G u i d e l i n e s f o r I n -P e r s o n W o r s h i p a n d M i n i s t r y d u r i n g C O V I D -1 9

U p d a t e d : J u n e 1 7 , 2 0 2 0

2 | REOPENING

T h e f o l l o w in g a r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n s , n o t m a n d a t e s .

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S3 | I n t r o d u c t i o n

I t i s im p o r t a n t t o r e m e m b e r t h a t a l l p e r s o n s a r e s u s c e p t ib le t o c o n t r a c -t in g C O V ID -1 9 .

4 | S o c i a l P r i n c i p l e sR e s e a r c h h a s s h o w n t h a t C O V ID -1 9 d is p r o p o r t io n a t e ly a ff e c t s A f r ic a n A m e r ic a n s a n d L a t in x .

5 | M e n t a l H e a l t h G u i d a n c eT a k e c a r e o f y o u r s e l f p h y s ic a l ly , m e n t a l ly , a n d r e la t io n a l ly .

6 - 1 1 | B e s t P r a c t i c e s G u i d a n c eP r e v e n t in g t h e s p r e a d o f C O V ID -1 9 b e g in s w it h o n e , a n d t h a t o n e i s y o u .

1 2 | P r e p a r i n g B u i l d i n g a n d W o r s h i p A r e a sIn t h is t im e , w e r e c o m m e n d t h a t y o u s p e n d s o m e t im e p r e p a r in g f o r in -p e r s o n w o r s h ip .

1 3 | R e t u r n i n gW h ile w e p r e p a r e t o “r e o p e n ” w it h in t h e s a f e g u id e l in e s o f C D C a n d o u r lo c a l le a d e r s , o u r m o s t im p o r t a n t r e o p e n w i l l b e o u r jo y f u l o b e -d ie n c e t o w h a t G o d i s in v i t in g u s t o d o .

1 4 | P h a s e d R e o p e n i n gT h is p h a s e d a p p r o a c h t o r e t u r n in g t o in -p e r s o n w o r s h ip m a y lo o k d i-ff e r e n t in y o u r lo c a l c o n t e x t a n d m a y n e e d t o b e r e v ie w e d a n d a m e n -d e d b y t h e le a d e r s h ip in t h e c h u r c h .

1 5 | W o r s h i p e r s t h a t T e s t P o s i t i v eW h a t t o d o in t h e e v e n t t h a t a w o r s h ip e r, w h o a t t e n d e d a w o r s h ip s e r -v ic e , t e s t p o s i t iv e f o r C O V ID -1 9 .

1 6 | A r r i v a lR e c o m m e n d a t io n s o f b e s t p r a c t ic e s o n a r r iv a l t o w o r s h ip .

1 7 | W o r s h i p i n gD e t a i l in g s o m e o f t h e m o r e c o m m o n a n d u s u a l c o m p o n e n t s o f t h e w a y w e w o r s h ip , a n d r e c o m m e n d a t io n s f o r a d ju s t in g t h o s e c o m p o -n e n t s t o r e d u c e h a rm .

1 8 | P r e a c h i n gP r e a c h in g w i l l r e q u i r e s p e c ia l c o n s id e r a t io n s .

1 9 | B a p t i s m a n d C o n fi r m a t i o nT h e t r a d i t io n o f b a p t is m b y s p r in k l in g w i l l r e q u i r e m in im a l a d ju s tm e n t f o r s a f e t y a n d c a r e f u l t h o u g h t r e g a r d in g c o n fi rm a t io n .

2 0 | H o l y C o m m u n i o nR e c o m m e n d a t io n s o f H o ly C o m m u n io n u n t i l a n e ff e c t iv e t r e a tm e n t o r v a c c in e i s w id e ly a v a i la b le .

2 1 | W e d d i n g s a n d F u n e r a l sR e c o m m e n d a t io n o f b e s t p r a c t ic e s r e g a r d in g w e d d in g s a n d f u n e r a ls .

2 2 | M i n i s t r y w i t h C h i l d r e n a n d Y o u t hB e s t p r a c t ic e s r e c o m m e n d a t io n s o n m in is t e r in g t o c h i ld r e n a n d y o u t h .

2 3 | E m e r g e n c y P r e p a r e d n e s sR e c o m m e n d a t io n s o n w h a t t o d o i f s o m e o n e b e c o m e s i l l d u r in g w o r -s h ip s e r v ic e , a c t iv e s h o o t e r, fi r e , a n d o t h e r s i t u a t io n s .

2 4 | M i s c e l l a n e o u sT h is s e c t io n c o n s id e r s t h in g s t h a t m a y b e d o n ’t im p a c t t h e c h u r c h c o n -g r e g a t io n d i r e c t ly , b u t p e r h a p s t h e b u i ld in g , g r o u n d s , e t c .

3 | REOPENING

INTRODUCTION

O n F e b r u a r y 1 1 , 2 0 2 0 , t h e W o r ld H e a lt h O r g a n iz a t io n a n n o u n c e d t h e o ffi c ia l n a m e o f t h e d is e a s e t h a t c a u s e d t h e 2 0 1 9 n o v e l c o r o n a v i r u s o u t b r e a k , fi r s t id e n t ifi e d in W u h a n C h in a— C o r o n a v i r u s D is e a s e 2 0 1 9 , a b b r e v ia t e d a s C O V ID -1 9 . In C O V ID -1 9 , ‘C O ’ s t a n d s f o r ‘c o r o n a ,’ ‘V I ’ f o r ‘v i r u s ,’ a n d ‘D ’ f o r d is e a s e . P r io r t o t h e o ffi c ia l n a m in g b y t h e W H O , t h is d is e a s e w a s c a l le d “2 0 1 9 n o v e l c o r o n a v i r u s ” o r “2 0 1 9 -n C o V ”. C O V ID -1 9 c a u s e s r e s p i r a t o r y d is t r e s s a n d c a n b e f a t a l in s o m e p e r s o n s .

T h e r e a r e m a n y t y p e s o f h u m a n c o r o n a v i-r u s e s , in c lu d in g s o m e t h a t c o m m o n ly c a u -s e m i ld u p p e r -r e s p i r a t o r y t r a c t i l ln e s s e s . C O V ID -1 9 i s a n e w d is e a s e , c a u s e d b y a n o v e l (o r n e w ) c o r o n a v i r u s n o t p r e v io u s ly s e e n in h u m a n s . B e c a u s e i t i s a n e w d is e a -s e , t h e r e i s l im it e d in fo rm a t io n r e g a r d in g r i s k f a c t o r s . B a s e d o n c u r r e n t ly a v a i la b le in fo rm a t io n a n d c l in ic a l e x p e r t i s e , o ld e r

a d u lt s a n d p e o p le o f a n y a g e w h o h a v e s e r io u s u n d e r ly in g m e d ic a l c o n d i t io n s m i-g h t b e a t h ig h e r r i s k f o r s e v e r e i l ln e s s f r o m C O V ID -1 9 .

I t i s im p o r t a n t t o r e m e m b e r t h a t a l l p e r s o n s a r e s u s c e p t ib le t o c o n t r a c t in g C O V ID -1 9 (e v e n t h o s e w h o a r e y o u n g a n d o t h e r w is e h e a lt h y ), a n d t h is d is e a s e h a s t h e c a p a b i l i t y o f b e in g f a t a l r e g a r d le s s o f o t h e r f a c t o r s . W it h t h is in m in d , t h e C D C c a u t io n s t h o s e w h o a r e c o n s id e r e d v u ln e -r a b le t o b e e s p e c ia l ly v ig i la n t , in c lu d in g : • P e r s o n s w h o a r e a g e 6 5 a n d o ld e r • P e r s o n s w it h u n d e r ly in g c o n d i t io n s (lu n g d is e a s e o r b r e a t h in g p r o b le m s , h e a r t c o n d i t io n s , im m u n o c o m p ro m is a t io n , d ia -b e t e s )

B A C K T O TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

4 | REOPENING

COVID-19 slowed our lives in a quick moment. We have adjusted our daily schedules and learned to navigate our communities with facemasks, gloves, hand sanitizer, social/physical distan-cing of six (6) feet, and temperature and health screenings.

We are reminded daily to implement appropriate precautions to pro-tect ourselves, protect our families, and protect those who are vulne-rable, in an effort to slow down the transmission of COVID-19 among neighbors, church family, communi-ty, and ourselves. The transmission of COVID-19 has raised an awareness in the community of just how closely connected we are. COVID-19 has be-come a humanitarian crisis that has magnified the concerns of vulnerable individuals, the marginalized, and tho-se affected by health and socio-econo-mic disparities. Lack of equitable ac-cess to healthcare and other resources as well as co-morbidities (high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, and respiratory disea-ses) in communities of color increase the impact and risk of death from com-plications due to COVID-19.

Research has shown that COVID-19 disproportionately affects African Americans and Latinx. We, the Church, have a moral responsibility to issue the clarion call to love of neighbor, to so-cial justice in healthcare opportunities, and elimination of health disparities.

“ S p e a k u p f o r t h o s e w h o c a n n o t s p e a k f o r

t h e m s e lv e s , f o r t h e r ig h t s o f a l l w h o a r e d e s t i t u t e . S p e a k u p a n d ju d g e f a i r l y ; d e f e n d

t h e r ig h t s o f t h e p o o r a n d n e e d y .” P r o v e r b s 3 1 :8 -9

SOCIAL PRINCIPLES

The United Methodist Social Princi-ples sections pertaining to healthca-

re and racism guide us to:

“...call on congregations and on pastors, bishops, and other church authorities to educate themselves about the root causes and manifes-tations of racism, ethnocentrism, and tribalism within communities of faith and to develop strategies for overcoming these kinds of so-cial divisions.” (p 29)

“...call on national governments and international health organiza-tions and medical groups to work cooperatively and expeditiously to address global pandemics such as HIV/AIDS, as well as outbreaks of contagious diseases that threaten the health and well-being of entire countries and regions.” (p 36)

W e h a v e a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o c r e a t i-v e ly e x t e n d C h r is t t o a h u r t in g w o r ld , p a r t ic u la r ly a s a d v o c a t e s f o r t h e v u ln e r a b le , a s p r o c la im e r s o f h o p e a n d h e a l in g , a s u s e r s o f t e c h n o lo g y t h a t r e a c h e s t h o s e s e e k in g t o k n o w C h r is t , a n d d is c ip le s w h o lo v e o u r n e ig h b o r s .“H e h a s t o ld y o u , h u m a n

o n e , w h a t i s g o o d a n d w h a t t h e L o r d r e q u i r e s f r o m y o u : t o d o ju s t i c e , e m b ra c e f a i t h f u l l o v e , a n d w a lk h u m b ly w i t h

y o u r G o d .” M ic a h 6 :8 (C E B )

B A C K T O TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

5 | REOPENING

Time and time again Jesus tells us not to be afraid, not to worry, and not to let our hearts be troubled. These scrip-tures are a powerful way to remind us that we never have to remain in a place of fear or anxiety. As a people of faith, we draw strength and assurance from the presence of God’s Spirit within us and among us, and we also rely on our local and connectional community of faith. Even as we are distanced physically, we re-main in touch through phone calls, letters, e-mails, and video.

John 13:34“Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” One way to love our neighbors is to remain informed regar-ding COVID-19. Education helps dispel harmful stereotypes and is an effective way to fight stigma. Public shaming and blaming are not productive res-ponses and can cause harm. If you or your loved one becomes ill, it is helpful to know all you can about the illness rather than feel ashamed or isolated. Everyone can help reduce stigma by getting the facts about COVID-19 from reputable sources such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), by speaking up if you hear or see inaccurate statements, and by rea-ching out to people who may feel stig-matized. Ask how you can help, and listen to show your understanding and support. Remember, everyone is in this together. The COVID-19 pandemic will be over sooner if fears and rumors are replaced by facts, proper action, and a show of support for one another.

It is normal to be concerned. We are in the midst of an unprecedented public health crisis. Increased stress, anxie-ty, and fear are to be expected. In the midst of this changing and uncertain time, it is important to take good care of yourself, and to know there are re-sources available for you.

Take care of yourself physically, menta-lly, and relationally: • Draw on your faith, scripture, and

prayer• Get enough sleep• Eat healthy food • Participate in regular physical ac-

tivity • Avoid tobacco, alcohol and drugs • Limit screen time• Relax and recharge • Keep a regular routine• Avoid excessive exposure to news

media • Focus on positive thoughts

• Keep a daily gratitude list or jour-nal

• Stay connected with others• Do something for others• Support a family member or friend• Allow family and friends to su-

pport and care for you

Additional information for managing anxiety and stress during this crisis is available here.

If you find that symptoms of anxiety, stress, or depression persist, remem-ber that you are not alone. Ask for help from a friend or loved one, your minis-ter or faith leader, or a mental health professional.

If you are feeling suicidal or thinking of hurting your-self, seek help. Contact your primary care provider, a mental health professional, or call the

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-88-273-8255)

or locally:Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network 1-855-CRISIS-1 (1-855-274-7471)

Kentucky Suicide Help Line (via Four Rivers Beha-vioral Health) 1-800-273-8255

Remember, you are not alone, and you are abun-dantly loved!

MENTAL HEALTH GUIDANCE

“Let not your hearts be troubled.” John 14:1

B A C K T O TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

6 | REOPENING

The best practices for the two Conferences that will soon become the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference of The Uni-ted Methodist Church have been carefully crafted by a diverse team of elders, deacons, local pastors, and laypersons, with backgrounds in medical and nursing service, laboratory and research science, social work, and administration. This guidan-ce is established using evidence-based scientific facts, approached with prayerful guidance, and rooted in the theology of John Wesley, particularly the “Three General Rules: Do No Harm, Do Good, and Stay in Love with God.”

These recommendations are compiled not as mandates, but as a “best-practices” guide. Some practices, such as the hygiene practices for individuals, will apply in every setting. Other practices will need to be adjusted for the context of your particular worship or missional setting. Unfortunately, there is no “one size fits all” instruction manual. At minimum, we recommend that churches adhere to the recommendations of the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), HHS (Office of Health and Human Services), and other applicable guidance and directives from federal, state, and local government and public health agencies. As a team, we consulted and adopted the practices given by these organizations and built upon them. As people who are committed to “Do No Harm,” we methodically approached ways to help congregations in our conferences fully live into who we are as United Methodist Christians.

