Newsletter

October/November 2020 Newsletter

The good news is that your vestry has voted to move forward with a hybrid service of in-person and virtual worship under the diocesan guidelines for reopening. So, this means that we will be offering the opportunity to worship in person and Zoom simultaneously just as soon as we can complete all the items on the diocesan checklist. Once we have completed all the items, the wardens and I will sign that we have done so and are committed to ensuring they are followed. The final step is for us to submit this signed commitment to the diocese.

As you’ll see throughout this newsletter, various vestry committees and subcommittees are working hard and are seeking volunteers. In some cases, they will also be calling on groups or individuals for donations to offset some of the costs required. Please be generous with your time and talents.

I think it’s important that we all know the checklist items we will be working toward so that we can master them together. You can find a complete and detailed list of the requirements behind each checklist item on the diocesan website. If you don’t want to read the whole 10-page document, here are the items on the checklist. I’ve put some additional information in parentheses that has been gleaned from the longer document, but otherwise, these are directly from the checklist at the end of the document on the Web site.

Preparing/Cleaning/Disinfecting

All common spaces in the worship space have been thoroughly cleaned/or plan is in place before first service.
Plans for ongoing cleaning and sanitizing between services and at end of day are in place.
Plans for ongoing cleaning and disinfecting church between services are in place.
Adequate time between services for cleaning and disinfecting is planned.
All non-essential items have been removed from all rooms so that there are fewer surfaces to touch.
EPA regulations regarding building water quality have been followed.

Common Spaces & Furnishings

Prayer books, hymnals, bibles, pens, information cards, etc. have been removed from pews.
Plan for distribution of worship bulletins and disposal of bulletins is in place.
Completed review and re-arrangement, if needed, of physical layout of spaces such as narthex, nave, sacristy, vesting areas, etc. to maintain physical distancing and overall safety.
Clearly delineated markings for how physical distancing is maintained between individuals or family groups.
Bathrooms have signage indicating one-at-a-time usage only.
Supplies available in bathrooms for quick disinfecting (disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer).
Signage about personal hygiene (handwashing, disposing of any trash).

Supplies & Equipment Needed
Hand sanitizer, tissues and waste baskets are accessible and in convenient locations. Face coverings are available for those who do not have them.

Member/Visitor Awareness & Communication

Entry and exiting plans created.
Plan created to assure compliance with maximum number of people allowed. (The maximum number of people allowed in-person for a church building our size is 25. We can have 25 per floor if each floor is treated as a separate building and we have a way for folks on both levels to actively participate in worship.)
Signage about physical distancing, entering, exiting, maximum occupancy, hand washing, wearing of facial coverings, non-contact greetings and refraining from shaking hands or hugging is visible and posted.
Congregation is aware of plans for their return and also know to stay home if they are sick or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.
Plan in place if member of congregation or visitor becomes infected with COVID-19.
Plan in place if member or visitor is ill.
Plan in place for someone who refuses to wear a face covering.
Training has been provided to clergy, staff and volunteers (especially greeters, altar guild, readers) in new procedures.

Worship Services

Plans for maintaining remote/online services are in place
If applicable, procedures for celebrating the Eucharist are in place.
Worship bulletins have clear instructions about procedures and guidelines for entering and exiting space, greeting and passing of peace, reception of communion (if applicable), and wearing of face coverings.
Collection boxes are accessible for pledges and donations.
Families celebrating baptisms, weddings and funerals are aware of guidelines and will commit to adhering to them. (In addition to these guidelines, there are some specific additional changes related to these ceremonies that I will discuss with families as applicable.)

The checklist may look a bit daunting. But, we can accomplish all these things together. We hope to begin the new hybrid experience in October.

Thanks for your prayers, patience and faithfulness.

Randi+

October/November 2020 Newsletter

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