Grace and Peace to all of you.

After much prayer, listening and discernment, we have decided to wait one more week to restart congregational worship on a limited basis on May 24th.  This will allow more time to get all safety precautions in place and rehearsed.   It will also allow us more time to learn how the region’s yellow phase works in practice for us and for local businesses and institutions.   We have attached the phase-in plan that will guide our reopening.   Churches are essential as per the Governor’s list, yet we also know that extreme caution must be put into place.

Masks and social distancing will be expected by all.    There will be UV air purifiers in the sanctuary, and wipes will be in the pews.   All leaders and ushers will be screened and have their temperatures taken with no-touch thermometers.   We ask that folks would stay at home if they have a fever, have traveled outside of the region; or within the past 14 day prior to coming to church have been around anyone who tested positive or exhibit symptoms of COVID-19.

So that we can ensure social distancing, please register for a service on our website or email or call the church office.  Again, we look forward to seeing some of you on May 24^th even as we continue our online worship with those we cannot see in person.  We respect your decision regardless of whether you decide to worship online or in person.  We ask that no one feel any pressure to do anything that would be unreasonably unsafe for them and their family.   Please pray for our church, leadership, community and world.

God Bless,
Pastor Bill

 

REOPENING PLAN:

Grace UM Church	PANDEMIC Return Plan Based on “Opening UP America Again Guidelines and PA Phased Re-opening Plan (color)
PHASE 1  RETURN   Phase I Yellow                     .	PHASE 2  TRANSITION   Phase II, Green *             .	PHASE 3  NEW NORMAL                                     .
STRICT SAFE DISTANCING	MODERATE SAFE DISTANCING	NEW SAFETY NORMS
Worship:  Spaced seating (every 3rd row 6 ft. distance)**       with reservations for seating	Worship: Spaced Seating in every 2nd row (6 ft. distance)** with reservations for seating	Worship:  Full Regular Seating no reservations required
Parking Lot Worship continues	Parking Lot or Courtyard	Parking Lot/Courtyard for Special Events
Life Groups may resume (group vote) ***	Other Grace Church events begin	Full program incl. hosting others (weddings/scouts, etc)
All staff back to work – separate areas	Staff at separate areas	Staff all in Growth Center Offices w/sanitation
Masks required & gloves recommended	Masks and gloves (optional)	Masks and gloves (optional)
No handshaking	No handshaking	Handshaking optional/use of no-shake buttons
Sanitizer Stations / optional no-touch temperature	Sanitizer Stations	Sanitizer Stations
Hand wipes in pews	Hand wipes in pews	People may bring their own wipes
No nursery or Kids Village	Kids Village with temp checks and Sani-Hands ****	Kids Village with Temp checks and Sani-Hands ****
Youth begins in small groups	Youth begin meeting regularly/carefully	Youth begins special events
No Coffee time in Welcome Center	Drinks dispensed by hosts in Welcome Center	Self-serve drinks with regular sanitizing
No Communion	Pre-packaged Communion	Gloves worn by food servers/communion stewards
Offering boxes to be used	Offering boxes	Resume passing offering plates in worship services
Folks exhibiting signs of illness to stay home	Folks exhibiting signs of illness to stay home	Folks exhibiting signs of illness to stay home
Sanitize areas between services	Sanitize areas between services	Knobs/railings, doors sanitized weekly
On-line Services Continue	On-line Services Continue	On-line Services Continue

*   Should our region be moved backward, we may go back to previous phase & if any staff or congregant tests positive, initiate Exposed Plan (see reverse side)
**   Though PA Phased Opening Plan says 25, religious groups are essential, yet need to have strict social distancing with 6 feet between families
***   Staff & Pastors will be provided video content for groups to watch together or on their own.
****   Parents will be present for forehead temperature check and will sanitize children’s hands with church-provided wipes or wash hands at entry to children’s wing.

 

 

Grace UMC Plan In the Event of Exposure to a Probable or Confirmed Case of Covid 19 *

 

1. Any employee who develops symptoms during work shall be sent home immediately without affecting their sick days. Any congregant with symptoms will be asked to return home by a designated staff person.

 

2. Areas visited and equipment used by the probable/confirmed individual will be put out of use until air is exchanged and areas/equipment are sanitized.

 

3. Wait 24 hours to clean and disinfect the area and equipment.

 

4. Any staff who develops symptoms at home shall notify their supervisor. Congregants who develop symptoms are asked to call the church office so that those at risk of exposure may be traced.

 

5. Identify individuals who were within 6 ft of the probable/confirmed person for 10 minutes or more from the period of 48 hours previous to symptom onset. Anyone who had exposure should follow CDC guidelines in its April 8, 2020 “Guidance for Those Exposed.”

 

6. Employees who are able, will work from home for two weeks. Those coming to work will have temperature screened daily in parking area before entering buildings.  Any with a temperature over 100.4 shall return home and remain home according to CDC recommendations.

 

 

*Source: PA State Government Document: Guidance for Businesses Permitted to Operate During the Covid-19 Disaster Emergency to Ensure The safety and Health of Employees and Public.