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Dear friends and members of ORUCC,
We take our responsibility for your safety and health with the utmost care as we consider various in-person opportunities. We will continue to live-stream worship so people can worship at home as well as join together in the sanctuary.
The ORUCC COVID-19 Implementation Team met on October 17 and agreed on the following steps to take so that we can meet again in person, as safely as possible. On October 31st the team came to worship to make sure all things were in place to welcome you for this Sunday November 7th at 10:00 AM for All Saints Day celebration and Communion. We ask that you bring your own mug or cup for communion. There will be extras.
It is important to note that this is a fluid situation. Moving forward, our team will be meeting monthly to assess how these plans are working and determine what modifications and clarifications may be needed in the face of a changing pandemic (and as we learn as we go). We have appreciated the patience, understanding, prayers and feedback of the congregation as we wrestle with these issues.
In general, the mindset is mitigation by masking and spacing, in order to embrace the entire church family. This includes:
Worship / General
· Worship will continue to be streamed every Sunday.
· All who enter the building will be required to wear either a KN95 mask or a high-quality surgical mask. The church has purchased a quantity of high-quality surgical masks for those using the building who don't already have an acceptable KN95 or surgical mask. Cloth masks will not be acceptable.
o This is similar to present policies at medical clinics. Cloth masks – especially when not washed – have a lower filtration efficiency than surgical masks.
o You are welcome to “layer up,” with the surgical mask beneath the cloth one!
· Room capacities are set to allow a three-foot “bubble” around every person (i.e., six-foot spacing between people). As a practical matter, this means 75 persons in Worship Hall and 60 in Friendship Hall.
· To help maintain this, we will be setting out chairs in a “checkerboard” pattern, whether by removing or “taping off” seats. This does mean that even people within one household will be spaced apart.
o This allows us to maintain spacing within the sanctuary while fitting in as many people as possible, in a straightforward manner. This allows us to easily maintain spacing also with those behind you and in front of you.
o Small children who don't want to sit a chair apart can sit on a parent's lap.
· We will set up a similar checkerboard seating arrangement in Friendship Hall. Worship will be broadcast into that room.
· Masks can be removed for the brief period necessary to consume communion elements.
· We’ll continue to be “touchless.”
o Collection baskets will be placed at the three entrances to worship hall.
o We’ll pass the peace at a distance.
Children’s Programming
· 9:00 youth programming has already resumed indoors, following the above procedures.
o K-2nd are in Ruby Bridges (12 in an 18-capacity room)
o 3rd – 5th are in William Johnson (8 in a 12-capacity room)
o Middle school meets in the back of Friendship Hall (20 in a 30+-capacity space)
Music (is back!)
· The Choir can sing! They are vaccinated and are welcome to rehearse and perform while masked.
o Dr. Gladstone recently led a masked student choir performance at UW. It wasn’t perfect, but it worked.
· Congregational singing is back! However, we request that only vaccinated people participate in singing.
o Singing is known to be especially problematic for spreading the virus, especially in churches. This extra level of caution is to enable the return of this part of worship at this time.
· Music Time with Julie (10:00) is back! Julie Mazer will be using the Day and Frank rooms (12-person capacity in each) as they prepare the Christmas Eve program.
o Since at this time children are unable to be vaccinated, the program will not include live singing with an audience.
· TruGumption and TruFunction will continue to use the large Haynes music room.
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