Greetings HCFC Members,

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the leadership of HCFC have monitored daily the external and internal factors that may impact our response to COVID-19. We have continued to monitor community transmission rates in Frederick County to determine when we believe it would be appropriate to return to in-person worship and under what conditions. 


Hope Christian Fellowship Church will return to in-person worship beginning Wednesday, March 2 with our Holy Communion Service and continuing with our Sunday Worship Services. At the same time, we will also maintain our virtual worship service. For those who will join us for in-person worship services, given that our community transmission rate is low, according to Frederick County Statistics and the CDC, mask wearing for in-person worship services is strongly encouraged, but not required. Given this, please continue to pay attention to announcements on our website and through our social media regarding any necessary changes to our mask wearing expectations. 

In His Service,
Pastors Ronnie Henry and Keith Harris

Greetings HCFC Members,

Out of concern for the continued rise in COVID cases throughout Frederick County, Hope Christian Fellowship Church will hold virtual only services throughout the month of January.  We want to do our part in protecting our congregation, visitors, and our community.  We will reassess this decision towards the end of January to determine whether or not we will continue with virtual only services. 

While we will miss seeing you in person, it is for the safety of our membership, visitors, and community, that this decision has been made.  As we are in a state of emergency in Frederick County, we ask that you continue to practice all safety measures to help slow the spread of COVID.  

We remain committed to staying connected with you virtually and ask that you do the same by joining us during our Sunday Worship and Holy Communion Services, and our Bible Study Classes. 

Thank you for your continued support to our church and your service to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In His Service,
Pastors Ronnie Henry and Keith Harris

Greetings HCFC Members,

This coming Sunday, August 1, our church doors will be open for in-person worship to all members and visitors. We will have only one worship service, beginning at 9:30 AM. As we previously stated, we will not ask members or visitors about their vaccination status. While we encourage all who are eligible to get vaccinated, we respect the right of individuals to make this choice. There will also be no physical distancing requirements.

Although there will be no vaccination or physical distancing requirements, after reviewing the guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Maryland Department of Health (MDH), and working in close collaboration with the officials from the Frederick County Health Department (FCHD), we strongly encourage the wearing of masks when inside the church building.

In Frederick County, the contraction rate and percentage remain relatively low in comparison to other counties in Maryland. In comparison to many other states across the US, we remain extremely low. Additionally, the percentage of Frederick County residents who have been vaccinated are good in comparison to other counties and states, with approximately 80% of the elderly population, 70% of residents 18 years of age or older, and just under 50% of children 12-17 years of age vaccinated, respectively. While Frederick County is doing overall well against the spread of COVID 19 and with vaccinations of residents, we have definitely seen an increase in the number of contractions. It is for this reason that we strongly encourage the wearing of masks while inside the church building. If you desire a mask and do not have one with you, a mask can be provided. Other mitigating strategies we ask for your support with are the following:

• If you enter the church building, you affirm and attest that:
o You have not in the last 14 days had any close, prolonged contact with anyone who is either confirmed or suspected of being infected with COVID-19, including anyone who was experiencing or displaying any of the known symptoms of COVID-19 (which are listed below); AND
o You do not currently experience or display, and you have not in the last 7 days experienced or displayed, any of the following symptoms: Elevated temperature (100.5 or higher) or fever, Cough or sore throat, Shortness of breath and/or difficulty breathing, Loss of smell and/or taste, Fatigue, muscle aches, chills, shaking, or Any other flu-like symptoms.

• We ask that you leave the sanctuary and church building as soon as possible after the church service ends. Understanding you may wish to greet or fellowship with those whom you have not seen, we ask that you do so outdoors. Our trustees immediately sanitize the sanctuary after the worship service.

• Make it known, in some respectable way, your preference regarding physical contact with others. If you are uncomfortable with hugs, handshakes, or touches in any degree or of any sort, please respectfully make your wishes known to the other person. Please respect the wishes of others if they indicate to you their desire which is different than yours.