BEST PRACTICES GUIDANCE

B A C K T O TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

7 | REOPENING

P r e v e n t i n g t h e s p r e a d o f C O V ID -1 9 b e g i n s w i t h o n e , a n d t h a t o n e i s y o u .

T h e r e a r e m a n y s im p le m e a s u r e s y o u c a n t a k e t o p r e v e n t c o n t r a c t i n g C O V ID -1 9 b o t h i n s i d e a n d o u t -s i d e o f t h e c h u r c h b u i ld i n g :

• B e fo r e t o u c h in g y o u r e y e s , n o s e , o r m o u t h . T h o s e a r e t h e p la c e s t h a t g e rm s e n t e r o u r b o d ie s .

• A f t e r h a n d l in g y o u r f a c e m a s k o r c o v e r in g .

* F o l l o w F i v e S t e p s t o W a s h Yo u r H a n d s t h e R i -g h t W a y :

W a s h in g y o u r h a n d s i s e a s y , a n d i t ’s o n e o f t h e m o s t e ff e c t iv e w a y s t o p r e v e n t t h e s p r e a d o f g e r -m s . C le a n h a n d s c a n s t o p g e rm s f r o m s p r e a d in g f r o m o n e p e r s o n t o a n o t h e r a n d t h r o u g h o u t a n e n t i r e c o m m u n it y—f ro m y o u r h o m e a n d w o r -k p la c e t o c h i ld c a r e f a c i l i t ie s a n d h o s p i t a ls .

F o l l o w t h e s e fi v e s t e p s e v e r y t im e :

• W e t y o u r h a n d s w it h c le a n , r u n n in g w a rm w a t e r, a n d a p p ly s o a p .

• L a t h e r y o u r h a n d s b y r u b b in g t h e m t o g e -t h e r w it h t h e s o a p . L a t h e r t h e b a c k s o f y o u r h a n d s , b e t w e e n y o u r fi n g e r s , a n d u n d e r y o u r n a i ls , r e a c h in g d o w n t o y o u r w r is t s .

• S c r u b y o u r h a n d s f o r a t le a s t 2 0 s e c o n d s . N e e d a t im e r ? H u m t h e “H a p p y B i r t h d a y ” s o n g f r o m b e g in n in g t o e n d t w ic e .

• R in s e y o u r h a n d s w e ll u n d e r c le a n , r u n n in g w a t e r.

• W h i le t h e w a t e r i s s t i l l r u n n in g , d r y y o u r h a n d s w it h a c le a n , d r y , d is p o s a b le t o w e l. U s e t h is s a m e t o w e l t o t u r n o ff t h e r u n n in g w a t e r (u t i l i z in g t h e u s e d t o w e l t o c r e a t e a b a -r r ie r b e t w e e n y o u r h a n d a n d t h e f a u c e t ), a s w e l l a s o p e r a t in g t h e d o o r k n o b t o e x i t (a s -s u m in g y o u a r e in a r o o m w it h a d o o r ). A f t e r y o u h a v e u s e d t h e t o w e l t o o p e n t h e d o o r, t h r o w i t a w a y in t h e w a s t e r e c e p t a c le a n d e x i t .

H A N D H Y G I E N EP r o p e r ly w a s h in g y o u r h a n d s c a n k e e p y o u h e a lt h y a n d p r e v e n t t h e s p r e a d o f g e rm s a n d in f e c t io n s f r o m o n e p e r s o n t o t h e n e x t . G e rm s c a n s p r e a d t o /f r o m o t h e r p e o p le o r t o /f r o m s u r f a c e s .

• Yo u c a n h e lp y o u r s e l f a n d y o u r lo v e d o n e s s t a y h e a lt h y b y w a s -h in g y o u r h a n d s o f t e n , e s p e c ia l ly d u r in g t h e s e k e y t im e s w h e n y o u a r e l ik e ly t o g e t a n d s p r e a d g e rm s :

• B e fo r e , d u r in g , a n d a f t e r p r e p a r in g f o o d• B e fo r e e a t in g f o o d• B e fo r e a n d a f t e r c a r in g f o r s o m e o n e a t h o m e w h o i s s i c k w it h v o -

m it in g o r d ia r r h e a• B e fo r e a n d a f t e r t r e a t in g a c u t o r w o u n d• A f t e r u s in g t h e t o i le t• A f t e r c h a n g in g d ia p e r s o r c le a n in g u p a c h i ld w h o h a s u s e d t h e

t o i le t• A f t e r b lo w in g y o u r n o s e , c o u g h in g , o r s n e e z in g• A f t e r t o u c h in g a n a n im a l, a n im a l f e e d , o r a n im a l w a s t e• A f t e r h a n d l in g p e t f o o d o r p e t t r e a t s• A f t e r t o u c h in g g a r b a g e

D u r in g t h e C O V ID -1 9 p a n d e m ic , i t i s a ls o r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t y o u c le a n h a n d s :• A f t e r y o u h a v e b e e n in a p u b l ic p la c e a n d t o u c h e d a n i t e m o r s u r -

f a c e t h a t m a y b e f r e q u e n t ly t o u c h e d b y o t h e r p e o p le (d o o r h a n d -le s , t a b le s , g a s p u m p s , s h o p p in g c a r t s , e le c t r o n ic c a s h ie r r e g is t e r s /s c r e e n s , e t c .)

COVID-19 TRANSMISSION PREVENTION

K e y T im e s T o W a s h Yo u r H a n d s

B A C K T O TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

W e a r in g g lo v e s c a n b e a n e ff e c t iv e w a y t o p r e v e n t t h e s p r e a d o f C O V ID -1 9 b y c u r b in g c r o s s -c o n t a m in a t io n (c r o s s -c o n t a m in a t io n h a p p e n s w h e n t h e C O V ID -1 9 v i r u s i s p ic k e d u p f r o m o n e p la c e a n d s p r e a d t o a n o t h e r ). I t i s r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t t h e g lo v e s u s e d b e d is p o s a b le , w i t h n o r ip s o r t e a r s , a n d n e i t h e r t o o s n u g n o r t o o lo o s e . N i t r i le a n d v in y l g lo v e s a r e t h e m o s t p o p u la r a n d p r e v e n t t h e p o s s ib i l i t y o f a n a n a -p h y la c t ic r e a c t io n b y t h o s e w h o h a v e e i t h e r a k n o w n o r u n k n o w n la t e x a l le r -g y .

W h e n p u t t in g o n g lo v e s , g r a s p t h e w r is t o f o n e g lo v e a n d s l id e i t o n t h e o p p o s i t e h a n d , f o l lo w in g t h e p r o c e -d u r e f o r t h e o t h e r h a n d . In s o m e s i-t u a t io n s , i t i s h ig h ly r e c o m m e n d e d t o a p p ly h a n d s a n i t iz e r t o e n s u r e n o c r o s s -c o n t a m in a t io n f r o m a n y t h in g t h a t m a y h a v e a lr e a d y e x is t e d o n t h e g lo v e s (t h e s e g lo v e s a r e n o t s t e r i le a n d h a v e t h e p o t e n t ia l o f v i r a l m o le -c u le s e x is t in g o n t h e m ). W h e n r e m o -v in g s o i le d g lo v e s , g r a s p t h e o u t s id e o f o n e g lo v e n e a r t h e w r is t w i t h o u t t o u c h in g y o u r b a r e s k in , a n d p e e l t h e g lo v e a w a y f r o m t h e o u t s id e o f y o u r b o d y , a l lo w in g i t t o t u r n in s id e o u t a s i t c o m e s o ff . W it h o u t le t t in g g o o f t h e r e m o v e d g lo v e , w a d i t u p in t h e h a n d t h a t s t i l l h a s t h e g lo v e o n i t . P e e l o ff t h e o t h e r g lo v e b y p u t t in g y o u r fi n g e r s in s id e t h e in n e r -w r is t o f t h e g lo v e , a n d a l lo w t h e g lo v e t o t u r n in s id e o u t a s y o u p e e l i t a w a y f r o m y o u r b o d y w it h t h e fi r s t g lo v e in s id e t h e s e c o n d . T h e s e c o n d g lo v e w i l l n o w b e in s id e t h e fi r s t g lo v e , w i t h t h e s e c o n d g lo v e t u r -n e d in s id e o u t (t h e c o n c e p t i s a l l s o i le d s u r f a c e s o f t h e g lo v e s a r e n o t e x p o s e d ). D is p o s e o f t h e g lo v e s a n d w a s h y o u r h a n d s u s in g p r o p e r t e c h n iq u e . G lo v e s d o n o t c r e a t e a “c le a n ” s u r f a c e , b u t in s -t e a d s e r v e a s a p r o t e c t iv e la y e r f o r y o u w h i le o n y o u r h a n d s . I t i s s t i l l p o s s ib le t o s p r e a d C O V ID -1 9 (a lo n g w it h o t h e r i l ln e s s e s ) w h i le w e a r in g g lo v e s .

8 | REOPENING

G L O V E S

K e e p i n g H a n d s C l e a n W h e n Y o u C a n ’t W a s h

W a s h in g h a n d s w it h s o a p a n d w a t e r i s t h e b e s t w a y t o g e t r id o f g e rm s in m o s t s i t u a t io n s . I f s o a p a n d w a t e r a r e n o t r e a d i ly a v a i la -b le , y o u c a n u s e a n a lc o h o l-b a s e d h a n d s a n i t iz e r t h a t c o n t a in s a t le a s t 6 0 % a lc o h o l. Yo u c a n t e l l i f t h e s a n i t iz e r c o n t a in s a t le a s t 6 0 % a lc o h o l b y lo o k in g a t t h e p r o d u c t la b e l.

H O W E V E R ...

• S a n i t iz e r s d o n o t g e t r id o f a l l t y p e s o f g e rm s .

• H a n d s a n i t iz e r s m a y n o t b e a s e ff e c t iv e w h e n h a n d s a r e v i s ib ly d i r t y o r g r e a s y .

• H a n d s a n i t iz e r s m ig h t n o t r e m o v e h a rm fu l c h e m ic a ls f r o m h a n d s l ik e p e s t ic id e s a n d h e a v y m e t a ls .

H o w t o u s e h a n d s a n i t iz e r :• A p p ly t h e g e l p r o d u c t t o t h e p a lm

o f o n e h a n d (r e a d t h e la b e l t o le a r n t h e c o r r e c t a m o u n t ).

• R u b y o u r h a n d s t o g e t h e r.• R u b t h e g e l o v e r a l l t h e s u r f a c e s o f

y o u r h a n d s a n d fi n g e r s u n t i l y o u r h a n d s a r e d r y . T h is s h o u ld t a k e a r o u n d 2 0 s e c o n d s .

T h e r e a r e p e r s o n s w h o m a y n o t b e a b le t o u s e a lc o h o l-b a s e d h a n d s a -n i t iz e r s . B a s e d o n c u r r e n t d a t a , t h e r e a r e n o o t h e r h u m a n /s k in u s e a p p r o v e d a g e n t s a s e ff e c t iv e a g a in s t C O V ID -1 9 a s a lc o h o l. E v id e n c e s u -g g e s t s t h a t b e n z a lk o n iu m c h lo r id e o ff e r s v e r y l i t t le in c o m b a t in g t h e s p r e a d o f C O V ID -1 9 . T h e r e fo r e , i t i s r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t p e r s o n s u n a b le t o u s e t h e a p p r o v e d h a n d s a n i t iz e r s w e a r d is p o s a b le g lo v e s t h a t a r e d is -p o s e d o f a n d c h a n g e d w h e n s o i le d , a n d p r o p e r ly w a s h h a n d s w it h s o a p a n d w a t e r a s m u c h a s p o s s ib le .

B A C K T O TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

9 | REOPENING

I In l ig h t o f n e w e v id e n c e , C D C r e c o m -m e n d s w e a r in g c lo t h f a c e c o v e r in g s in p u b l ic s e t t in g s a n d w h e n a r o u n d o t h e r s w h o a r e n ’t a p a r t o f y o u r h o u s e -h o ld u n i t , b o t h in d o o r s a n d o u t d o o r s , e s p e c ia l ly in a r e a s o f s ig n ifi c a n t c o m -m u n it y -b a s e d t r a n sm is s io n . R e m e m -b e r t h a t w e a r in g a f a c e c o v e r in g i s o n e w a y t h a t w e c a n s h o w lo v e f o r o u r n e ig h b o r, b e c a u s e w e a r in g a f a c e c o -v e r in g i s p r im a r i ly in t e n d e d t o p r o t e c t t h o s e w h o c o m e in t o c o n t a c t w i t h t h e w e a r e r.

W it h o r w i t h o u t a f a c e c o v e r in g , i t i s s t i l l im p o r t a n t t o m a in t a in s ix f e e t o f s o c ia l d is t a n c in g t o s lo w t h e s p r e a d o f t h e v i r u s . C D C a d v is e s u s in g s im p le c lo t h f a c e c o v e r in g s t o s lo w t h e s p r e a d o f t h e v i r u s a n d s lo w t r a n sm is s io n f r o m t h o s e w h o m a y b e in f e c t e d w h i le n o t k n o w in g i t . C lo t h f a c e c o v e r in g s f a s -h io n e d f r o m h o u s e h o ld i t e m s o r m a d e a t h o m e f r o m c o m m o n m a t e r ia ls a t lo w c o s t c a n b e u s e d a s a n a d d i t io n a l, v o lu n t a r y p u b l ic h e a lt h m e a s u r e .

T o b e e ff e c t iv e , f a c e c o v e r in g s a n d m a s k s s h o u ld—

• F i t s n u g ly b u t c o m fo r t a b ly a g a in s t t h e s id e o f t h e f a c e

• B e s e c u r e d w it h t ie s o r e a r lo o p s• In c lu d e m u lt ip le la y e r s o f f a b r ic• A l lo w fo r b r e a t h in g w it h o u t r e s -

t r ic t io n• B e a b le t o b e la u n d e r e d a n d m a -

c h in e d r ie d w it h o u t d a m a g e o r c h a n g e t o s h a p e

F a c e c o v e r in g s o r m a s k s s h o u ld n o t b e p la c e d o n y o u n g c h i ld r e n u n d e r a g e 2 , o r a n y o n e w h o h a s t r o u b le b r e a t h in g , o r i s u n c o n s c io u s , in c a p a c i t a t e d o r o t h e r w is e u n a b le t o r e m o v e t h e m a s k w it h o u t a s s i s t a n c e , u n le s s d i r e c t e d b y a h e a lt h c a r e p r o fe s s io n a l.

