Three-phased Plan for Returning to In-Person Worship

The following was approved by the Church Council of Mount of Olives Lutheran Church on Thursday, August 13th. The first tentative date of Phase 2 In-person Worship will be Sunday, September 20th. 
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Rationale:
In recognizing the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is our duty as disciples of Christ to thoughtfully plan how we as a congregation will return to in-person worship. Particularly, as Lutheran Christians we consider the issue at hand in light of the gospel—that we are justified by grace, through faith, on account of Christ, apart from works. Therefore, it is important to note that all that is to follow gives priority to loving God and loving our neighbor. Luther informs our faith active in love by saying, “We conclude that Christian individuals do not live in themselves but in Christ and their neighbor, or else they are not Christian. They live in Christ through faith and the neighbor through love.” A Christian turns in faith to Christ and in love to their neighbor. It is not done by compulsion, but is simply what the new creature born in us by baptism does. A Christian person is truly free, and when such a person is truly free, they willingly submit themselves to their neighbors—and cheerfully serve them in all their needs. Thus, in this spirit, the Three-phased approach has been drawn up in consultation with the following four documents:

• Considerations for Returning to In-person Worship by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,
• Our Life as Church Becoming and In-Person Gatherings during a time of Pandemic by the Rocky Mountain Synod,
• Recommendations for a Safe Return to Worship by Church Mutual Insurance, and finally,
• Plan for Returning to In- person Worship by our friends at Holy Communion Episcopal Church in Rock Springs, Wyoming.

**This policy is in accord with the practices of Sweetwater County and State of Wyoming
 
The Three Phases
Phase 1: All worship is online. This policy is active when new cases are climbing or concerningly prevalent in Sweetwater County.
Phase 2: Both online and in-person worship is available. But in-person worship comes with necessary precautions. This policy is active when the following conditions are met within Sweetwater County:

• The number of new cases has declined for at least 14 days.
• Rapid diagnostic testing capacity is sufficient to test all people with COVID-19 symptoms, including mild cases, as well as their close contacts and those in essential roles.
• The health care system is able to safely care for all patients, including providing appropriate personal protective equipment to health care workers.
• There is sufficient public health capacity to conduct contact tracing for all new cases and their close contacts.

Phase 3: In-person worship is available; precautions are encouraged, but relaxed (ex: masks become optional). This phase is active when a vaccine is widely available, an effective treatment is widely available, or there is no longer community transmission in Sweetwater County. 
 
Be mindful that the phased approach may not be linear; there may be times of gradual reopening as infections decrease, followed by restrictions if new waves of infections emerge. In all situations, err on the side of loving your neighbor and know that change will be inevitable.
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Maximum Capacity (Phase 2):

• Sanctuary Space: Based on 6’ separation of individuals or family units: 25-30 people.
• Fellowship Hall: Based on 6’ separation of individuals and family units: 8-10 people.

Cleaning Protocol (All Phases):

• CDC recommended surface cleaning products will be available for use.
• Disinfecting wipes will be available at the front entrance, in the hallway, fellowship hall, kitchen, and in each restroom.
• Hand sanitizer will be available at the entrance to the sanctuary and in the sanctuary itself.
• Parishioners will be asked to wipe touched areas of restrooms with disinfecting wipes.

Safety Protocol (Phases 1 & 2):

•  Proper signage of rules and regulations will be posted outside all doors and inside fellowship hall.
• Entry and exit will be through the front doors and maintaining 6’ separation at all times.
• Vulnerable populations are cautioned to stay at home. At the same time, they need to advocate for their own health.
• Physical distancing is critical. Congregants will be reminded to refrain from touching other people—no hugs, handshakes, or touching.
• Good hand-washing protocols are encouraged.

Masks: During Phase 1 and 2 no one will be allowed to enter the church without a mask on and this will be included in the safety sign on the church entrance door.

• Masks will be required to be kept on at all times unless the person is speaking from the pulpit or behind the altar.
• If an outdoor worship service is offered and 6’ distancing is kept, a mask is on until you sit down, then it may be removed.

