourchurch.com/updates The best source of information on COVID-19 is the CDC’s website. If you have any questions, please email Eric Swanson at  .

Thank you for helping us keep College Park Castleton a safe place to know and trust Jesus.

March 12, 2020

Dear Church Family, 

It is out of our deep care for you and for our neighbors that we, as part of the College Park Family of Churches, will not gather in person on Sunday, March 15, 2020. 

We do not take this cancellation lightly as we understand our gathering is foundational to our unity and growth in Christ. Nevertheless, we will post our full Sunday morning worship service at 9 a.m. this Sunday at castleton.yourchurch.com/service.

We encourage all of College Park Castleton to participate as you are able, knowing that the body of Christ is united by God's Spirit, and we can be encouraged by one another from a distance. 

Please take heart as we are closely monitoring all information and guidance from officials with the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We will make decisions regarding future Sunday worship service gatherings on a week-to-week basis and will communicate those decisions here at castleton.yourchurch.com/updates and in the Castleton eNews. 

Pastoral Care   

Our elder, deacon, and staff teams are developing plans for pastoral care for our people in this season, especially for those in our congregation who are at greatest risk.  

For Small Groups and Bible studies, we encourage you to explore other ways to meet via phone or video calls to continue ministering to, encouraging, and praying for one another in the weeks ahead.  

We care deeply for those who are already affected by this and are praying for God’s leading and wisdom as we navigate the next few weeks. We resonate with the apostle Paul in I Thess 2:17 when he says,

"But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face"

Stay Informed   

All future communication will continue to be distributed through this page: castleton.yourchurch.com/updates. The best source of information on COVID-19 is the CDC’s website. If you have any questions, please email  .   

Thank you for helping us keep College Park Church Castleton a safe place where we can come together to know and trust Jesus.

March 11, 2020

According to the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) there are now 10 confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Indiana, representing seven Indiana counties.  

In an abundance of caution and care for the College Park Church Castleton family, and with a desire to help limit the spread of COVID-19 in Indiana, College Park Church is canceling all ministry events and meetings (except for Sunday morning worship services, nursery, preschool, and elementary) through Sunday, March 29, 2020.   

At this time, Sunday morning worship services (and 3/29 Prayer & Praise), nursery, preschool, and elementary will continue as normally scheduled, pending further notice.  

We are closely monitoring all information and guidance from officials with the ISDH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Please read our March 5 update below to review our increased sanitization protocol. We will prayerfully determine on a day-to-day basis whether further steps are needed and update accordingly.  

Take Precautions  

For Sunday mornings, we caution you to practice the standard, flu-season safety precautions that we are already familiar with, including: 

  • Cough etiquette and hygiene
  • Thorough and regular hand washing (particularly after touching your face)
  • Social distancing (limiting physical contact with others) 

Risk-Related Guidance for Sunday Morning Participation   

Based on guidance from the CDC, we request you do not attend Sunday morning services or nursery, preschool, and children’s ministry if you are in any of these at-risk categories:  

  1. Older adults (typically age 60 and above)
  2.  People who have serious chronic medical conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, or lung disease
  3.  Immunosuppressed individuals (people with recent or upcoming surgeries; people on autoimmune treatments, including steroids; people with impaired heart, kidney, or liver function; or people going through cancer treatment)
  4. Direct caregivers of at-risk individuals (non-medical personnel) 

Additionally, we request you do not attend Sunday morning services or Sunday schools if you meet any of the following conditions:  

  1. Have had flu-like symptoms (cough, fever, shortness of breath, vomiting) in the past 14 days
  2. Have traveled internationally within the past 14 days 
  3. Have traveled recently to domestic areas that have been highly affected by the coronavirus in the past 14 days
  4. Have been in close contact with someone with flu-like symptoms in the past 14 days  

Pastoral Care  

Our elder, deacon, and staff teams are beginning to develop plans for pastoral care for our people in this season, especially for those in our congregation who are at greatest risk. 

For Small Groups and Bible studies, we encourage you to explore other ways to meet via phone or video calls to continue ministering to, encouraging, and praying for one another through Sunday, March 29, 2020.  

We care deeply for those who are already affected by this and are praying for God’s leading and wisdom as we navigate the next few weeks.   