F a c e c o v e r in g s s h o u ld b e w a s h e d a f t e r u s e u s in g w h a t e v e r p r o c e d u r e w o u ld t y p ic a l ly b e u s e d fo r w a s h in g t h e t y p e o f f a b r ic f r o m w h ic h t h e f a c e c o v e r in g i s m a d e .

W h e n p u t t in g o n a f a c e c o v e r in g , i t i s r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t y o u fo l lo w t h e s t e p s o u t l in e d b e lo w :

1 . C le a n y o u r h a n d s w it h s o a p a n d w a t e r o r h a n d s a n i t iz e r b e fo r e t o u c h in g t h e m a s k .

2 . M a k e s u r e t h e r e a r e n o o b v io u s t e a r s o r h o le s in e i t h e r s id e o f t h e m a s k .

3 . D e t e rm in e w h ic h s id e o f t h e m a s k i s t h e t o p i f y o u r p a r t ic u -la r m a s k h a s a d e s ig n a t e d t o p o r b o t t o m . I f t h e m a s k h a s a s t iff b e n d a b le e d g e , t h a t s id e o f t h e m a s k i s t h e t o p a n d i s m e a n t t o m o ld t o t h e s h a p e o f y o u r n o s e .

4 . D e t e rm in e w h ic h s id e o f t h e m a s k i s t h e f r o n t , i f a p p l ic a b le . F o r m a n y m a s k s , t h e c o lo r e d s id e o f t h e m a s k f a c e o u t w h i-le t h e w h it e s id e t o u c h e s y o u r f a c e .

5 . F o l lo w t h e in s t r u c t io n s b e lo w fo r t h e t y p e o f m a s k y o u a r e u s in g . º F a c e M a s k w i t h E a r lo o p s :

H o ld t h e m a s k b y t h e e a r lo o p s . P la c e a lo o p a r o u n d e a c h e a r.

º F a c e M a s k w i t h T ie s : B r in g t h e m a s k t o y o u r n o s e le -v e l a n d p la c e t h e t ie s o v e r t h e c r o w n o f y o u r h e a d a n d s e c u r e w it h a b o w . T h e n s e -c u r e t h e b o t t o m t ie s w it h a b o w a t t h e n a p e o f y o u r n e c k .

º F a c e M a s k w i t h B a n d s :H o ld t h e m a s k in y o u r h a n d w it h t h e n o s e p ie c e o r t o p o f t h e m a s k a t fi n g e r t ip s , a l lo w in g t h e h e a d b a n d s t o h a n g f r e -e ly b e lo w h a n d s . B r in g t h e m a s k t o y o u r n o s e le v e l a n d p u l l t h e t o p s t r a p o v e r y o u r h e a d s o t h a t i t r e s t s o v e r t h e c r o w n o f y o u r h e a d . P u l l t h e b o t t o m s t r a p o v e r y o u r h e a d s o t h a t i t r e s t s a t t h e n a p e o f y o u r n e c k .

6 . M o ld o r p in c h t h e s t iff e d g e t o t h e s h a p e o f y o u r n o s e

7 . P u l l t h e b o t t o m o f t h e m a s k o v e r y o u r m o u t h a n d c h in .

W h e n r e m o v in g t h e f a c e c o v e r in g , i t i s r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t y o u u s e t h e f o l lo w in g s t e p s :

1 . C le a n y o u r h a n d s w it h s o a p a n d w a t e r o r h a n d s a n i t iz e r b e -fo r e t o u c h in g t h e m a s k . A v o id t o u c h in g t h e f r o n t o f t h e m a s k o r y o u r f a c e . T h e f r o n t o f t h e m a s k i s c o n t a m in a t e d . O n ly t o u c h t h e e a r lo o p s /t ie s /b a n d . I t i s p r e f e r r e d t h a t y o u u s e a c le a n , n e w , d is p o s a b le t i s s u e a s a b a r r ie r b e t w e e n y o u r h a n d s a n d y o u r m a s k u p o n r e m o v a l. F o l lo w t h e in s t r u c t io n s b e lo w fo r t h e t y p e o f m a s k y o u a r e u s in g .1 . F a c e M a s k w it h E a r lo o p s :

H o ld b o t h o f t h e e a r lo o p s a n d g e n t ly l i f t a n d r e m o v e t h e m a s k a w a y f r o m y o u r f a c e .

2 . F a c e M a s k w it h T ie s : U n t ie t h e b o t t o m b o w fi r s t . T h e n u n t ie t h e t o p b o w a n d p u l l t h e m a s k a w a y f r o m y o u r f a c e a s t h e t ie s a r e lo o s e -n e d .

3 . F a c e M a s k w it h B a n d s : L i f t t h e b o t t o m s t r a p o v e r y o u r h e a d fi r s t , t h e n p u l l t h e t o p s t r a p o v e r y o u r h e a d .

2 . I f y o u r m a s k i s d is p o s a b le , t h r o w i t in t h e t r a s h . I f i t i s r e u s a b le , w a s h i t .

3 . C le a n y o u r h a n d s w it h s o a p a n d w a t e r o r h a n d s a n i t iz e r.

F A C E C O V E R IN G S

B A C K T O TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

10 | REOPENING

U N IV E R S A L P R E C A U T IO N ST h e p r a c t ic e o f U n iv e r s a l P r e c a u t io n s in h e a lt h c a r e a s s u m e s t h a t a l l b lo o d a n d b o d i ly fl u id s s h o u ld b e t r e a t e d a s a t h r e a t t o y o u r w e l lb e in g a n d h a n d le d a s s u c h . T r a n s la t in g t h e s e p r e c a u t io n s t o o u r c o n t e x t in l ig h t o f C O V ID -1 9 w i l l r e q u i r e u s t o a s s u m e t h a t e a c h o f u s h a s t h e p o t e n t ia l t o t r a n sm it t h e C O V ID -1 9 v i r u s . W e d o t h is b e c a u s e t h e r e s e a r c h c o m m u n it y h a s y e t t o e s t a b l i s h t h e a s y m p t o m a t ic in f e c t io n r a t e . W h e n w e h o n o r U n iv e r s a l P r e -c a u t io n s , w e a c t iv e ly “d o n o h a rm ” t o o t h e r s b y a v o id in g in a d v e r t e n t ly a n d u n in t e n t io n a l ly s p r e a d in g t h e C O V ID -1 9 v i r u s .

I n c a r i n g f o r y o u r s e l f , y o u a r e c a r i n g f o r o t h e r s

“A n d t h e s e c o n d i s l ik e , n a m e ly t h is , T h o u s h a lt lo v e t h y n e ig h b o r a s t h y s e l f . T h e r e i s n o n e o t h e r c o m m a n d m e n t g r e a t e r t h a n t h e s e ...” M a r k 1 2 :3 1

W h e n w e c a r e f o r o u r s e lv e s , w e , in p a r t , f o l lo w t h e d i r e c t io n g iv e n t o u s b y J e -s u s t o lo v e o u r n e ig h b o r s a s o u r s e lv e s . T h r o u g h o u t t h e s a f e r -a t -h o m e p h a s e s o f t h e C O V ID -1 9 p a n d e m ic , o n e o f t h e m o s t b a s ic q u e s t io n s h a s b e e n , “W h a t c a n I d o t o s h o w lo v e t o m y n e ig h b o r in t h is t im e ? ” W h i le i t m a y s e e m c o u n t e -r in t u i t iv e , t h e b e s t a c t io n w e c a n t a k e t o lo v e o u r n e ig h b o r in t h is s e a s o n i s t o s t a y a t h o m e . S t a y in g a t h o m e p r e v e n t s u s f r o m c o n t r a c t in g a n d t r a n sm it t in g C O V ID -1 9 . W e d o n o t c u r r e n t ly k n o w t h e r a t e o f a s y m p t o m a t ic t r a n sm is s io n (w h e n a p e r s o n h a s a c t iv e C O V ID -1 9 b u t d o e s n o t s h o w a n y s y m p t o m s a n d i s c a p a b le o f t r a n sm it t in g t h e d is e a s e t o o t h e r s ), o r p r e s y m p t o m a t ic t r a n s -m is s io n (w h e n a p e r s o n h a s c o n t r a c -t e d C O V ID -1 9 , a n d i s in t h e in c u b a t io n p e r io d p r io r t o e x h ib i t in g s y m p t o m s ). Yo u m a y f a l l in t o o n e o f t h e s e t w o c a -t e g o r ie s , a n d b e u n a w a r e o f i t .

In o r d e r t o d o n o h a rm , w e w i l l n e e d t o r e t h in k t h e w a y s w e a p p r o a c h o u r l i f e t o g e t h e r. B u t w e a r e n o t a lo n e in t h is c h a n g e a n d a r e jo in e d b y c o n c e r n e d C h r is t ia n s f r o m a r o u n d t h e g lo b e .

S O C IA L D I S T A N C IN G

C O V ID -1 9 s p r e a d s m a in ly a m o n g p e o p le w h o a r e in c lo s e c o n t a c t , w i-t h in a b o u t 6 f e e t o r t w o a rm le n g t h s o f e a c h o t h e r. W h i le t h e r i s k i s m it i-g a t e d s o m e w h a t b y b e in g o u t d o o r s , s o c ia l d is t a n c in g i s s t i l l r e c o m m e n -d e d b e c a u s e s p r e a d c a n s t i l l o c c u r. S p r e a d h a p p e n s w h e n a n in f e c t e d p e r s o n c o u g h s , s n e e z e s , o r t a lk s , a n d d r o p le t s f r o m t h e i r m o u t h o r n o s e a r e la u n c h e d in t o t h e a i r, t h e n c o n -t a c t in g t h e e y e s , m o u t h s , o r n o s e s o f o t h e r s n e a r b y . R e c e n t s t u d ie s in d ic a -t e t h a t p e o p le w h o a r e in f e c t e d b u t d o n o t h a v e s y m p t o m s p la y a s ig n i-fi c a n t r o le in t h e s p r e a d o f C O V ID -1 9 , w h ic h i s w h y i t i s im p o r t a n t f o r a l l p e r s o n s t o w e a r f a c e c o v e r in g s a n d s o c ia l ly d is t a n c e .

I t m a y b e p o s s ib le t o c o n t r a c t C O V ID -1 9 b y t o u c h in g a s u r f a c e o r o b je c t t h a t h a s t h e v i r u s o n i t a n d t h e n t o u c h in g y o u r o w n m o u t h , n o s e , o r e y e s , b u t d a t a s h o w s t h a t t h is i s n o t t h e p r im a r y w a y t h a t t h e v i r u s i s s p r e a d , C O V ID -1 9 c a n l iv e f o r h o u r s o r d a y s o n a s u r f a c e , d e p e n -d in g o n f a c t o r s s u c h a s s u n l ig h t , h u -m id i t y , a n d t h e t y p e o f s u r f a c e .

A lt h o u g h t h e r i s k o f s e v e r e i l ln e s s m a y b e d iff e r e n t f o r e v e r y o n e , a n y o -n e c a n g e t a n d s p r e a d C O V ID -1 9 , s o e v e r y o n e ’s p a r t ic ip a t io n i s e s s e n t ia l in s lo w in g t h e s p r e a d a n d p r o t e c t in g t h e m s e lv e s , t h e i r f a m i ly , a n d t h e i r c o m m u n it y .

S t a y a t h o m e w h e n y o u a r e s i c k .

W h e n y o u a r e fi g h t in g a n i l ln e s s , y o u r b o d y i s w e a k a n d m o r e s u s c e p t ib le t o o t h e r g e rm s .

W H E N S I C K

A m id s t t h e C O V ID -1 9 p a n d e m ic , t h is i s e s p e c ia l ly im p o r t a n t i f y o u a r e e x -p e r ie n c in g a n y o f t h e f o l lo w in g s y m p -t o m s , o r a n y o t h e r s y m p t o m r e la t e d t o C O V ID -1 9 o r f o r w h ic h a m e d ic a l p r o fe s s io n a l h a s a d v is e d y o u t o s t a y h o m e :• C o u g h• S h o r t n e s s o f B r e a t h o r D iffi c u lt y

B r e a t h in g• F e v e r (g r e a t e r t h a n 9 9 .9 )• C h i l ls• S o r e T h r o a t• N e w o n s e t o f lo s s o f s e n s e o f t a s t e

o r s m e ll

S t a y in g h o m e (e x c e p t w h e n s e e k in g m e d ic a l a t t e n t io n ) i s o n e o f t h e b e s t t h in g s y o u c a n d o f o r y o u r b o d y t o a l lo w i t t o h e a l, a n d t o p r o t e c t o t h e r s .

B A C K T O TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

11 | REOPENING

C le a n i n g /D i s i n f e c t i n g / S a n i t i z i n g A g e n t s

In o r d e r t o c o m e b a c k t o g e t h e r in t h e s a f e s t w a y p o s s ib le , i t i s r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t c h u r c h e s :• L e a r n t o p r o p e r ly u s e E PA a p p r o -

v e d c le a n in g a n d s a n i t iz in g a g e n t s• M a in t a in a t h r e e m o n t h s ’ s u p p ly

o f t h e s e c le a n in g a n d s a n i t iz in g a g e n t s

• P la n t o c le a n b e fo r e w o r s h ip , a f t e r w o r s h ip , a n d in r e a l t im e d u r in g w o r s h ip .

• P la n f o r a n in c r e a s e in r e f u s e /r e -c y c l in g a n d h a v e a n a p p r o p r ia t e s u p p ly o f g a r b a g e b a g s .

C L E A N I N G

H a n d S o a p /H a n d S a n i t i z e r

I t i s r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t y o u h a v e o n h a n d a n a m p le s u p p ly o f p la in h a n d s o a p a n d h a n d s a n i t iz e r t h a t i s la b e le d 6 0 % o r g r e a t e r a lc o h o l c o n t e n t , a lo n g w it h p a p e r t o w e ls . C u r r e n t F D A g u i-d a n c e d o e s n o t r e q u i r e t h e u s e o f c o n -s u m e r a n t ib a c t e r ia l o r a n t im ic r o b ia l h a n d s o a p s t o e ff e c t iv e ly p r e v e n t t h e s p r e a d o f C O V ID -1 9 . I t i s r e c o m m e n -d e d t h a t s o a p c o m e f r o m a d is p e n s e r r a t h e r t h a n a b a r. A h a n d s -f r e e d is p e n -s e r i s n o t n e c e s s a r y ; a p u m p -s t y le b o t t -le i s s u ffi c ie n t

P a p e r t o w e l r o l ls t h a t a r e in a m o u n t e d h o ld e r o r d is p e n s e r a r e r e c o m m e n d e d .

