Dear Ones,

Yes, we will begin to hold in person worship services again this coming Sunday, June 6^th. As I write this, the Covid Act Now website still lists people in our county as at medium risk for contracting COVID, with an average of just over 5 new cases per day, per 100,000 people. Just under half of the eligible population here has received at least one dose of a vaccine. The Reopening Task Force and I continue to monitor this website, as well as the CDC’s and the New York Times’s COVID tracker, for information.
 
Here are a few things you should know about our gathering for worship, and answers to questions asked after last Sunday’s online service:
 
We will not be asking people to reveal their vaccination status. We do encourage everyone attending services to continue to maintain some distance between family groups. Please read the CDC guidance on wearing masks here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html. This will help you make a decision about wearing a mask during the service. I will not wear a mask while speaking. 
 
There is still a ban on congregational singing, until we have better guidance on how to make that safe for everyone. The kitchen in the Fellowship Hall also remains closed until the beginning of the new program year in September.
 
If you wish to gather in the Sanctuary, the parking lot, or the porch/patio outdoors after the service, that’s fine. Please do bring your own chair, though, rather than taking Sanctuary chairs outside.
 
We expect we will have internet and WiFi in the Sanctuary sometime in July, and are hopeful that by August we will be able to resume livestreaming worship via Zoom or some other platform for those who prefer, or need, to worship with us online.
 
I am really looking forward to seeing you all in person again.
Be well, and stay safe everyone!

Blessings,
Rev. Lori Hlaban