 
Twelve Questions Pertaining to the Church’s Response to the Covid-19 Outbreak:

1. What have you learned during this time when we were not able to gather? How does this learning impact your future offerings? We learned that the church is not the building, but the people. We’ve learned that God and his Word are still with us and can sustain us in this time of trial. We’ve learned how much more necessary it is to be there for each other as siblings in Christ. We are learning yet to be Christ for each other, to maintain connections when we can’t see each other as often as we would like. We will likely continue to offer an online option for worship even after the pandemic is over.
2. Are there practices that you have learned or experienced during this time of separation that may be given to lay leaders in the congregation? We may need to procure more professional equipment to allow us to continue to provide the in-person and online presence at a high quality. People who have not been able to come before have been able to come to worship online with us. We really miss being with each other. We have to some degree enjoyed worshiping in our pajamas at home, but long to see each other again. We have learned God’s call to love our neighbor is a pillar of our lives. We could be better at reaching out to our members who are elderly and vulnerable.
3. In Phase 2, how many people does your worship space hold with people wearing masks, in family groups or singles, sitting 6 feet apart in all directions? 25- 30 people could occupy the space.
4. In Phase 2, how will you cap your attendance at or below the number allowed in each phase? It is unlikely we will need to worry about this too much as pre-pandemic our average worship was 31. But, if necessary, we could set up extra space in the fellowship hall and have people watch the service online from the television there.
5. During Phase 2 of the policy, will you need to limit the number of people serving in your worship service, lectors, acolytes, worship leaders, clergy, etc.—so that more people may be able to attend and participate in the congregation? Lectors will read from the pulpit. The pastor will stand behind the altar or at the pulpit when speaking. The pianist/organist will remain behind the piano/organ at all times. No acolytes until Phase 3 is reached.
6. Under Phase 2 protocol how will you discourage a receiving line after church? By asking everyone, during announcements, to keep a safe distance from one another and to move as quickly outside as possible after the dismissal. Pastor will quickly go to his office.
7. Within the guidelines of Phase 2, how will ushers help monitor adherence to attendance and other guidelines?

• Training will be held to ensure that all ushers are willing to gently and firmly turn people back, should we reach capacity. Ushers will be in charge of seating people before worship and for directing one row at a time to leave worship when it is over. At times ushers will have to ask people to politely move. We will make sure to communicate to our people, and our ushers, the importance of patience and cooperation, as we work together to keep the most vulnerable among us safe.
• One of the ushers will maintain a log of the name of each person in attendance, and if someone visits who is new to obtain their phone number as well.
• If someone is suspected of being ill, temperature will be taken with a touchless thermometer and the individual will be asked to complete the screening questionnaire. If necessary, the individual will be politely asked to leave.

1. During Phases 1 and 2 how will your readers, ushers, and all leaders model masking and physical distancing? By wearing masks and keeping safe physical distances from others.
2. Under Phase 2 protocols how will you ensure safety equal to or greater than indoor worship, if an outdoor worship service is offered? We will conduct outdoor services on our church property or in a public park. We ask that individuals wear masks until they are seated and have maintained 6 feet distancing from others. We will ask people to bring their own lawn chairs.
3. During Phase 1 and 2 protocols, will you have masks for parishioners or visitors who come to services without their own mask or face covering? Yes. We will communicate prior to our opening that face masks and physical distancing measures are necessary for attendees. If a person does not have a mask, we have cloth and disposable masks available.
4. Under the protocols for Phase 1 and 2 how will you ensure the cleanliness of the following items and space?
   • Worship bulletins and hymnals
     • Bulletins will be handled with clean hands during preparation and disbursement to congregants.
     • Hymnals will not be used until Phase 3. All parts of the worship service will be printed in the bulletin.
   • Areas where small groups gather during the week, for example Bible studies, meetings, and confirmation.
     • Group meetings will be limited to the 6-foot spacing requirement and will be asked to disinfect any surfaces they touch. The cleaning protocol will be done before and following any group meeting. Areas in the building not in use will be clearly marked as closed.
   • Office space, fellowship hall, kitchen, restrooms, playground, outdoor areas
     • The church building indoor spaces will only be open during worship services, open houses, and as needed for ministry purposes. “Closed rooms” will be clearly marked so they do not need to go through the cleaning protocols. No nursery or Sunday School will be provided during Phases 1 and 2. Volunteers will be asked to follow cleaning protocols before and after their time in building. Playground will be closed with yellow tape.
     • Altar, pulpit, sanctuary and fellowship hall chairs, tables
     • Chairs and tables will be set apart to maintain 6 feet distancing and wiped down with disinfectant wipes before and after. Disinfecting spray will be used on the sanctuary chairs.
     • Altar and pulpit will be wiped down with disinfectant wipes.
5. How will you ensure the sanitation and safety practices for the altar guild and their activities (Phase 1 & 2)? The altar guild will:
   • Wash their hands prior to preparing the elements.
   • Face masks and gloves will be required in handling elements such as bread and wine.
   • Ensure patens (plate) and chalice (a footed cup) are clean and wiped with a disinfecting cloth. Communion cups will be cleaned and disinfected with a bleach solution after their use.