S O A P /S A N I T I Z E R

I t i s r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t y o u c h e c k t h e t e m p e r a t u r e o f a l l p e r s o n s e n t e r in g t h e w o r s h ip s p a c e w it h a c o n t a c t le s s t h e r -m o m e t e r a t e a c h d e s ig n a t e d e n t r a n c e t o y o u r w o r s h ip a r e a . C o n t a c t le s s t h e r -m o m e t e r s u s e in f r a r e d t e c h n o lo g y t o a c c u r a t e ly r e g is t e r a p e r s o n ’s t e m p e r a -t u r e f r o m a s a f e (6 -fo o t ) d is t a n c e .

A w o rd o f c a u t io n : t h e s e d e v ic e s a r e s o m e -t im e s r e f e r r e d t o a s “ f o r e h e a d ” o r “h e a d ” t h e rm o m e t e r s .W e r e f ra in f r o m u s in g t h i s t e r -m in o lo g y ,b e c a u s e t h e r e i s a d iff e r e n t t h e rm o -m e t e r d e v ic e [t e m p o ra l t h e rm o m e t e r ]w h ic h m e a s u r e s b o d y t e m p e ra t u r e b y c o m in g in t o c o n t a c t w i t h t h e p e r s o n ’s f o r e h e a d .T h is t y p e ,a lo n g w i t h o ra l [m o u t h ], t y m p a n ic [e a r ], o r o t h e r t e m p e ra t u r e c h e c k in g m e t h o d s a r e n o t r e c o m m e n d e d d u e t o t h e r e q u i r e d p ro x im it y t o f u n c t io n .

T H E R M O M E T E R

I t i s r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t p a r i s h io n e r s b r in g t h e i r o w n f a c e c o v e r in g s t o w o r s -h ip , b u t t h a t t h e c h u r c h a ls o b e p r e p a -r e d t o p r o v id e f a c e c o v e r in g s t o t h o s e w h o d o n o t h a v e t h e m o r w h o fo r g o t t h e m .

I t i s r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t d is p o s a b le m a s k s p r o v id e d b y t h e c h u r c h b e t h r o w n a w a y a n d n e v e r s h a r e d , a n d t h a t r e u s a b le (o r c lo t h ) f a c e c o v e r in g s b e la u n d e r e d b o t h b e fo r e a n d a f t e r e a c h u s e , m a c h in e w a s h in g a n d d r y in g a s y o u w o u ld a n y g a rm e n t .

F A C E C O V E R I N G S

M o v in g b a c k t o p h y s ic a l w o r s h ip in t h is s e a s o n m a y r e q u i r e r e c r u i t in g m o r e v o lu n t e e r s , b a s e d o n y o u r c o n t e x t . I t i s r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t v o lu n t e e r s b e :• H e a lt h y p e r s o n s n o t in t h e v u ln e r a b le p o p u la t io n (a t le a s t in i t ia l ly ) • S t a t io n e d a t e a c h d e s ig n a t e d e n t r a n c e t o p e r fo rm e n t r a n c e s c r e e n in g s , a s

w e l l a s a t t h e o ff e r in g c o l le c t io n b o x i f y o u r c h u r c h c h o o s e s t o u s e o n e . • A v a i la b le t o d is in f e c t s u r f a c e s in r e a l-t im e , e s p e c ia l ly a f t e r r e s t r o o m u s e . • S u b je c t t o s c r e e n in g b a s e d o n t e m p e r a t u r e a n d h e a lt h q u e s t io n n a i r e (t h is i s

t r u e o f w o r s h ip le a d e r s , s t a ff , a n d c le r g y a s w e l l)

V O L U N T E E R S

I n t h i s t im e , w e r e c o m m e n d t h a t y o u s p e n d s o m e t im e p r e p a r i n g f o r i n -p e r s o n w o r s h i p :

P R E P A R I N G T O C O M E B A C K T O G E T H E R

B A C K T O TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

12 | REOPENING

W e r e c o m m e n d t h a t y o u b e g in n o w t o a s s e s s y o u r w o r s h ip s p a c e , p a y in g p a r t i-c u la r a t t e n t io n t o : • S e a t in g a r e a s o r c o ff e e

s t a t io n s t h a t e n c o u r a g e s o c ia l g a t h e r in g

• A r e a s t h a t o ff e r h ig h r i s k f o r c r o s s -c o n t a m i-n a t io n

• W o r s h ip s e a t in g

S o m e r e c o m m e n d a t io n s f o r r e c o n fi g u r in g y o u r w o r s h ip s p a c e in c lu d e • C o r d o n in g o ff p a r t s o f

y o u r b u i ld in g t o p r e -v e n t p e r s o n s f r o m c o n -g r e g a t in g o r u s in g . T h is d e c r e a s e s t h e r i s k o f c r o s s - c o n t a m i n a t i o n , a n d s im p lifi e s c le a n in g a n d d is in f e c t in g p r o c e -d u r e s . º F o r s o c ia l d is t a n -

c in g , i t w i l l b e n e -c e s s a r y t o m a k e s o m e p e w s in a c -c e s s ib le . D e p e n -d in g o n s p a c in g , i t m a y b e n e c e s s a r y t o p r e v e n t s e a -t in g in t h e o n e o r t w o p e w s in f r o n t o f a n d b e h in d a n o p e n p e w fo r s e a t in g s o t h a t p e r s o n s /h o u s e h o ld u n i t s a r e s e a t e d in a c o n fi g u r a t io n t h a t c o m p lie s w it h 6 -f e e t s p a c e s b e tw e e n ; c le a r s ig n a g e a n d c o m m u n ic a t io n t o w o r s h i-p e r s w i l l b e k e y in t h is t r a n -s i t io n . I t w i l l b e im p o r t a n t t o c o n fi g u r e a n d t e s t t h e s e a t in g a r r a n g e m e n t s p r io r t o w o r -s h ip e r s c o m in g . A s s ig n in g s e a t s t o h o u s e h o ld u n i t s c a n b e b e n e fi c ia l h e r e .

• L im it in g a c c e s s ib le a r e a s t o º S a n c t u a r y o r w o r s h ip s p a c e º N e a r e s t r e s t r o o m s º O n e t o t w o “q u a r a n t in e ”

r o o m s • C o m m u n ic a t in g t o w o r s h ip e r s

t h a t t h e y s h o u ld n o t b e in t h e c h a n c e l a r e a u n le s s t h e y a r e p a r t i-c ip a t in g in w o r s h ip .

• M a r k in g p e w s w it h e a s y -t o -r e a d d i r e c t io n s i f n o t a s s ig n in g s e a t s .

• A s s ig n in g o n e v o lu n t e e r t o s e a t h o u s e h o ld u n i t s

• E n s u r in g t h a t a i s le s a r e c le a r ly

m a r k e d fo r o n e -w a y t r a ffi c .

I t i s r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t y o u m a k e t h e la r g e s t e n t r a n c e t o y o u r b u i ld in g t h e o n ly o n e a v a i la b le .

T h is e n s u r e s u n i f o rm it y a n d c o m p l ia n c e w i t h s o c ia l d i s t a n c in g g u id e l in e s , e a s e s s o m e o f t h e lo g is t i c a l i s s u e s w i t h r e c o rd in g a t t e n d a n c e ,a n d a s s i s t s w i t h id e n t i f y in g a n d n o t i f y in g e x p o s e d p e r s o n s in t h e e v e n t o f s o m e o n e t e s t in g p o s i t iv e f o r C O V ID -1 9 .

H o u s e h o ld u n i t i s d e fi n e d a s a l l p e r s o n s w h o r e s i-d e d t o g e t h e r d u r in g t h e “s a f e r a t h o m e ” s t a g e o f t h e p a n d e m ic ; t h i s c o u ld d iff e r f r o m t h e t e rm “fa -m i ly ” u n i t . I t i s n o t r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t e x t e n d e d fa m i l ie s w h o d id n o t l i v e t o g e t h e r d u r in g t h e s a f e r a t h o m e s t a g e d i s r e g a rd s o c ia l d i s t a n c in g g u id e l i -n e s .

W e a r e a ls o r e c o m m e n d in g t h e r e m o -v a l o f a l l p e w p a r a p h e r n a l ia :• H y m n a ls• B ib le s• A t t e n d a n c e P a d s• W r i t in g U t e n s i ls• O ff e r in g E n v e lo p e s• A l l L i t e r a t u r e

E v e r y t h in g in t h e p e w b e -c o m e s a r i s k f o r c r o s s -c o n -t a m in a t io n , a n d a d d s t o t h e s u r f a c e s r e q u i r in g c o n t in u a l s a n i t a t io n .

Yo u m a y c o n s id e r u t i l i z in g m u lt i-m e d ia in t h e c h u r c h w h e r e a v a i la b le (p r o je c -t o r s ), e le c t r o n ic b u l le t in s (e i t h e r e m a i le d o u t o r s h a -r e d v ia o n l in e s t o r a g e o r t h e “c lo u d ”), o r, w i t h s p e c ia l p r e c a u t io n s , s in g le u s e p a -p e r b u l le t in s o r p r o g r a m s . I f u s in g s in g le -u s e p a p e r p r o g r a m s , i t i s r e c o m m e n -d e d t h a t y o u p r e p a r e t h e m a t le a s t f o u r d a y s o r m o r e in a d v a n c e b y t h e f e w e s t n u m b e r o f p e o p le p o s s ib le , u s in g e q u ip m e n t t h a t h a s b e e n c le a n e d a n d d is in f e c -t e d . I t i s f u r t h e r r e c o m m e n -d e d t h a t t h o s e p r e p a r in g b u l le t in s w e a r a m a s k a n d g lo v e s , a n d p a s s a l l s c r e e -n in g c r i t e r ia (t e m p e r a t u r e a n d q u e s t io n n a i r e ).

T h e r e i s c o n t in u in g r e s e a r c h s u r r o u n d in g t h e u s e o f H VA C s y s t e m s , h e a t e r s , a n d a i r c o n d i t io n e r s in l ig h t o f C O V ID -1 9 ’s m e t h o d o f t r a n s -

m is s io n . W h i le i t h a s b e e n p r o v e n t h a t w h e n a g r e a t e r n u m b e r o f p e o p le a r e c o n g r e g a t e d t o g e t h e r in o n e s p a c e t h e r i s k o f a c t iv e ly s p r e a d in g C O V ID -1 9 i s in c r e a s e d , t h e r e i s n o c o n c lu s iv e d a t a t h a t p r o v e s a n y m e a n s o f a i r c o n d i t io -n in g a n d c l im a t e c o n t r o l a r e r e s p o n s i-b le f o r o r c o n t r ib u t in g t o t h e s p r e a d o f C O V ID -1 9 . E q u ip p e d w it h t h is c u r r e n t d a t a , b e s t p r a c t ic e s w o u ld b e r e in fo r -c in g t h e im p o r t a n c e o f w e a r in g a f a c e c o v e r in g w h i le in t h e w o r s h ip s p a c e , a n d o p e r a t in g t h e c l im a t e c o n t r o l t o m a k e t h e s p a c e c o m fo r t a b le . A s n e w d a t a i s a v a i la b le , w e w i l l u p d a t e g u i-d a n c e o n t h is t o p ic .

T h is b e c o m e s im p o r t a n t d u e t o t h e o v e r h e a t in g r i s k a s s o c ia t e d w i t h s o m e p e r s o n s w e a r in g fa c e c o v e r in g s .

D is c u s s in g t h e r e t u r n t o in -p e r s o n w o r s h ip w it h t h e c h u r c h ’s in s u r a n c e c a r r ie r i s im p e r a t iv e . S e v e r a l in s u r a n c e c o m p a n ie s h a v e r e c o m m e n d e d b e s t p r a c t ic e s f o r t h e c h u r c h w h e n r e a s -s e m b lin g a m id s t t h e C O V ID -1 9 p a n d e -m ic .

P R E P A R IN G B U I L D IN G & W O R S H IP A R E A S

B A C K T O TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

13 | REOPENING

T h e a r r iv a l o f C O V ID -1 9 in t o o u r C o n fe r e n c e a r e a h a s n o t s t o p p e d t h e f a i t h f u l S p i r i t o f G o d f r o m w o r k in g in in c r e d ib le w a y s . W e c o u ld n o t h a v e e x p e c t e d t h a t in t h e m id d le o f a p a n d e m ic w e w o u ld h a v e s u c h a n o p p o r t u -n i t y t o r e a c h n e w p e o p le , lo v e o u r n e ig h b o r s n e x t d o o r, a n d s u p p o r t o n e a n o t h e r t h r o u g h o u r U M C c o n n e c t io n . A s y o u p r e p a r e t o “r e o p e n ” f o r w o r s h ip a n d g a t h e r in g , w e e n c o u r a g e y o u t o c o n s id e r t h e g r a c e G o d i s o ff e r in g u s in t h is p a u s e f r o m in -p e r s o n w o r s h ip . I s y o u r “r e o p e n ” t h e o p p o r t u n i t y G o d i s u s in g t o b r in g f o r t h a n e w t h in g ? H a s t h e w is d o m a n d g r a c e o f G o d r e v e a le d t h in g s in t h is t im e t h a t in v i t e y o u r c o n g r e g a t io n s t o r e o p e n in a w a y t h a t m o r e f a i t h f u l ly r e fl e c t s w h a t G o d i s d o in g in y o u r c o m m u n it y r ig h t n o w ? S o m e t im e s c r i s i s u n le a s h e s o u r c r e a t iv i t y . W h i le w e p r e p a r e t o “r e o p e n ” w it h in t h e s a f e g u id e l in e s o f C D C a n d o u r lo c a l le a d e r s , o u r m o s t im p o r t a n t r e o p e n w i l l b e o u r jo y f u l o b e d ie n c e t o w h a t G o d i s in v i t in g u s t o d o . I f y o u h a v e h a d t h a t n u d g e t o r e la u n c h t h e c h u r c h ...m a y b e t h is i s a t im e b e in g o ff e r e d t o y o u ! A s w e a p p r o a c h r e o p e n in g , h e r e a r e s o m e t h in g s t o t h in k a b o u t :• I f o n l in e w o r s h ip i s r e a c h in g m o r e p e o p le i s i t t im e

t o s h i f t s o m e p e o p le a n d fi n a n c ia l r e s o u r c e s t o o ff e -r in g g r o u p s a n d s t u d ie s o n l in e , m a k in g d is c ip le s h ip m o r e a c c e s s ib le ?

