Announcements

            Church building reopening plan revised

             January 10, 2022.

Worship service will be conducted in a “hybrid” manner (people attending via Zoom and/or physically).      These guidelines will be reviewed at each Commission Meeting and updated as the CDC and New York State Health Department COVID-19 guidelines evolve.

Stay Home If:

• You have a temperature of 100.4˚ or higher.
• You have other symptoms of illness. (CDC Guidelines)
      Cough or Chills
      Shortness of breath or Muscle pain
      Difficulty breathing
      Sore throat
      Fever
      Loss of taste or smell
• You have been exposed in the past 5 days to someone with COVID-19 or COVID-19 symptoms or have tested positive for COVID-19. If there is any chance you might be a risk to others, please stay home.

When Coming to in-person Church:

• In consideration of the latest CDC guidelines, mask wearing is now required for people attending indoor gatherings, such as Sunday worship.  Remember: Even if you are fully immunized, you could still unknowingly pass the virus on to others, so please wear that mask!  The delta variant is extremely transmissible.
  
• Use the hand sanitizer in the dispensers on the way in and out of church.
• We encourage physical distancing especially when indoors.  Please stay at least 6 feet away from others who are not part of your immediate family unit.
• Please avoid gathering in small groups for conversation unless wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing while doing so.  The recent omicron variant is extremely transmissible.
  
• WAVE. Please do NOT shake hands or hug.  Do not assume the other person is comfortable with physical contact, even if you know they are fully vaccinated.
  
• Please use a tissue or otherwise cover your mouth/nose if you cough or sneeze.

In-Person Guidelines:

• In-person attendees will “sign-in” upon arriving at the building for Sunday morning service (This information will only be used if someone attends service who tests positive for COVID-19).  This is in lieu of our former practice of "passing the friendship pads."
  
• Hand sanitizer will be available throughout the building.
  
• Please sit ONLY with cohabiting family/friends.  Otherwise, maintain social distancing.
  
• NO handshakes or hugs.
• Offering plates will be available at the sanctuary exit.  If you wish to make an offering, simply drop your donation in the plate.  This is in lieu of our former practice of passing a collection plate.
  
• In-person singing of hymns by congregants is permitted, but please keep your mask on and only sing lightly, if at all.  
  
• Music will continue to be a significant part of the service.  We have not yet transitioned back to a full choir.  Our music will either be prerecorded, or a soloist may be used in-person with physical distancing.
• All words for hymns and readings will be printed or projected.
•  Please observe signs for areas in the building that can be entered.
• No nursery.
• No sharing of food or drink.
• Communion will be held with prepackaged servings.

NOTE:

If anyone who attends worship tests positive or develops symptoms, please call the church office without delay. The church will be closed immediately and everyone who may have had contact or been exposed will be notified.  The health department will also be notified with your contact information.