 
Communion Guidelines

• Until Phase 3 bread will be in the form of wafers (hosts) and wine will be served from the pouring chalice.
• Before the service communion hosts and wine will be placed on the altar. They will be covered with a linen cloth. A large host will be placed on a separate paten.
• The patens and chalice will be wiped with a disinfectant wipe as they are placed on the altar.
• Prior to the Eucharistic Prayer, the pastor will use hand sanitizer to thoroughly clean his hands.
• Clergy will wear a mask the entire service. With the exception of when preaching or leading the Prayers of Intercession the pastor may speak without a mask as long as he/she is behind the pulpit or the altar. Clergy who are 65 and older and those with a compromised immune system are required to wear a mask during the entire service.
• Congregants will be asked to use hand sanitizer prior to approaching the communion station.
• Congregants, wearing masks at all times, will approach the pastor/communion assistants one by one to receive the sacrament while maintain 6’ of separation at all times.
• The pastor will place a consecrated host in each parishioner’s hands, being careful not to touch a hand or body part. If touching accidentally occurs, the pastor will use hand sanitizer on himself.
• Congregants will receive a communion glass on their way up and the communion assistant will pour the wine directly into the glass.
• Congregants will take the bread and wine back to their seats, briefly remove their masks and consume the body and blood of Christ. Disposal of glasses will be on the way out of service.
• After everyone else is served, communion assistant will serve the pastor.
• Any leftover bread and wine will be disposed of outside, not consumed.
• There is no physical touch or moving from designated seats at the Peace.
• Sunday School will be postponed until Phase 3.
• Ushers – will wear facemasks, and be thoroughly instructed on all guidelines for physical distancing, seating, and welcoming guests in a safe, no-touch manner.
• Acolytes will not be used until Phase 3.
• Tellers – We will not pass an offering plate, rather the offering plate will be placed at the entrance of the sanctuary for those who would like to leave an offering in person. Those funds will be counted by two people, both wearing masks and gloves.
• Immune compromised, including senior citizens and people at risk:
  • “Vulnerable populations of individuals 65 and older, including clergy and

staff, and those with compromised immune systems should continue to engage in physical distancing as much as possible until a vaccine is available, an effective treatment is available, or there is no longer community transmission. We will encourage persons in this category to remain home and join us online.

• We will post appropriate signage in every location of our building.
• Prior to each service, we will take the temperature of the pastor and require him to fill out a questionnaire in regard to health over the course of the last 14 days.

Emergency Plan Protocol: Should anyone become ill who we know has been in our building, we will immediately close the building and contact Sweetwater County Health Department and follow all their guidelines and recommendations.
Other Notes

• Communication: All these precautions will be communicated clearly with the congregation—including newsletters, email, website, and social media.
• Physical Building and Grounds: Thoroughly clean and disinfect the building before return to in-person worship Phase 2 begins.
• Before Service: Disinfect the worship area (including piano/organ), restrooms and other common areas (including door handles and light switches). Replenish cleaning supplies as needed. At church entrance apply admission criteria as people come in.
• During Service: Seat individuals and family units from front to back of sanctuary. Prop all doors open during worship to ventilate as long as weather permits. No passing of the peace. Service will be a “said liturgy.” Singing together, even from a distance, is one of the riskiest behaviors due to the spread of aerosol and droplets that can carry the virus a significant distance and remain suspended in the air.
• After Service: Dismiss attendees from closest to furthest from the exit. Disinfect worship area, rooms used, door handles, light switches, chairs, etc. Provide hand sanitizer and protective equipment (masks and gloves) to those that have post-service responsibilities such as counting offerings and cleaning the church.
• Baptism: Baptism would take place during the service. The font would be open only during the baptism and closed before and after. The bowl would have fresh water and be thoroughly cleaned. All participants including pastor would wear a mask.
• Phase 1: Funerals and weddings are possible as long as attendance is 30 or less indoors or 250 or less outdoors.

 

• Phase 2: In order for phase 2 to work we must all be on the same page and cooperate together. If we are unable to maintain precautions as a worshiping community we will need to stay online.