• H a v e y o u d is c o v e r e d s o m e t h in g s t h a t y o u c a n le t g o o f in o r d e r t o r e fo c u s a t t e n t io n o n n e w r e la t io n s -h ip s G o d i s c r e a t in g ?

• W h a t f a c i l i t ie s (A s s is t e d L iv in g , In d e p e n d e n t L iv in g , N u r s in g H o m e s ) c a n c o n n e c t v ia c o m p u t e r a n d p r o -je c t y o u r w o r s h ip s e r v ic e o n t h e i r fl a t s c r e e n in a n a c t iv i t y o r c o n fe r e n c e r o o m s o p e o p le c a n g a t h e r a n d p a r t ic ip a t e ?

• C r e a t in g g r o u p s f o r p e r s o n a l p h o n e c a l ls t o c h e c k in w it h p e o p le a s a r e g u la r m e t h o d o f p a s t o r a l c a r e . D iv id e i t u p a m o n g c le r g y , s t a ff , la i t y . M a k e t h is a p r im a r y m e t h o d o f c o n n e c t io n a n d c a r e .

• W h a t n e ig h b o r s d id p e o p le m e e t d u r in g C O V ID -1 9 w it h w h o m t h e y n e e d t o k e e p fo s t e r in g f r ie n d s h ip ? M a k in g t im e in o u r d a i ly l iv e s t o c o n n e c t a n d v is i t w i t h n e ig h b o r s m a y b e a n e w p r io r i t y a n d p a c e f o r t h e p e o p le o f G o d . S h a r in g m e a ls a n d f a m i ly t im e t h is s u m m e r m a y b e a n e s s e n t ia l m in is t r y .

• C O V ID -1 9 h a s a n im p a c t o n e c o n o m ic s t a b i l i t y . W h a t m is s io n s o r s e r v ic e n e e d t o s h i f t o r t o t a l ly c h a n g e d t o m e e t t h e n e e d s o f t h is y e a r ? S h i f t t im e , r e s o u r c e s a n d fo c u s t o s e r v e t h o s e n e e d s . C o l la b o -r a t e w it h o t h e r s in t h e c o m m u n it y . I t i s a s h a r e d e x -p e r ie n c e t h a t t o u c h e s e v e r y o n e .

• Q u a r a n t in e c a n b e a b i t l ik e e x i le . W h a t d id G o d t e a c h t h e Is r a e l i t e s d u r in g e x i le ? H o w d o w e d o e x i-le w e l l? P e r h a p s t h is i s a t im e t o t e a c h a n d e q u ip o u r p e o p le .

• P e r h a p s y o u h a v e b e e n d r e a m in g o f c r e a t in g s m a ll g r o u p s t o f u r t h e r y o u r d is c ip le s h ip . H o w m ig h t t h is lo o k in t h is n e w t im e ? D o e s t h is m e a n h o u s e c h u r c h o n W e d n e s d a y n ig h t in l ie u o f W e d n e s d a y N ig h t D in n e r s in o u r f e l lo w s h ip h a l ls ? D o e s t h is m e a n S a t u r d a y E v e n in g s t u d ie s in l ie u o f S u n d a y S c h o o l? H o w m ig h t t h is lo o k in y o u r c o n t e x t ?

• W h o a r e t h e m o s t v u ln e r a b le in y o u r c o m m u n it y ? H o w h a s G o d e q u ip p e d y o u t o s e r v e w it h t h e m in t h is s e a s o n ? M a k e t h a t a p r io r i t y .

“ D o n o t r e m e m b e r t h e f o r m e r t h i n g s , o r c o n s i d e r t h e t h i n g s o f o l d . I a m a b o u t t o d o a n e w t h i n g ; n o w i t s p r i n g s f o r t h , d o y o u n o t p e r c e i v e i t ? I w i l l m a k e

a w a y i n t h e w i l d e r n e s s a n d r i v e r s i n t h e d e s e r t .” I s a i a h 4 3 :1 8 -1 9

R E T U R N IN G

B A C K T O TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

14 | REOPENING

P H A S E D R E O P E N IN G

D e p e n d in g o n t h e s iz e o f y o u r c h u r c h , i t m a y n o t b e p o s s ib le in P h a s e 1 t o b r in g t o g e t h e r t h e e n t i r e p o p u la t io n o f n o n -v u ln e r a b le a d u lt s in o n e s e r v ic e , m a k in g i t n e c e s s a r y t o r o t a t e a t t e n d a n c e . W e r e -c o m m e n d t h a t y o u c o n t in u e o ff e r in g w o r s h ip v ia a n a d d i t io n a l m e d iu m s o p e r s o n s u n a b le t o a t t e n d p h y s ic a l ly c a n r e m a in e n g a g e d . A s n o t e d a b o v e , i t i s e x t r e m e ly im p o r t a n t t o lo o k f o r w a y s t o c o n t in u e t o e n g a g e in w o r s h ip a n d r e la t io n s h ip w it h t h o s e w h o , d u e t o v u ln e r a b i l i t y , a r e n o t y e t a b le t o a t t e n d in p e r s o n .

I t i s im p o r t a n t t o r e m e m b e r t h a t y o u a r e n o t r e q u i-r e d t o o ff e r in -p e r s o n w o r s h ip r ig h t a w a y . T h is i s a c o n v e r s a t io n t h a t c h u r c h le a d e r s a n d c le r g y n e e d t o h a v e t o g e t h e r. P e r s o n s o r h o u s e h o ld u n i t s m a y n o t f e e l c o m fo r t a b le y e t w i t h r e t u r n in g t o p h y s ic a l w o r s h ip . I f y o u a r e n o t s u r e w h e t h e r i t i s t im e fo r y o u o r y o u r h o u s e h o ld t o r e t u r n t o w o r s h ip , o r h a v e c o n c e r n s a b o u t m e d ic a l c o n d i t io n s , i t i s a g o o d id e a t o c o n s u lt w i t h y o u r p r im a r y h e a lt h c a r e c o o r d in a t o r (p h y s ic ia n , p h y s ic ia n ’s a s s i s t a n t , o r n u r s e p r a c t i t io -n e r ).

In a d d i t io n t o t h e p h a s in g m o d e l, t h e lo c a l c h u r c h le a d e r s h ip m a y fi n d i t u s e f u l t o b e g in w it h a “s o f t o p e n ” o f s o r t s , p o s s ib ly d r iv e -u p c h u r c h o r o u t d o o r s e r v ic e s in n ic e w e a t h e r. B y g r a d u a l ly b r in g in g p e o -p le t o g e t h e r, w e c a n e x e r c is e m o r e c o n t r o l o v e r t h e s p r e a d o f C O V ID -1 9 r a t h e r t h a n r e a c t in g t o a s p r e a d w h e n i t i s a lr e a d y t o o la t e .

I t i s fi n a l ly t h e d a y w h e n w e r e t u r n t o in -p e r s o n w o r s h ip . Yo u h a v e a p p r o p r ia t e s u p p l ie s , y o u r w o r s h ip a r e a i s r e a d y , a n d y o u r v o lu n t e e r s a r e r e a d y

W h o a t t e n d s w o r s h i p a n d w h e n ?T h is p h a s e d a p p r o a c h t o r e t u r n in g t o in -p e r s o n w o r s h ip m a y lo o k d iff e r e n t in y o u r lo c a l c o n t e x t a n d m a y n e e d t o b e r e v ie w e d a n d a m e n d e d b y t h e le a d e r s h ip in t h e c h u r c h . O u r p r o p o s e d p h a s in g i s a s f o l lo w s :

P h a s e 1 a t t e n d a n c e s h o u ld c o n s is t o f a d u lt s , a g e s 2 1 -6 4 , w h o a r e n o t in c lu d e d in t h e v u ln e r a b le p o p u la t io n d e m o g r a -p h ic , a n d a r e a b le a n d w i l l in g t o w e a r a f a c e c o v e r in g a n d a d h e r e t o s o c ia l d is t a n -c in g g u id e l in e s . I t i s r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t t h e o c c u p a n c y o f y o u r w o r s h ip a r e a n o t e x c e e d 3 3 % o f m a x im u m c a p a c i t y , b u t y o u w i l l n e e d t o d e t e rm in e t h e m a x im u m n u m b e r o f w o r s h ip e r s w h o c a n a t t e n d w h i le o b s e r v in g s o c ia l d is t a n c in g g u id e -l in e s . W h i le w e m a y n o t n o w b e u s e d t o s m a ll g r o u p g a t h e r in g s , s m a ll g r o u p s w e r e a la r g e p a r t o f t h e g r o w t h o f M e t h o d is m .

In t h is p h a s e a n d in t h e n e x t p h a s e , y o u m a y c o n s id e r in v i t in g n o n -v u ln e r a b le p e r -s o n s t o c o m e t o g e t h e r in h o m e s o r p u b l ic s p a c e s in g r o u p s o f 1 0 o r le s s f o r v i r t u a l w o r s h ip .

D u r in g t h is p h a s e a n d t h e n e x t t w o p h a -s e s , c h u r c h e s s h o u ld r e m a in m in d f u l t h a t v u ln e r a b le o ld e r a d u lt s a n d c h i ld r e n n e e d w o r s h ip a n d m in is t r y , a lt h o u g h i t m a y n o t b e s a f e f o r t h e m t o r e t u r n t o p h y s ic a l w o r -s h ip in t h e s h o r t t e rm . A s w e c e le b r a t e o u r in i t ia l p h a s e s o f r e t u r n t o w o r s h ip , w e s h o u ld b e m in d f u l t h a t w e d o n o t t u r n o u r e y e s a n d h e a r t s f r o m t h o s e w h o m u s t s t i l l w o r s h ip a t a d is t a n c e , a n d a l l c h u r c h e s a r e s t r o n g ly e n c o u r a g e d t o c o n t in u e t o r e a c h o u t t o t h o s e p o p u la t io n s in in n o v a t iv e a n d m e a n in g f u l w a y s .

P h a s e 2 b e g in s a f t e r a s t a b le p e -r io d in P h a s e 1 (r e c o m m e n d e d 6 w e e k s , a d a p t a b le t o y o u r lo c a l c o n t e x t ). In t h is p h a s e y o u m y c o n s id e r in c r e a s in g a t t e n -d a n c e b y 2 0 % in 3 -w e e k in t e r v a ls u n t i l 1 0 0 % o f n o n -v u ln e r a b le a d u lt s a r e a t t e n -d in g . C o n t in u e t o m o n it o r t h e h e a lt h o f t h e p a r i s h io n e r s a n d t h e c o m m u n it y f o r C O V ID -1 9 “h o t -s p o t s ” o r a s p ik e in p o s i t iv e c a s e s .

P h a s e 3 b e g in s a f t e r a s t a b le p e r io d in P h a s e 2 , a n d s e e k s t o in c o r p o r a t e n o n -v u l-n e r a b le c h i ld r e n a g e 1 -2 0 a n d t h e i r h o u s e -h o ld s , a n d p e r s o n s w it h h ig h -f u n c t io n in g p h y s ic a l a n d in t e l le c t u a l d is a b i l i t ie s . T h is w i l l d e p e n d o n y o u r lo c a l c o n t e x t .

P h a s e 4 b e g in s a f t e r a s t a b le p e r io d in P h a s e 3 , a n d b r in g s in t h e v u ln e r a b le p o -p u la t io n . T h e c o n t in u e d w e a r in g o f f a c e c o v e r in g s a n d s o c ia l d is t a n c in g w i l l b e ju -d g e d b a s e d o n t h e g u id a n c e o f t h e C D C a t t h a t t im e .

B A C K T O TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

15 | REOPENING

In t h e e v e n t t h a t , a f t e r in p e r s o n w o r s h ip h a s r e s u m e d , s o m e o n e w h o a t t e n d e d a w o r s h ip s e r v ic e t e s t s p o s i t iv e f o r C O V ID -1 9 , w o r s h ip e r s s h o u ld c o m m u n ic a t e t h e r e s u lt t o t h e p a s t o r (o r c le r g y ) a p p o in t e d t o t h e c h u r c h . C o n fi d e n t ia l i t y m u s t b e m a in t a in e d in t h is r e p o r t in g . O t h e r w o r s h ip e r s w h o w e r e in t h e w o r s h ip s p a c e a t t h e s a m e t im e a s t h e p e r s o n w h o r e p o r t e d t h e p o s i t iv e s h o u ld b e n o t ifi e d , b u t t h e id e n t i t y o f t h e p e r s o n a n d a n y d e t a i ls w h o m a y le a d t o b r e a c h in g c o n fi d e n t ia l i t y m u s t n o t b e r e v e a le d . In a d d i t io n t o n o t i f y in g t h o s e w h o h a d c o n t a c t o r p o t e n t ia l c o n t a c t w i t h s o m e o n e t e s t in g p o s i t iv e f o r C O V ID -1 9 , i t w i l l a ls o b e n e c e s s a r y t o c o n t a c t t h e D e p a r tm e n t o f H e a lt h f o r g u id a n c e o n h o w t o p r o c e e d .

W O R S H IP E R S T H A T T E S T P O S I T IV E

B A C K T O TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

16 | REOPENING

T h e fo l lo w in g a r e r e c o m m e n d e d p r a c -t ic e s f o r a r r iv a l a t w o r s h ip :• W o r s h ip e r s a r r iv e e a r l ie r t h a n

u s u a l.• W o r s h ip e r s e n t e r t h e b u i ld in g a t

s ix f o o t in t e r v a ls b e t w e e n h o u s e -h o ld u n i t s .

• M a r k t h e a r e a o u t s id e t h e e n t r a n -c e a t 6 -fo o t in t e r v a ls . A lt e r n a t i-v e ly , w o r s h ip e r s r e m a in in t h e i r c a r s u n t i l t h e e n t r a n c e i s c le a r.