• The Fellowship Hall will be available to view the worship service for overflow or for additional physical distance with others, if possible.

During our worship service, you will notice the following mitigation strategies:

• Minimal movement in the sanctuary. There will be no “Meet and Greet” time and no formal offering time. We encourage your continued giving online, by mail or bank transfer, or by placing your offering in one of the offering boxes located at both doors of the sanctuary.

• Minimal leaders directly engaged in the worship service. Primarily, the worship leader will facilitate the entire service, other than the preacher for the day.

• Minimal Praise Team engagement. You will notice a combination of individual or pairs of praise team members singing in person and continued video production of new Praise Team selections. You will not initially see a full praise team or the regular use of musicians. There will be a gradual process to full engagement.

The situation with the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve. We will continue to monitor health metrics and data in our local community to make decisions that support keeping our members safe while we worship. We will provide updates as necessary through email and on our website. We ask for your continued prayers as we continue through this pandemic season. If you have any questions, please email the church at hcfchurch313@gmail.com.

In His Service,
Pastors Ronnie Henry and Keith Harris

Beginning the first Sunday in August (August 1st), in-person worship services will open to all members and visitors (virtual worship will continue as well). We will have only the one worship service at 9:30 AM. CDC and Maryland Health Department Guidelines in place at that time will be followed. With current guidance, there will be no mask requirements or distancing restrictions. We highly recommend that people who are not fully vaccinated wear a mask to protect themselves and others.

Upon return, we will not ask members and visitors whether or not they are vaccinated. We respect the right of individuals to make their own choice regarding this decision. We will, however, continue to make resources and information available about COVID-19 and vaccination opportunities. A great deal of information can be found on our church’s website.

Understanding that there will be no physical distancing or mask requirements when in person worship begins, we also respect members’ right and personal choice to attend in person services or to remain virtual.

We ask for your continued prayers for those directly involved in the transition and for members and families as they contemplate their personal choice of in-person or virtual worship. If you have any questions, please send an email to the church at hcfchurch313@gmail.com and someone will respond to you.

Please click here to view local COVID-19 Resources.

Recently, the Governor of Maryland lifted capacity limitations for certain businesses, restaurants, religious establishments, and many other indoor and outdoor activities.  While Maryland State has lifted restrictions, local counties still have the option to maintain restrictions in their areas of the state.  Such is the case in Frederick County.

The Frederick County Board of Health regulations that were enacted on November 27, 2020, remain in place for Frederick County.  Those regulations limit social gatherings, both inside and outside, to 25 people.  In addition to this limit, establishments, including religious institutions, must continue to comply with all distancing, at 6 feet, disinfecting, and mask requirements.  This board will be meeting within the coming weeks to review these restrictions, but in spite of this, the reason why restrictions remain in place in Frederick County is due to the disproportionate contraction rate of COVID-19 within the county.  Over a week’s time, the 7-day Positivity Rate jumped from 3.7% on March 11 to 5.1% on March 16, and as of yesterday grew to 5.2%.  This percentage is disproportionately high when considering our population size and is currently higher than the positivity rate overall in Maryland.  Confirmed cases continue to grow and deaths continue to occur.  The percentage of Frederick County residents who have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is only just over 12%. 

Members have asked, given the state reopening, when we might get back into the physical church building.  Our Leadership Ministry Fellowship has determined that due to the continued high rate of contractions in Frederick County, and the slow rate of vaccinations, we will maintain our current status, holding all church worship, bible studies, and other activities virtually.  We continually reassess this, however, we remain concerned about our members’ susceptibility to the virus.  Several members have had, and have, coronavirus.  Our priority is to continue to prioritize the safety of our members.  When we are in a position to begin phasing back into the sanctuary, we will do so with all precautions necessary.  Our plan for phasing back in is fully developed and ready for implementation as soon as that time comes, but now is not yet the time.  You can find our complete reopening plan here on our church website. 

