Your Pandemic Transition Team met on May 17th to discuss the new guidelines from CDC regarding mask wearing, as well as to discuss the governor’s anticipated lifting of COVID restrictions.
We are so hopeful that the pandemic is coming to an end. As a congregation, we all miss being in church together, singing and praising God. We also know that we are in an unusual situation with our church building being under construction. This team has taken the county and state guidelines and requirements into consideration (see resources below) and are aware of the trends and concerns of the people in our community, as well as the desire to move forward.
While the guidelines from the Governor definitely allow us to gather, the workarounds we need to accomplish in order to have in-person worship that is live streamed on Sunday morning are many. Outdoor worship involves a whole new level of volunteer involvement and technological pivoting that while possible, is not small. We have worked together with the staff and outlined a plan below detailing what would be needed for outdoor worship to happen, and a timeline to accomplish it.
For the month of June, we have decided to stay the course with our two current worship services: 11 AM Sunday mornings on Zoom and Facebook Live, and 7 PM Thursday Evening Prayer in our parking lot. This will allow us the time needed to consider the following:
In consideration of the governor’s potential lifting of COVID restrictions at the end of the month, our team has decided to see if there is interest and the necessary volunteer capacity to attempt an in-person, live-streamed, outdoor worship service on Sunday, July 25 at 9 AM.
To make this happen, we need the following humans:
Volunteer Lead: one human; 7:30 AM–11 AM, plus prep work. You know where everything and everyone goes.
Set up: 4 humans; 7:30 AM arrival, heavy lifting involved. (Sound system, staging, altar, etc.)
Ushering: 2 humans; 8:30 AM arrival, no heavy lifting. (Contact tracing sign-in, bulletin distribution, offering, helping people find what they need.)
Tech/AV: 4 humans; this position is KEY. Working ahead of time to practice streaming and sound quality, investigating equipment options and necessary upgrades, determining our best streaming options, and providing that information to the staff.
Tear Down: 4 humans; 10 AM –11 AM. Heavy lifting! Put absolutely everything back where it goes.
Musicians: (4 humans) & Altar Care: (1 human); 7:45 AM–10:30 AM. Making music, and setting up the altar and communion supplies for worship.
If you are willing and able to help fill some of these positions, please go to this link, and sign up:
This has been a long and exhausting season for all of us (particularly for families with children at home and educators!). We are hopeful that fall will bring a better sense of normalcy to all of our lives! We are thankful for your patience both with our construction process, and the need for extreme caution and safety.
Peace to all, and thanks from your Pandemic Transition Team: Pastor Gretchen Mertes, Karie Stearns (Parish Administrator), Kim Ward, Michael Hammett, Julie Vannoy, Heather Cook, and Sam Altenberger.
Resources:
King County COVID-19 Data: https://rb.gy/7uxcds
Washington State Religious and Faith-based Organizations COVID-19 Requirements: https://rb.gy/vprbwu