The Omicron variant of Covid-19 continues to spread rapidly in Massachusetts and around the world. The number of new cases has now reached or exceeded the peak levels seen in the first wave of Covid last winter in many places including Massachusetts. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-response-reporting
Omicron is much more infectious than the Delta variant, even among people who are fully vaccinated, although it seems to cause less severe illness. However, despite lower hospitalization rates, admissions for Covid are surging because so many more people are being infected.
The Re-Opening Task Force and the Moderators met on Friday, 12/31/21, to review the situation and determine how we should respond to this unfortunate turn of events. With a great deal of reluctance, we have decided to pause or modify various in-person activities with the hope that Omicron will fade away as quickly as it overtook us. Here are the specifics:
Sunday Worship Services:
For the month of January, there will be no in-person Sunday worship services. The services at 10:00 a.m. on January 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 will be conducted in the Sanctuary with a limited number of worship leaders including clergy, readers, organist, and soloists, all of whom will be distanced and masked when not speaking or singing. The services will be live-streamed, and available on-line for later viewing, as well. There will be no in-person Community Hour.
Annual Meeting:
The Annual Meeting will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, 1/31/22, and will be conducted by Zoom, as we did last year. The Pre-Meeting, to review the 2022 budget and other key agenda items for the Annual Meeting, will likewise be held by Zoom at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, 1/23/22.
Church School:
There will be no in-person Sunday School in January, however, the staff will be offering a mix of at-home lessons and activities, with possible outdoor gatherings.
Youth Groups and Confirmation:
These small group meetings will continue to meet in-person with masking and distancing.
Groups:
Gatherings of ten or fewer people may continue to meet with masking and 6’ distancing. Gatherings of 10 to 20 people may be held, with masking and distancing, in any of the following large spaces: Sanctuary, Wallace Chapel, Assembly Room, Board Room, Reception Room. Gatherings of greater than 20 people will not be permitted. These guidelines also apply to outside groups who use our spaces. The Chancel Choir and the New World Chorale will suspend their in-person rehearsals during this time. The Food Pantry and Alcoholics Anonymous will be permitted to meet as they have been doing throughout the pandemic because they have been deemed by the Commonwealth to be essential services.
Church Offices:
Staff will be encouraged to get vaccinated and boosted, and to wear N-95 masks in the office. They will be able to work remotely from home during January unless special circumstances require their presence on-site. If you plan to come in to the office to speak with someone, please call first to be sure someone is there.
The Re-Opening Task Force will continue to meet during January to review the public health data and modify our practices as needed. We too hope that this pause will be brief and that we will be able to resume our path to re-opening later in the winter.
Meanwhile, we encourage everyone who is eligible to get their vaccinations and boosters, and please, to wear a mask when you are with people, especially indoors, who are not part of your Covid 'circle.'
If you have any questions or comments, please contact Chris Stowell.