• H o u s e h o ld s a p p r o a c h in g t h e b u i l-d in g t o e n t e r w i l l s t o p s ix f e e t f r o m t h e s c r e e n in g v o lu n t e e r w h o w i l l b e w e a r in g a f a c e c o v e r in g a n d g lo v e s . T h e s c r e e n e r w i l l : º C h e c k t h e t e m p e r a t u r e o f

e a c h p e r s o n u s in g a c o n t a c t -le s s t h e rm o m e t e r a n d v e r i f y t h a t t h e t e m p e r a t u r e i s le s s t h a n 9 9 .9 °F (a h r e n h e i t ).

º R e v ie w w it h e a c h p e r s o n p r io r t o e n t e r in g i f t h e y , t o d a y o r in t h e p r e c e d in g 4 8 h o u r s , h a v e e x p e r ie n c e d :

• C o u g h• S h o r t n e s s o f b r e a t h o f d iffi c u lt y

b r e a t h in g• F e v e r (g r e a t e r t h a n 9 9 .9 °F• C h i l ls• M u s c le P a in• H e a d a c h e• S o r e T h r o a t• N e w lo s s o f t a s t e o r s m e ll• V o m it in g o r d ia r r h e a• C lo s e c o n t a c t w i t h s o m e o n e w h o

h a s t e s t e d p o s i t iv e f o r C O V ID -1 9 in t h e p a s t 1 4 d a y s

• In t e r n a t io n a l t r a v e l• D o m e s t ic t r a v e l t o a C O V ID -1 9 h o t

s p o t

To r e d u c e p o t e n t ia l t r a n sm is s io n o f t h e v i r u s , i t i s s u g g e s t e d t h a t o n ly p e r s o n s a n s w e r in g “n o ” t o e a c h o f t h e s c r e e n in g q u e s t io n b e a l lo w e d in t h e b u i ld in g . L ik e w is e , i t i s s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h o s e w h o a n s w e r “y e s ” t o a n y o f t h e q u e s -t io n s o r r e g is t e r a t e m p e r a t u r e g r e a t e r t h a n 9 9 .9 °F , n o t b e a d m it t e d . F u r t h e r s u g g e s t io n s in c lu d e t h a t t h e s e in d iv i-d u a ls a n d t h e i r h o u s e h o ld u n i t s h o u ld e i t h e r r e t u r n h o m e o r b e e s c o r t e d t o a q u a r a n t in e d a r e a o f t h e b u i ld in g a w a y f r o m t h e t r a ffi c k e d a r e a s i f t h e y w e r e d r o p p e d o ff a n d c a n n o t r e t u r n h o m e im m e d ia t e ly .

F a c e C o v e r i n g s

To r e d u c e p o t e n t ia l t r a n sm is s io n o f t h e v i r u s , i t i s r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t e v e r y o n e in a t t e n d a n c e w i l l w e a r a m a s k o r f a c e c o v e r in g b e fo r e e n t e r in g t h e w o r s h ip s p a c e a n d c o n t in u e t o w e a r i t u n t i l r e -t u r n in g t o t h e i r v e h ic le s a t t h e e n d o f s e r v ic e . I t i s r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t t h e c h u r c h s u p p ly d is p o s a b le f a c e c o v e -r in g s t o t h o s e w h o d o n o t h a v e o n e . I t i s a ls o r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t in a d d i t io n t o s t a n d in g s a n i t iz in g s t a t io n s a t e n -t r a n c e s , in d iv id u a ls o r h o u s e h o ld u n i t s b r in g e ff e c t iv e h a n d s a n i t iz e r w i t h t h e m t o c o n v e n ie n t ly d is in f e c t a s n e -c e s s a r y .

B u l l e t i n sI f y o u r c h u r c h w i l l b e u s in g s in g le u s e b u l le t in s o r p r o g r a m s , i t i s r e c o m m e n -d e d t h a t t h o s e a r e d is t r ib u t e d a s w o r -s h ip e r s e n t e r t h e b u i ld in g b y h a n d in g t h e a p p r o p r ia t e n u m b e r, a t f u l l a rm ’s le n g t h , t o o n e p e r s o n in t h e h o u s e h o ld u n i t w h o w i l l t a k e t h e b u l le t in s f o r a l l p e r s o n s in t h e h o u s e h o ld , a ls o a t f u l l a rm ’s le n g t h .

H a n d S a n i t i z e r

I t i s r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t a h a n d s a n i t i-z in g s t a t io n b e s e t u p in t h e e n t r a n c e f o r w o r s h ip e r s t o c le a n h a n d s b e tw e e n t h e e n t r a n c e t o t h e b u i ld in g a n d t h e s e a t in g a r e a , f o l lo w in g t h e t e c h n iq u e d e t a i le d in t h e a b o v e s e c t io n .

S e a t i n gO n c e s e a t e d in t h e w o r s h ip s p a c e (d e t a i le d in a b o v e s e c t io n ), i t i s r e -c o m m e n d e d t h a t w o r s h ip e r s r e m a in s e a t e d u n le s s a b s o lu t e ly n e c e s s a r y ; m o v e m e n t e n c o u r a g e s d e e p e r a n d m o r e f r e q u e n t b r e a t h in g , in c r e a s e d c i r c u la t io n in a m b ie n t a i r, a n d e s c a la -t e s t h e o p p o r t u n i t y f o r c r o s s -c o n t a m i-n a t io n a n d t h e s p r e a d o f C O V ID -1 9 .

A R R IV A L

B A C K T O TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

17 | REOPENING

In g e n e r a l, i t i s r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t w o r s h ip b e s h o r t e n e d r a t h e r t h a n le n g t h e n e d t o l im it p o s s ib le e x p o -s u r e t o C O V ID -1 9 . In t h is s e c t io n , w e w i l l d e t a i l s o m e o f t h e m o r e c o m m o n a n d u s u a l c o m p o n e n t s o f t h e w a y w e w o r s h ip (y o u r lo c a l c o n t e x t m a y o r m a y n o t d o s o m e o r a l l o f t h e s e ), a n d r e c o m m e n d a t io n s f o r a d ju s t in g t h o s e c o m p o n e n t s t o r e d u c e h a rm .

P r o c e s s i o n a n d R e c e s s i o nI f y o u r w o r s h ip t y p ic a l ly b e g in s w it h a p r o c e s s io n , i t i s r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t y o u s e a t h o u s e h o ld s m o r e t h a n 6 f e e t a w a y f r o m t h e a is le w h e r e t h e p r o c e s -s io n t a k e s p la c e I t i s f u r t h e r r e c o m -m e n d e d t h a t :• A l l p e r s o n s p r o c e s s in g w e a r f a c e

c o v e r in g s a n d m a in t a in a d is t a n -c e o f a t le a s t 6 -f e e t f r o m o n e a n o -t h e r a n d f r o m t h o s e s e a t e d in t h e p e w s .

• C a n d le l ig h t e r s , P r o c e s s io n a l C r o s s e s , a n d o t h e r i t e m s h e ld a n d c a r r ie d d u r in g t h e p r o c e s s io n a n d r e c e s s io n s h o u ld b e d is in f e c t e d b e fo r e u s e , o n ly b e t o u c h e d b y t h e p e r s o n c a r r y in g t h e m , a n d o n ly w h i le w e a r in g d is p o s a b le g lo v e s t h a t a r e r e m o v e d w h e n s e a t e d . N e w , c le a n g lo v e s s h o u ld b e w o r n d u r in g t h e r e c e s s io n a l a n d t h e i t e m s s h o u ld b e d is in f e c -t e d a f t e r w a rd . R e c e s s in g s h o u ld f o l lo w t h e s a m e p r o c e d u r e a b o v e f o r P r o c e s s in g .

S i n g i n gM e t h o d is t s h a v e lo n g b e e n k n o w n a s “a s in g in g p e o p le .” C h a r le s W e s le y , o n e o f t h e f o u n d e r s o f M e t h o d is m , w a s a ls o o n e o f t h e m o s t p r o l ifi c h y m n w r i t e r s e v e r. H is b r o t h e r J o h n a ls o c o m p o s e d a n d t r a n s la t e d h y m -n s . In A m e r ic a , h y m n -s in g in g w a s a n im p o r t a n t p a r t o f t h e t r a d i t io n o f c a m p m e e t in g s , r e l ig io u s w o r s h ip a n d r e v iv a l s e r v ic e s c o m m o n in t h e n in e -t e e n t h c e n t u r y . T h e c u r r e n t U n i t e d M e t h o d is t H y m n a l (U M H ) i s t h e m o s t s u c c e s s f u l h y m n a l e v e r p u b l i s h e d . W h i le c e r t a in ly n o t a l l M e t h o d is t s c a n s in g o r l ik e s in g in g , t h e d e n o m in a t io n w a s a n d i s a t u n e f u l o n e a s a w h o le . D u r in g t h is s e a s o n , w e h a v e b e e n c o n t in u a l ly r e m in d e d t h a t t h in g s o n c e c o m m o n p la c e a r e t a k in g o n a b -n o rm a l c h a n g e s . S o m e o f t h e s e c h a n -g e s h a v e b e e n p o s i t iv e , w h i le o t h e r s c o m e w it h im m e n s e g r ie f .

In t h is t im e , d a t a c le a r ly r e v e a ls t h a t b e s t p r a c t ic e s f o r in -p e r s o n w o r s h ip r e c o m m e n d a g a in s t c o n g r e g a t io n a l s in g in g . In l ie u o f c o n g r e g a t io n a l s in -

g in g , c o n s id e r h a v in g in s t r u m e n t a l i s t s o ff e r s p e c ia l m u s ic , o r p la y p r e -r e c o r -d e d s o n g s . S o lo is t s c a n s in g a s lo n g a s t h e r e i s s u ffi c ie n t d is t a n c e (2 6 f e e t ) b e t w e e n t h e s in g e r a n d a n y o n e e ls e . M ic r o p h o n e s , d u e t o t h e n a t u r e o f t h e i r u s e , p r e s e n t a u n iq u e o p p o r t u n i-t y t o s p r e a d t h e C O V ID -1 9 v i r u s , a n d t h e r e fo r e s h o u ld n o t b e s h a r e d .

S c ie n t ifi c r e s e a r c h i s o n g o in g in t h e a r e a o f s in -g in g ,b u t t h e p r e l im in a r y d a t a i s t r e n d in g t o w a rd s h o w in g s in g in g a s a “s u p e r s p r e a d in g ” e v e n t ,o n e o f t h e m o s t d a n g e ro u s a c t iv i t ie s w e c a n e n g a g e in d u r in g w o r s h ip . S in g in g r e q u i r e s s ig n ifi c a n t ly d iff e r e n t b o d y m e c h a n ic s t h a n o t h e r a c t iv i t ie s ;w e b r e a t h e d e e p e r,a t a n in c r e a s e d ra t e a n d o f t e n t h ro u g h o u r n o s e s , a n d w e e x h a le w i t h g r e a t e r f o r c e t h a n w e d o w h e n t a lk in g . Ta k in g t h i s in t o a c c o u n t , c u r r e n t d a t a r e p o r t s t h a t t h e C O V ID -1 9 v i r u s c a n b e p ro je c t e d u p t o 2 6 f e e t d u r in g t h e a c t o f s in g in g .

L i t u r g yT h e r e a r e n o s p e c ia l p r o v is io n s f o r t h e s p o k e n p a r t s o f t h e l i t u r g y (c a l l a n d r e s p o n s e , c o r p o r a t e p r a y e r, T h e L o r d ’s P r a y e r, e t c .), b u t i t i s r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t m ic r o p h o n e s n o t b e s h a r e d a n d t h a t a l l m ic r o p h o n e s b e d is in f e c t e d b o t h b e fo r e a n d a f t e r u s e .

N o o n e s h o u ld u s e o r s p e a k in t o a m ic r o p h o n e a f t e r s o m e o n e h a s u s e d i t u n t i l i t h a s b e e n t h o ro u -g h ly d i s in f e c t e d a n d s a n i t i z e d .

O ff e r i n g o f G i f t sO ff e r in g s w i l l b e o n e o f t h e m o r e o b -v io u s c h a n g e s t o t h e w a y w e t r a d i-t io n a l ly w o r s h ip . I t i s n o t p o s s ib le , in t h is s e a s o n , f o r u s t o p a s s t h e o ff e r in g p la t e in t h e w a y w e a r e a c c u s t o m e d . T h e b e s t p r a c t ic e in t h is s e a s o n i s t o o ff e r o n l in e g iv in g , a n d /o r t o p r o v id e a t o u c h le s s b o x , p la t e , o r o t h e r r e c e p -t a c le a t t h e e n t r a n c e a n d /o r e x i t , f o r p e r s o n s t o d e p o s i t t h e i r o ff e r in g . I t i s r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t c o u n t in g a n d p r e p a r in g o ff e r in g s b e d o n e in a w a y t h a t o ff e r s t h e g r e a t e s t p r o t e c t io n t o t h e p e r s o n s h a n d l in g t h is t a s k . T h is in c lu d e s :• W e a r in g g lo v e s a n d m a s k s• P r e p a r in g t h e o ff e r in g , p la c in g i t

in a n e n v e lo p e , a n d t h e n p la c in g t h e e n v e lo p e in a s e a le d p la s t ic b a g .

L o v i n gW e e n c o u r a g e y o u t o r e f r a in f r o m h a n d s h a k in g , e m b r a c in g , a n d o t h e r f o rm s o f p a s s in g t h e p e a c e . Yo u r c h u r c h m a y c h o o s e t o w a v e a t o n e a n o t h e r, o r a d o p t a n o t h e r c r e a t iv e w a y o f c o m m u n ic a t in g , s u c h a s s ig n la n g u a g e fo r “ I L o v e Yo u .”

W O R S H IP IN G

B A C K T O TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

18 | REOPENING

P R E A C H IN G

P r e a c h i n g w i l l r e q u i r e s p e c i a l c o n s i -d e r a t i o n s . P r e a c h in g in a m a s k o r f a c e c o v e r in g c a n m a k e b r e a t h in g d iffi c u lt f o r t h e s p e a k e r, c a n in c r e a s e d iffi c u lt y in u n d e r s t a n d in g fo r t h e c o n g r e g a t io n , a n d c a n e x p o s e t h e s p e a k e r t o t h e r i s k o f o v e r h e a t in g . A d is t a n c e o f 2 6 f e e t i s a g o o d s u b s t i t u t e i f a f a c e c o v e r in g i s n o t w o r n d u r in g p r e a c h in g .

