Path to Return
“What is the right time to return to in person worship?” is the million- dollar question during the days of COVID19. No one really knows the right answer, but the task force committee and the Church Council are taking the steps to guide our return to an environment that is as safe as it can be for the congregation and the staff.
Although churches around the area are opening for in-person worship, some of those same churches are closing again as the COVID numbers continue to soar in our area. It is the goal of the Church Council to not have the open, then close, then open again cycle. When we open up to in person worship, we want to stay open.
The Iowa Annual Conference Crisis Operations Team provided a re-entry plan. The guidelines follow John Wesley’s simple rules which are “Stay in Love with God”, “Do Good”, and “Do No Harm” and include the stoplight format as follows:
Level 3: Red Light Status: Stop all non-critical gatherings. Essential workers only.
Level 2: Yellow Light Status: Cautionary Return. Gradual return but with caution.
Level 1: Green Light Status: The virus is contained and full activity and mass gatherings are allowed.
The guidelines suggest that a downward trend of numbers for 14 consecutive days would indicate that we are moving closer to opening for in- person gatherings. Unfortunately, the numbers in Woodbury County are soaring in the opposite direction and are keeping us in the Red Light Status.
A few of the factors that influence our decisions beside the COVID positive numbers include:
It is fair to say that we all want to return to worship as we knew it prior to COVID, but not at the risk of harming the people around us. Currently, worship opportunities are offered on Saturday night at 5:00 p.m. in the Grace backyard, Sunday morning on Facebook Live from the Grace Facebook page, and on KSCJ radio. Video recordings are also available on the website.
The work of the church is still being done, but in a new way. Christian Education is happening for elementary, middle school, high school, and adults in a virtual atmosphere. Food pantry is offering curbside service. Spalding School families are also receiving food curbside by Grace volunteers. Connections are being made with Morningside College through work study. CROP walk is still walking. We are still a church family working together to love one another and all the people we encounter. Thank you for your patience as we work through the trials of the COVID19 pandemic together in a safe and social distancing manner!
Although churches around the area are opening for in-person worship, some of those same churches are closing again as the COVID numbers continue to soar in our area. It is the goal of the Church Council to not have the open, then close, then open again cycle. When we open up to in person worship, we want to stay open.
The Iowa Annual Conference Crisis Operations Team provided a re-entry plan. The guidelines follow John Wesley’s simple rules which are “Stay in Love with God”, “Do Good”, and “Do No Harm” and include the stoplight format as follows:
Level 3: Red Light Status: Stop all non-critical gatherings. Essential workers only.
Level 2: Yellow Light Status: Cautionary Return. Gradual return but with caution.
Level 1: Green Light Status: The virus is contained and full activity and mass gatherings are allowed.
The guidelines suggest that a downward trend of numbers for 14 consecutive days would indicate that we are moving closer to opening for in- person gatherings. Unfortunately, the numbers in Woodbury County are soaring in the opposite direction and are keeping us in the Red Light Status.
A few of the factors that influence our decisions beside the COVID positive numbers include:
- Are we creating a false sense of security that in-person gathering is safe if we open the church?
- Can we safely assume that everyone will stay home if they have any symptoms?
- Do we need volunteers to take temperatures or complete health questionnaires at the door or online? Would we have a volunteer who would want to take temperatures and also feel comfortable telling someone they could not enter if they did have a temp?
- With masks required, who will enforce the compliance?
- Although individual attendance to in-person worship is optional, attendance and interaction would not be optional for staff. Can we adequately protect our staff?
It is fair to say that we all want to return to worship as we knew it prior to COVID, but not at the risk of harming the people around us. Currently, worship opportunities are offered on Saturday night at 5:00 p.m. in the Grace backyard, Sunday morning on Facebook Live from the Grace Facebook page, and on KSCJ radio. Video recordings are also available on the website.
The work of the church is still being done, but in a new way. Christian Education is happening for elementary, middle school, high school, and adults in a virtual atmosphere. Food pantry is offering curbside service. Spalding School families are also receiving food curbside by Grace volunteers. Connections are being made with Morningside College through work study. CROP walk is still walking. We are still a church family working together to love one another and all the people we encounter. Thank you for your patience as we work through the trials of the COVID19 pandemic together in a safe and social distancing manner!