Stay Informed  

All future communication will continue to be distributed through this page: yourchurch.com/updates. The best source of information on COVID-19 is the CDC’s website. If you have any questions, please email  .    

Thank you for helping us keep College Park Church Castleton a safe place where we can come together to know and trust Jesus.

March 7, 2020

The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) confirmed the first case of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Indiana. According to Fox59, the individual who tested positive has been in self-quarantine after realizing he might have been exposed to the virus. State Health Commissioner Kristina Box, M.D., FACOG said the risk to the general public is low.

We are aware of the situation and continue to closely monitor all information and guidance from officials with the ISDH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Please read our March 5 update below to review the sanitization protocol.

Take Precautions

Again, we caution you to practice the standard, flu-season safety precautions we are already familiar with—including practicing cough etiquette and hygiene, washing your hands thoroughly and regularly, particularly after touching your face, and limiting physical contact with others. 

Reduce Risk

Currently, we have decided to continue regular programming at College Park Church Castleton. At the same time, we ask you to avoid attending any church activity, including Sunday worship, if any of these conditions are met: 

  1. You have had any flu-like symptoms in the past 7 days such as fever, cough, vomiting, or shortness of breath
  2. You have been in close contact with someone with flu-like symptoms in the past 7 days 
  3. You have traveled from an area in the past 7 days with confirmed cases and/or suspect you may have been exposed 
  4. You have traveled to or from China, Italy, Iran, or South Korea or any other country flagged as level 2 or level 3 alerts in the past 14 days

Stay Informed

All future communication will be distributed through this page: castleton.yourchurch.com/updates. For general information, the best source of information is the CDC’s website. If you have any questions, please email

Pray

  • Pray for the many medical professionals, public safety professionals, educators, missionaries, and others who are affected
  • Pray for the Lord’s protection from illness among our people
  • Pray for gospel opportunities to come from this outbreak
  • Pray for wisdom regarding ministry impact in the event of local COVID-19 cases

Thank you for helping us keep College Park Church Castleton a safe place where we can come together to know and trust Jesus.

March 6, 2020

In response to growing concern regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19), we would like to update you on our planning and precautionary health and safety measures in place at College Park Church Castleton.

Your health and safety are important to us, and we care about College Park Castleton being a place of refuge for our loving community.

As the College Park Church leadership has reviewed information from the Indiana State Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and representatives from within the medical community, we are preparing with the following strategies: 

Elevated Sanitization Protocol

As of earlier this week, we have increased our already-thorough cleaning and sanitation procedures. The following precautions are in place for the foreseeable future:

  • We will make all efforts to supply hand sanitizer at Sanctuary doors, check-in areas, and restrooms, pending very limited supply availability 
  • Communion will be delivered in contained cups and packaged crackers
  • Increased building signage will encourage thorough hand washing
  • All doorknobs, trash cans, and non-porous surfaces will be sanitized frequently with CDC-approved cleaning products

Take Precautions

As is recommended during any flu season, practice the safety precautions we are already familiar with, including practicing cough etiquette and hygiene, washing your hands regularly, particularly after touching your face, and limiting physical contact with others.

Reduce Risk

Currently, we are not canceling any regular programming at College Park Castleton. However, in an abundance of caution, we ask that you avoid attending church activities including Sunday worship if any of these conditions are met: 

  1. You have had any flu-like symptoms in the past 7 days such as fever, cough, vomiting, or shortness of breath
  2. You have been in close contact with someone with flu-like symptoms in the past 7 days 
  3. You have traveled to or from China, Italy, Iran, or South Korea or any other country flagged as level 2 or level 3 alerts in the past 14 days

Stay Informed

All future communication will be distributed here, at castleton.yourchurch.com/updates. For general information, the best source of information is the CDC’s website. If you have any questions, please email

Pray

  • Pray for the many medical professionals, public safety professionals, educators, missionaries, and others who are already affected or are preparing for a possible spread into Indiana
  • Pray for the Lord’s protection from illness among our people
  • Pray for gospel opportunities to come from this outbreak as we rest in the hands of our sovereign Lord
  • Pray for wisdom regarding ministry impact in the event of local COVID-19 cases

Thank you for helping us keep College Park Church Castleton a safe place where we can come together to know and trust Jesus.