I t i s r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t :• T h e p r e a c h e r r e m o v e a n d r e p la c e

t h e f a c e c o v e r in g u t i l i z in g p r o p e r t e c h n iq u e a s d e t a i le d in a p r io r s e c t io n , i f a f a c e c o v e r in g i s w o r n .

• P r e a c h e r s r e m a in in t h e p la t fo rm /p u lp i t a r e a , w i t h t h e f r o n tm o s t a c -c e s s ib le p e w s b e in g a m in im u m o f 2 6 f e e t a w a y (i f t h e p r e a c h e r w e a r s a f a c e c o v e r in g w h i le p r e a c h in g , a d is t a n c e o f 6 f e e t i s a c c e p t a b le )

• C le r g y w e a r a r o b e /a lb /p u lp i t g o w n o v e r t h e i r c lo t h in g , w h ic h w o u ld t h e n b e r e m o v e d a n d p la -c e d in a b a g o r c o n t a in e r f o r t r a n s -p o r t , a f t e r w h ic h t h e c le r g y p e r s o n w o u ld t h e n t h o r o u g h ly c le a n a n d d is in f e c t t h e i r h a n d s . I t w o u ld b e r e c o m m e n d e d t h e r o b e /a lb /p u lp i t g o w n b e c le a n e d o r la u n -d e r e d a f t e r u s e ; h o w e v e r, i t i s u n -d e r s t a n d a b le t h a t t h is m a y n o t b e p o s s ib le . I f s a f e t o d o s o (c o n s u lt t h e g a rm e n t ’s la b e l), i t i s p o s s i-b le t o u s e a d is in f e c t a n t p r o d u c t d e s ig n e d fo r s o f t -s u r f a c e s (s u c h a s L y s o l) t o s a n i t iz e t h e g a rm e n t . P le a s e r e m e m b e r t h a t i t i s p o s s i-b le f o r t h e C O V ID -1 9 v i r u s t o l iv e o n s o f t -s u r f a c e s a s w e l l a s h a r d , n o n -p o r o u s s u r f a c e s a s lo n g a s f o u r (4 ) d a y s .

W e a ls o r e c o g n iz e t h a t s o m e c le r g y a n d o t h e r s le a d in g t h e s e r v ic e m a y f a l l in t o t h e c a t e g o r y o f v u ln e r a b le p e o p le , a n d in h e r e n t ly c a r r y a h ig h e r r i s k o f e x -p o s u r e , w h ic h in c r e a s e s e v e n m o r e in s e t t in g s w it h m u lt ip le c h a r g e s . A b e s t p r a c t ic e f o r t h o s e le a d in g t h e s e r v ic e , p a r t ic u la r ly t h o s e in c le r g y r o le s , i s t o a r r iv e b e fo r e a n y o n e e ls e d o e s , f o l lo w a l l s c r e e n in g p r o c e d u r e s , a n d q u a r a n -t in e /s e q u e s t e r t h e m s e lv e s a lo n e in t h e p la t fo rm /p u lp i t a r e a . T h e c le r g y s h o u ld t h e n b e t h e fi r s t t o le a v e , l im i-t in g e x p o s u r e t o t h e g r e a t e s t e x t e n t p o s s ib le . T h is w i l l g r e a t ly d e p e n d o n t h e d is c e r n m e n t o f la y a n d c le r g y le a -d e r s h ip a n d t h e c o m fo r t le v e l o f t h e C le r g y a n d t h e lo c a l c o n t e x t . F o r c le r g y w h o s e r v e a p p o in tm e n t s w it h m u lt ip le c h u r c h e s , lo g is t ic a l c o n s id e r a t io n s w i l l n e e d t o b e o b s e r v e d . W it h t h e c le r g y b e in g t h e fi r s t t o e x i t t h e in i t ia l s e r v ic e , t h e r i s k o f c r o s s -c o n t a m in a t io n i s s ig -

n ifi c a n t ly lo w e r e d ; i f t h e c le r g y p e r s o n o w n s r o b e s /a lb s /p u lp i t g o w n s e n o u g h t o w e a r a n e w , c le a n o n e t o e a c h s e r -v ic e , t h a t w o u ld f u r t h e r d e c r e a s e t h e o p p o r t u n i t ie s f o r c r o s s -c o n t a m in a t io n , t h o u g h n o t r e q u i r e d . I t i s n o t r e c o m -m e n d e d t h a t t h e c le r g y p e r s o n w e a r t h e p u lp i t g a rm e n t in t h e i r a u t o m o b i-le w h i le t r a v e l in g (t h e r o b e /a lb /p u lp i t g o w n w o u ld n e e d t o t h e n b e p la c e d in a b a g o r c o n t a in e r f o r t r a n s p o r t , a n d t h o r o u g h ly d is in f e c t t h e i r h a n d s a f t e r r e m o v in g a n d s t o r in g t h e g a rm e n t ). T h e c le r g y p e r s o n , u p o n a r r iv a l t o t h e r e m a in d e r o f t h e d a y ’s s e r v ic e s , s h o u ld b e s c r e e n e d in a s o u t l in e d e a r l ie r in t h is d o c u m e n t (p r im a r i ly t o m o d e l g o o d p r a c t ic e a s a n e x a m p le ). F o l lo w in g t h e m o d e l in t h e a r r iv a l s e c t io n o f t h is d o -c u m e n t , p a r i s h io n e r s s h o u ld b e s e a t e d w it h n o o n e in t h e p u lp i t a r e a t h a t i s n ’t e s s e n t ia l. T h e c le r g y s h o u ld b e a b le t o d o n t h e i r p u lp i t g a rm e n t a n d t h o -r o u g h ly s a n i t iz e t h e i r h a n d s f o l lo w in g . T h e a lr e a d y a d d r e s s e d b e s t p r a c t ic e s s h o u ld t h e n b e o b s e r v e d , w i t h t h e p r o -c e d u r e s c o n t in u e d t h r o u g h o u t e a c h s e r v ic e t h a t d a y .

I n v i t a t i o nT h e in v i t a t io n i s o n e o f t h e m o s t in t i-m a t e m o m e n t s in a n y w o r s h ip s e r v ic e . D u e t o i t s n a t u r e , i t i s r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t c le r g y :• E n c o u r a g e t h o s e w is h in g t o m a k e

a p r o fe s s io n o f f a i t h t o le t t h e p a s -t o r k n o w a h e a d o f t im e s o t h a t s t e p s c a n b e t a k e n t o r e d u c e p o -t e n t ia l h a rm .

• P r e p a r e w a y s f o r t h e c o n g r e g a t io n t o r e s p o n d in t h e a b s e n c e o f h y m -n a ls a n d c o n g r e g a t io n a l s in g in g .

• L e a d c o n v e r s a t io n s a b o u t s p o n t a -n e o u s in v i t a t io n a l r e s p o n s e s t h a t in c lu d e º P r e -m a r k e d d is t a n c in g in -

t e r v a ls a t t h e c h a n c e l r a i l (o r a p p r o p r ia t e a r e a )

º P r o c e d u r e s f o r d is in f e c t in g t h e a r e a b e fo r e a n d a f t e r t h e s e r v ic e , a s w e l l a s in r e a l t im e

º W a y s f o r c le r g y t o o b s e r v e d is t a n c in g g u id e l in e s o f a t le a s t s ix f e e t f r o m a n y w h o c o m e fo r w a rd

B A C K T O TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

19 | REOPENING

T h e t r a d i t io n o f b a p t is m b y s p r in k l in g w i l l r e q u i r e m in im a l a d ju s tm e n t f o r s a -f e t y . I t i s r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t t h e c le r g y c e le b r a t in g t h e b a p t is m :• B e t h e o n ly p e r s o n w h o s a n i t iz e s

t h e f o n t , fi l ls t h e f o n t w it h w a t e r, a n d m a in t a in s c u s t o d y o f t h e fi l le d f o n t t h r o u g h o u t t h e e n d o f t h e s e r v ic e . W h e n a p p ly in g h a n d s a n i t i z e r t o g lo v e d h a n d s , f o l lo w t h e u s u a l p r o c e d u re o f u s in g t h e r e c o m m e n d e d a m o u n t a n d r u b -b in g y o u r g lo v e d h a n d s t o g e t h e r f o r a t l e a s t 2 0 s e c o n d s ; i t w i l l t a k e lo n g e r f o r t h e h a n d s a n i t i z e r t o d i s s ip a t e s in c e t h e r e i s n o m e c h a -n ism o f a b s o r p t io n .

• C h a n g e g lo v e s b e tw e e n fi l l in g t h e f o n t a n d c e le b r a t in g t h e b a p t is m , b e in g s u r e t o a p p ly h a n d s a n i t iz e r t o t h e g lo v e s p r io r t o t h e b a p t is m .

• S u p p ly s in g le -u s e b a p t is m a l v o w s a n d r e s p o n s e s t o p a r t ic ip a n t s .

• R e f r a in f r o m h o ld in g t h e in f a n t s in t h e c a s e o f in f a n t b a p t is m , a l lo w in g t h e in f a n t t o b e h e ld o n ly b y t h o s e w h o l iv e in t h e in f a n t ’s h o u s e h o ld .

• S p r in k le t h e w a t e r o n t h e p e r s o n b e in g b a p t iz e d w it h o u t d i r e c t ly c o n t a c t in g t h e m .

• H o ld h a n d s o v e r o r t o w a rd t h e p e r s o n b e in g b a p t iz e d r a t h e r t h a n la y in g h a n d s o n t h e m .

• W e a r a f a c e c o v e r in g a n d e n c o u r a -g e a l l p a r t ic ip a n t s t o d o t h e s a m e , w it h t h e e x c e p t io n o f a n y o n e u n -d e r t w o y e a r s o f a g e .

• W e a r a r o b e o r a lb . A s o u t l in e d in t h e “P r e a c h in g ” s e c t io n a b o v e .

• E m p t y , s a n i t i z e , a n d r e fi l l t h e f o n t b e t w e e n e a c h p e r s o n b e in g b a p -t iz e d .

• W e a r a n e w , c le a n p a i r o f g lo v e s f o r e a c h b a p t is m .

T h e c e le b r a t io n o f a b a p t is m is n o t a p r iv a t e e v e n t ; a c k n o w le d g in g t h is , in t h is s e a s o n i t w i l l b e n e c e s s a r y t o o n ly h a v e t h o s e e s s e n t ia l t o t h e b a p t is m p h y s ic a l ly p r e s e n t . O t h e r s s h o u ld b e in v i t e d t o p a r t ic ip a t e v ia v i r t u a l m e a n s .V ir t u a l p a r t i c ip a t io n c a n t a k e p la c e b y m a n y r e l ia -b le a n d s a f e m e a n s .F a c e b o o k L iv e ,Z o o m ,W e b E x ,a n d F a c e T im e a r e a f e w o f t h e w a y s in w h ic h p a r t i-c ip a t io n c a n b e fa c i l i t a t e d .R e c o rd in g t h e b a p t i sm r e m a in s a s a f e a n d v a lu a b le m e a n s a s w e l l .

C o n fi r m a t i o n v o w s r e q u i r e d e e p e r p la n n in g , a n d in l ig h t o f t h e c u r r e n t s e a s o n , b e s t p r a c t ic e s r e c o m m e n d p o s t p o n in g t h e s e s e r v ic e s u n t i l t h e y c a n b e s a f e ly p e r fo rm e d a f t e r e i t h e r a n e ff e c t iv e t r e a tm e n t , a v a c c in e , o r b o t h a r e w id e ly a v a i la b le .

B A P T I S M & C O N F IR M A T IO N

B A C K T O TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

20 | REOPENING

H O LY C O M M U N IO N

B a s e d o n t h e m e c h a n ic s a n d lo g is t ic s o f r e c e iv in g H o ly C o m m u n io n , a f t e r m u c h p r a y e r, r e s e a r c h , a n d d is c u s s io n , i t i s o u r r e c o m m e n d a t io n t h a t H o ly C o m m u n io n n o t b e o ff e r e d d u r in g in -p e r s o n w o r s h ip u n t i l a n e ff e c t iv e t r e a tm e n t o r v a c c in e i s w id e ly a v a i la b le .

B A C K T O TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

21 | REOPENING

In t h is s e a s o n o f u n c e r t a in t y , i t i s r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t p u b l ic c e le b r a -t io n s o f w e d d in g s b e p o s t p o n e d i f p o s s ib le . T h is p r a c t ic e i s t h e o n ly g u a r a n t e e w e h a v e o f d o in g n o h a rm in t h is s i t u a t io n . I f t h e w e d d in g m u s t o c c u r, t h e f o l lo w in g b e s t p r a c t ic e s a r e r e c o m m e n d e d :• F o r s e r v ic e s in v o lv in g o n ly t h e c le r g y a n d t h e c o u p le t o b e w e d ,

i t i s r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t c le r g y : º R e m a in s ix f e e t a w a y f r o m t h e c o u p le º W e a r a f a c e c o v e r in g a n d r e f r a in f r o m p h y s ic a l c o n t a c t w i t h

t h e c o u p le º F o r la r g e r w e d d in g s , i t i s r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t c le r g y : º R e m a in s ix f e e t a w a y f r o m t h e c o u p le a n d f r o m a l l o t h e r s

g a t h e r e d º W e a r a f a c e c o v e r in g . º C o n s id e r t h e p o s s ib i l i t y o f e n a b l in g g u e s t s t o p a r t ic ip a -

t e r e m o t e ly (Z o o m , F a c e b o o k L iv e , v id e o r e c o r d in g ) i f t h e n u m b e r o f g u e s t s n e e d s t o b e l im it e d f o r t h e s a k e o f s o c ia l d is t a n c in g a n d t o c o n t r o l t h e p o s s ib i l i t y o f e x p o s u r e .

• W h e n c o m p le t in g le g a l p a p e r w o r k r e q u i r e d f o r w e d d in g s i t i s r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t c le r g y :

• W e a r d is p o s a b le g lo v e s (t h a t a r e s a f e ly r e m o v e d a n d d is p o s e d o f a f t e r w a rd w it h o u t c o m in g in t o c o n t a c t w i t h a n y o t h e r s u r f a c e s o r t o u c h in g y o u r f a c e )

• S a n i t iz e t h e in k p e n u s e d t o c o m p le t e t h e p a p e r w o r k a n d p la c e i t in a s a f e c o n t a in e r s u c h a s a s e a le d p la s t ic b a g a f t e r u s e .

