WCC Response to COVID19
Dear WCC Friends,
As the news changes and breaks upon us with more updates and
announcements of precautionary closures and safety measures, the leaders
of WCC are attempting to stay up to date and responsive to
recommendations for best practices.
At this point, the recommendation has not been made by our Conference,
our Town, our health professionals to cease holding worship but rather
to take preventive steps. As of this morning, the CDC is still reporting
less than five confirmed cases of CVID19 in Connecticut. While the
reasons for being careful, especially to protect the most vulnerable in
our midst, are clear, the necessity for drastic measures or panic is
not.
Therefore, please know and abide by the following for worship/Sunday School participation:
– IF YOU OR YOU CHILDREN ARE SICK, STAY HOME! We love you and want to
see you…healthy! Care for yourself and care for others by staying home
if you’re sick.
– The Deacons began a new sanitizing protocol last Sunday and will continue it:
1) Before worship, Deacons will wipe down commonly touched
surfaces with sanitizing wipes, including door knobs and handles and the
backs of all the pews where parishioners often place their hands.
2) We will desist from shaking hands or hugging for the
foreseeable future during the Passing of the Peace or greeting at the
doors before and after worship.
3) We will not pass the offering plates or Communion trays hand to
hand. The Deacons and I will be the only ones handling them and will
have thoroughly washed and sanitized our hands before worship.
4) Communion will be served in the following way: we will invite
ambulatory parishioners forward and will drop a piece of bread (with
gloved hands) into their open hand without touching their hands, and
will allow each individual to take their own individual cup of grape
juice, consuming them immediately and placing the used cups directly in
the trash receptacle available. Deacons will bring Communion elements to
non-ambulatory worship attenders in their seats with the same
procedures.
5) Coffee hour: we will offer coffee and tea in individual cups but
will not put out food on a common platter. (Individually wrapped food
is acceptable but no one should feel they need to provide that).
Creamers and sweeteners in individual containers will be provided to be
used and disposed of immediately.
– Hand sanitizer is available throughout the church building.
– Sunday School will use individually wrapped snacks and cups for any
snack food served. All personnel will thoroughly wash hands before and
after Sunday School and refrain from touching children as much as
possible. Sunday School children will be led in handwashing before/after
class.
– As of now, the Shoreline Soup Kitchen and Pantries is not recommending
closing meal sites, though each congregation is able to make their own
judgment call. Sanitary measures are being increased (changing gloves
even more often). Some meal teams are electing to serve take-out meals
only. Recommendations may change in the coming days; we will keep the
congregation posted as we learn anything new.
Again, strong precautionary measures are advisable but panic and
overreaction are not. We are staying informed and responsive to
recommendations as we receive them. We are being wise and careful and
leaning into our faith in God who walks with us through pestilence and
danger (Ps. 91:3).
Grace&Peace, Rev. Jan
SOME REMINDERS:
– Individual healing prayer will be offered after worship this Sunday.
– Secret Friend letters are due to Mairi this Sunday from those who have
signed up to participate in our adult/child pen pal project.
– The WCC meal site will be serving: “Bob’s Famous” meatloaf, mashed potatoes and salad (in take out containers only).
– New! “Lectionary Lunch” every Tuesday at noon in the Prayer Room. Come
dig deeper into Sunday’s scripture texts with John Noyes and Rev.
Jan/Mairi.
– Contemplative Prayer circle every Tuesday at 5:45 pm in the Prayer Room.