Dear Members and Friends,
It has been a busy few days here at church. As you might imagine, I have been bombarded by information regarding the novel Corona virus, COVID-19 that has come from our church insurance boards, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and our wider church settings. As you surely have heard, the intent is to plateau the spread of the disease and curb the number of people affected by it. Since the highest at-risk population is adults over the age of 60, and with underlying health conditions, I am particularly concerned for our community.
I have given thoughtful and prayerful attention to all of the information provided, and in consultation with our Moderator, and my ecumenical colleagues have made some adjustments to our pace and schedule of community life. Trying to hold the central question, "what is essential?" at the fore-front of my deciding.
With the disclaimer that things may continue to change,
here is the modified plan through May 1st.
As it seems, April is predicted to be a peak month for outbreak.
**I have
canceled the potluck dinner scheduled for tomorrow, March 13,
in fellowship hall. We will not reschedule it until we are on the other side of this pandemic. Nor we will host other events centered around food and fellowship. In similar fashion,
we are suspending coffee hour following worship through the end of April.
**Committee Meetings:
Please consider whether the business of your committee meeting can be done effectively through a phone-call meeting, or online in some capacity, instead of at an in-person meeting. I can help you sort through some options if you need advice. The Board of Deacons managed a meeting by google-doc this winter due to icy conditions, and it was rather productive! Let me know how I can help.
**Office Hours:
I have encouraged Krista to work from home as often as she would like, and I'll probably do the same. We will often come and go from the building, but without regularity. If you need something, please reach out by email or phone and we can coordinate the best way to get it to you.
**Pastoral Visits:
Will only be done by particular request, and I will assess the urgency of the request case-by-case. Happy to do pastoral phone calls!
**Outside groups
using the building: I am suspending the use of the building by outside groups. We are not a big enough organization to thoughtfully be able to manage this situation otherwise. And I think our role modeling best practices is important for the wider community.
**Worship:
I am going to do everything we can to continue to allow us to hold regular Sunday morning worship, with some adjustments. At the least, we will be shifting the way we take
the offering
(no longer passing the plate, but putting it in a central place for people to place their offerings in as they arrive at worship).
The way we greet
each other (with robust conversation, a honorary bow, a wave--
without physical contact
) will need to change.
(I am going to wait a bit to decide how we modify celebrating communion, or what Easter might look like. Things are changing rapidly, and we have a little time before we need a plan.)
Fortunately, we are a congregation with some skills in broadcasting our worship through Wolfeboro Community Television and
YouTube
already. So, for our members who are already choosing not to come to church, you can watch us from any distance.
**Choir:
I've talked with Andy and we are thinking about ways the choir can continue with moderation. Cancelling Wednesday night rehearsals, moving to only Sunday rehearsing before service. This shift will require selecting music that can be appropriately prepared in such confines, as well.
Most importantly, please remember the church is not a building. We know this truth better than many. We are the church, wherever we are. In our homes, in our relationships, in our lives. We live our faith. We practice our beliefs in the ways that we care for ourselves, our loved ones, our neighbors, and our community. Taking precautions to stay healthy, and minimize the spread of viruses is part of that work and effort.
*Stay home when you are sick
... with anything. Please don't share your germs. Even "just the flu" or "just a cold" weakens someone's immune system, and compromises their ability to fight bigger things. "Just a cold" for one person, is life-threatening for another.
We will get through this time. It will require a patience and grace from us that will stretch and grow us in new ways. I promise to stay in frequent touch as things continue to unfold and change.
Blessings,
Pastor Gina
(207) 239-7796