In a l l s i t u a t io n s , i t i s r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t u n iv e r s a l p r e c a u t io n s a n d a l l p r o t e c t iv e m e a s u r e s b e o b s e r v e d , in c lu d in g f a c e c o -v e r in g s , s o c ia l d is t a n c in g , a n d h a n d s a n i t iz e r. T h is d o c u m e n t d o e s n ’t s e e k t o g iv e a d v ic e o n w e d d in g r e c e p t io n s a n d o t h e r p o s s ib le a s p e c t s o f a w e d d in g , o n ly t h e c e r e m o n y i t s e l f .

W E D D IN G S

F U N E R A L S

F u n e r a ls w i l l r e q u i r e a h e ig h t e n e d le v e l o f c a r e s im p ly b e c a u s e o f t h e i r n a t u r e . B e c a u s e p e o p le h a v e h e ig h t e n e d e m o t io n s , t h e m a r g in o f e r r o r i s l ik e ly t o in c r e a s e . W h e r e p o s s ib le , p u b l ic r e m e m -b r a n c e s s h o u ld b e d e fe r r e d a n d p r iv a t e , s m a lle r c e r e m o n ie s e n c o u r a g e d . F u n e r a l h o m e s l ik e ly h a v e t h e i r o w n in t e r n a l p o l ic ie s a n d p r o c e d u r e s f o r s e r v ic e s d u r in g t h is s e a s o n , a n d i t i s r e c o m -m e n d e d t h a t o ffi c ia n t s (c le r g y a n d o t h e r w is e ) w o r k w it h in t h o s e .

I t i s r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t t h e o ffi c ia n t : • R e f r a in f r o m p h y s ic a l c o n t a c t w i t h a n y o n e

g a t h e r e d . • M a in t a in s o c ia l d is t a n c e f o r s a f e t y .• W e a r a f a c e c o v e r in g ; t h e f a c e c o v e r in g m a y

b e r e m o v e d (u s in g p r o p e r t e c h n iq u e ) f o r t h e s e r v ic e i f a s a f e d is t a n c e c a n b e a c h ie v e d b e -t w e e n t h e o ffi c ia n t a n d t h o s e g a t h e r e d . A s a f e d i s t a n c e f o r p u b l i c s p e a k in g i s 2 6 f e e t , a s o u t l in e d in t h e “P r e a c h in g ” s e c t io n a b o v e .

• F o l lo w t h e r e c o m m e n d a t io n s o u t l in e d in t h e p r io r s e c t io n la b e le d “P r e a c h in g ”.

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22 | REOPENING

• P la n f o r d is in f e c t in g a n d s a n i t iz in g o f t h e s p a c e a n d f u r n is h in g s p r io r, a f t e r, a n d in r e -a l-t im e . R e f e r t o t h e “W o r s h ip in g ” s e c t io n a b o v e f o r f u r -t h e r g u id a n c e o n d i s in f e c t in g b e s t p ra c t i c e s .

U p o n p ic k u p a n d d r o p o ff o f c h i ld r e n a n d y o u -t h , h a n d s a n i t iz e r s t a t io n s s h o u ld b e a v a i la b le a t t h e e n t r a n c e a n d e x i t s o t h a t c h i ld r e n a n d y o u t h c a n d is in f e c t t h e i r h a n d s b e fo r e t h e y e n t e r a n d a s t h e y le a v e .

B e s t p r a c t ic e s w o u ld b e t o p la c e s ig n -in s t a t io n s o u t s id e (w h e r e a n d w h e n p o s s ib le ) w it h a s t a ff m e m b e r o r v o lu n t e e r t o c h e c k c h i ld r e n a n d y o u -t h in a n d t o m a in t a in d is in f e c t in g o f t h is h ig h t r a -ffi c a r e a (in c lu d in g t h e s ig n in s h e e t s , in k p e n s , e t c .). C o n s id e r s t a g g e r in g a r r iv a l a n d d r o p o ff t i-m e s . Yo u r p la n f o r c u r b s id e d r o p -o ff a n d p ic k -u p s h o u ld l im it d i r e c t c o n t a c t b e t w e e n p a r e n t s a n d s t a ff /v o lu n t e e r s a n d a d h e r e t o s o c ia l d is t a n c in g r e c o m m e n d a t io n s . I f p o s s ib le , d e s ig n a t e a s t a ff m e m b e r o r v o lu n t e e r t o b e t h e d e d ic a t e d d r o p -o ff /p ic k u p p e r s o n t o w a lk a l l c h i ld r e n a n d y o u t h f r o m t h e c a r t o t h e i r c la s s r o o m , a n d a t t h e e n d o f t h e d a y , w a lk a l l c h i ld r e n b a c k t o t h e i r c a r s .

Id e a l ly , t h e s a m e d e s ig n a t e d p e r s o n f r o m e a c h h o u s e h o ld s h o u ld d r o p o ff a n d p ic k u p t h e c h i ld a n d /o r y o u t h e v e r y d a y . I f p o s s ib le , o ld e r p e o p le s u c h a s g r a n d p a r e n t s o r t h o s e w it h s e r io u s u n -d e r ly in g m e d ic a l c o n d i t io n s s h o u ld n o t p ic k u p c h i ld r e n a n d /o r y o u t h , b e c a u s e t h e y a r e m o r e a t r i s k f o r s e v e r e i l ln e s s f r o m C O V ID -1 9 .

MINISTRY WITH CHILDREN & YOUTH

In t h e b e g in n in g p h a s e s o f r e o p e n in g , in -p e r s o n m in is t r y w it h c h i ld r e n a n d y o u t h i s d is c o u r a g e d a s o u t l in e d b y g u id a n c e f r o m s t a t e a n d lo c a l g o v e r n m e n t s a n d h e a lt h d e p a r tm e n t s . I f y o u r c h u r c h h a s a d a y c a r e o r p r o g r a m s fo r c h i ld r e n , p le a s e f o l lo w s t a t e a n d lo c a l g u id e l in e s o n w h e n a n d h o w t o r e o p e n .

W h e n c h i ld r e n a n d y o u t h a r e a b le t o r e t u r n t o p h y s ic a l w o r s h ip , t h e f o l lo w in g b e s t p r a c t ic e s a r e r e c o m m e n d e d : • C h i ld r e n a n d y o u t h s i t o n ly w it h t h e p e o p le f r o m t h e i r h o u s e -

h o ld s .• S a t i s f y b o t h t e m p e r a t u r e s c r e e n in g a n d h e a lt h q u e s t io n n a i r e a s

o u t l in e d in a b o v e s e c t io n .• W e a r f a c e c o v e r in g s u n le s s t h e y a r e le s s t h a n t w o y e a r s o ld . • W h e n r e s t a r t in g S u n d a y S c h o o l, c h i ld c a r e p r o g r a m s , a n d o t h e r

g a t h e r in g s o f c h i ld r e n a n d y o u t h , t h e s a m e c h i ld r e n a n d y o u t h s h o u ld g a t h e r in t h e s a m e g r o u p s o r c la s s e s , w i t h t h e s a m e in s -t r u c t o r e a c h t im e t o h e lp c o n t r o l t h e s p r e a d o f C O V ID -1 9 . I t m a y b e w is e t o c o n s id e r c r e a t in g a s e p a r a t e c la s s r o o m o r g r o u p fo r t h e c h i ld r e n a n d y o u t h o f h e a lt h c a r e w o r k e r s a n d o t h e r fi r s t r e s p o n -d e r s .

• I t i s r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t t h e f o l lo w in g g u id e l in e s b e f o l lo w e d :• E x a m in e d a i ly g r o u p a c t iv i t ie s t h a t m a y p r o m o t e t h e t r a n sm is s io n

o f C O V ID -1 9 , a n d m o d i f y o r d is c o n t in u e t h e a c t iv i t y a s n e c e s s a r y . • H a v e e n o u g h s u p p l ie s o n -h a n d s o t h a t s h a r in g o f o b je c t s d o e s n ’t

o c c u r.• K e e p e a c h g r o u p o f c h i ld r e n a n d y o u t h in a s e p a r a t e r o o m . • P r o m o t e f r e q u e n t h a n d w a s h in g a n d s a n i t iz in g ; h a n d s a n i t iz e r s t a -

t io n s s h o u ld b e c o n v e n ie n t ly p la c e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e a r e a s w h e r e c h i ld r e n a n d y o u t h w i l l b e .

• F a c e c o v e r in g s s h o u ld b e w o r n a t a l l t im e s , b o t h in d o o r s a n d o u t , a n d s o c ia l d is t a n c in g g u id e l in e s o f 6 -f e e t d is t a n c e s b e tw e e n h o u -s e h o ld u n i t s o b s e r v e d .

• L im it t h e m ix in g o f c h i ld r e n a n d y o u t h , s u c h a s s t a g g e r in g p la y -g r o u n d t im e s a n d k e e p in g g r o u p s s e p a r a t e f o r s p e c ia l a c t iv i t ie s s u c h a s a r t , m u s ic , a n d e x e r c is in g .

• I f p o s s ib le , a t n a p t im e , e n s u r e t h a t c h i ld r e n ’s n a p t im e m a t s (o r c r ib s ) a r e s p a c e d o u t a t a m in im u m d is t a n c e o f 6 -f e e t p e r b e s t s o -c ia l d is t a n c in g p r a c t ic e s . C o n s id e r p la c in g c h i ld r e n h e a d t o t o e in o r d e r t o f u r t h e r r e d u c e t h e p o t e n t ia l f o r v i r a l s p r e a d .

B A C K T O TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

23 | REOPENING

Emergencies are something we never plan for, but should

be prepared for.

I l l n e s s D u r i n g S e r v i c eI f , d u r in g s e r v ic e , s o m e o n e b e c o m e s i l l (in c lu d in g a c u t e c o u g h in g s p e l ls ) a n d i s u n a b le t o le a v e , i t i s r e c o m m e n -d e d t h a t c h u r c h e s m a k e “q u a r a n t in e r o o m s ” a v a i la b le t o t h e p e r s o n , w i t h a v o lu n t e e r a v a i la b le t o m o n it o r a n d s a f e ly a s s i s t i f n e e d e d . T o p r e p a r e t h e r o o m , i t i s r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t a l l u n -n e c e s s a r y a n d n o n e s s e n t ia l i t e m s b e r e m o v e d , s e a t in g b e m a d e a v a i la b le , a n d t h a t t h e r o o m b e t h o r o u g h ly a n d d e e p ly c le a n e d a n d s a n i t iz e d a f t e r u s e .

A c t i v e S h o o t e r , F i r e , a n d o t h e r S i t u a -t i o n sIn a n a c t iv e s h o o t e r s i t u a t io n , in t h e c a s e o f fi r e , a n d o t h e r e m e rg e n c ie s , p le a s e c o n t in u e t o u s e t h e e m e rg e n c y p la n y o u r c h u r c h h a s in p la c e . T h e r e a r e n o s p e c ia l a d ju s tm e n t s o r c o n s i-d e r a t io n s t h a t t h is g u id a n c e c a n o ff e r, o t h e r t h a n c o n t in u in g t o w e a r y o u r f a c e c o v e r in g a s r e c o m m e n d e d . I t i s r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t t h is b e f u r t h e r d is -c u s s e d o n a lo c a l le v e l.

E M E R G E N C Y P R E P A R E D N E S S

B A C K T O TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

24 | REOPENING

MISCELLANEOUS

This section considers things that maybe don’t impact the church congregation directly, but perhaps the building, grounds, etc.

E v e n t H o s t i n gM a n y c h u r c h e s fi n d t h e i r b u i l-d in g s h o s t t o v a r io u s e v e n t s (w e d d in g s , r e u n io n s , c o m m u -n i t y e v e n t s , e t c .) f o r p e r s o n s w h o d o n o t a t t e n d t h e lo c a l c o n g r e g a t io n . I t i s r e c o m m e n -d e d t h a t t h is p r a c t ic e b e d is c o n -t in u e d w h e n p o s s ib le d u e t o t h e lo g is t ic a l i s s u e s in a d d i t io -n a l c le a n in g a n d d is in f e c t in g . I f y o u r c h u r c h c h o o s e s t o h o s t o u t s id e g r o u p s , m a in t a in y o u r c u r r e n t p o l ic ie s o n t h is t o p ic w h i le s im u lt a n e o u s ly f o l lo w in g t h e b e s t p r a c t ic e s f o r c le a n in g , d is in f e c t in g , s a n i t i z in g , e t c ., a n d c o n t in u in g t o e n c o u r a g e t h e p e r s o n a l p r o t e c t iv e m e a s u -r e s o f s o c ia l d is t a n c in g , f a c e c o -v e r in g , a b s t a in in g f r o m e a t in g , d r in k in g , s m o k in g , s p i t t in g , e t c . In a d d i t io n t o t y p ic a l c le a n in g i t i s r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t y o u t h o r o u g h ly d is in f e c t t h e s p a c e b e fo r e a n d a f t e r t h e e v e n t w i l l n e e d t o o c c u r, r e m e m b e r in g t h a t t h e p e r s o n o r g r o u p u t i l i -z in g t h e f a c i l i t y m a y n o t h a v e t h e k n o w le d g e o r e q u ip m e n t t o p e r fo rm t h is t a s k . I t i s r e -c o m m e n d e d t h a t y o u r c h u r c h le a d e r s h ip d is c u s s t h is t o d e -t e rm in e y o u r w a y f o r w a rd , a n d t h a t y o u c o n s u lt y o u r in s u r a n -c e c o m p a n y t o v e r i f y f u r t h e r

d o c u m e n t a t io n o r w a iv e r t h a t m a y b e n e c e s s a r y .

C h u r c h s p o n s o r e d t r a n s p o r -t a t i o nM a n y c h u r c h e s p r o v id e t r a n s -p o r t a t io n , s u c h a s a c h u r c h b u s o r v a n , f o r t h o s e w h o d o n o t o r c a n n o t d r iv e . S o c ia l d is t a n -c in g a n d d is in f e c t in g b e tw e e n u s e s p o s e s a u n iq u e c h a l le n -g e , a n d i t i s r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t s h a r e d , c h u r c h -s p o n s o r e d t r a n s p o r t a t io n b e d is c o n t i-n u e d d u e t o t h e h e ig h t e n e d r i s k o f e x p o s u r e a n d c r o s s -c o n -t a m in a t io n .

B A C K T O TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S