We encourage all of our members that, when you are eligible, please get vaccinated.  Both Pastor Henry and myself have already begun our vaccination treatment, as have many of our other ministers and church leaders.  While it was the case that Frederick County received a low number of doses of the vaccine to distribute, the county is expected to receive many more doses in the coming weeks.  There are several ways you can get the vaccine.  You may complete a Frederick County COVID-19 Vaccine Interest Form by going to health.frederickcountymd.gov, and there you will find a link for COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic Information.  There are also several other distributors in Frederick County and throughout Maryland where you can pre-register to get vaccinated, including CVS, Walmart, Walgreens, and mass vaccination sites.  To find a provider near you, you can go to covidvax.maryland.gov, put in your zip code and pre-register for a location near you.

We ask that you continue to maintain safety precautions by washing your hands frequently, maintaining your distance, and wearing a mask whenever you leave your home.  And, in the proper time, we look forward to returning to the physical church building where we’ll continue to sow seeds of hope, transform lives, and reclaim the world for the Savior. 

In His Service,
Pastors Ronnie Henry and Keith Harris

Greetings Hope Family!  Grace and peace to you, from God the Father and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  As we approach our ninth month of striving to navigate safely through the global health crisis known as the Coronavirus Pandemic, we’ve continued to closely and daily track the specifics of the virus’ impact, both locally and nationally.  As you’re likely aware, Maryland’s positivity rate has exceeded 5% for the first time since June 2020 and health metrics are spiking locally and across the nation.  In fact, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan recently stated, “Since last week, most of our key metrics have worsened considerably.  More people are getting infected with the virus, more people are being hospitalized, more people are going into intensive care, and more Marylanders are dying.”  

Governor Hogan announced a series of actions to slow the spread of COVID-19.  A few of the newer and more impactful elements of the directive are as follows: 

  1. All residents ages 5 and older must wear face coverings in all indoor public spaces; and in public outdoor spaces where the person is unable to consistently maintain at least six feet of distance from individuals who are not members of their household.
 
2. Event gathering sizes at indoor AND outdoor venues is limited to 25 people or 25% of venue capacity, whichever is less.

3. Marylanders are strongly advised against traveling to any state with a positivity rate above 10% or any state with average case rates above 20 per 100K. Anyone traveling from these states should get tested and self-quarantine while awaiting results.

4. Religious facilities, retail establishments and malls may not exceed 50% capacity.

For detailed specifics of Gov. Hogan’s directives, click here.

Frederick County guidance and COVID-19 resources may be found by clicking here. 

Our priority at HCFC during this pandemic is unchanged.  The health and safety of every member of our congregation continues to be our chief aim.  Therefore, we will continue to have our Sunday worship services online each Sunday at 9:30am, and Holy Communion on the first Wednesday of each month at 7pm.  Our HCFC Bible Institute is fully operational with multiple opportunities to engage in Bible study and experience God together.  And we encourage you to join us for one-hour of Corporate Prayer on the 4th Friday of each month at 7PM. 

Although our physical facility will remain closed (with the exception of utilizing it to develop and produce our virtual services), God’s Church remains open and has not gone into hiding.  Our clergy, officers and ministry leaders and several members are continuing to find creative ways to connect all of us during this exceptional season, and we are continuing our attempts to enhance the virtual experience with our services and studies.  We sincerely thank you for your continual sacrificial service and financial support.  Your unwavering desire to cheerfully give and tithe affords us the means to process our internal fiduciary and membership care responsibilities and needs, as well as larger community and Kingdom initiatives, sowing external seeds to address and meet communal needs.  Praise God, from whom all blessings flow.  So, if you are experiencing difficulty meeting basic needs and are in need of assistance and/or guidance, please reach out to your Diaconate representative. 

I am reminded of this blessing from Paul’s letter to the Philippians: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:4-7)

May His peace dwell richly in your homes and neighborhoods as we abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

In His Service,
Pastors Ronnie Henry and Keith Harris