September 6, 2020
Positivity cases in Montgomery County went slightly up in the last 2-3 weeks. Please stay the course this holiday weekend and do your part to keep the virus from spreading. It is difficult but we have made it this far! Any rate below 5 percent is a good rate (that is the rate that statistically states that a community is able to control the spread). We are at 3/1%. Let's try for less than 1%! so that we can be sure to restart in-person services!
Wash your hands. Practice social distancing. Wear a mask. Avoid large gatherings.
BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS!
Wash your hands. Practice social distancing. Wear a mask. Avoid large gatherings.
BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS!
Exciting Announcement
August 18, 2020
What is taking so long?
What is taking so long? This may be a question you are asking yourself when it comes to reopening the church.
Why does it take so long? Well, let us try to explain:
At this time, indoor gatherings of more than 25 persons are prohibited*. While malls can be open at 50 percent and restaurants at 25 percent - each of them does not constitute ONE gathering. In a mall people may walk by each other but usually do not remain for an extended time in each other's company. Risk increases with location, number of people, and time spent in the vicinity of a person who may have the virus. In worship on the other hand, we are all gathering as ONE body of Christ and not each as individual families,we sit together for about an hour in one room with little movement of air and people. Therefore, the strictest guidance of 25 persons is what is safest for us as we consider returning to worship.
So what does 25 people look like?
On a typical Sunday, we have 1 pastor, 1 organist, 2 sextons, 2 greeters, and 2 ushers - that is 8 people out of the 25. If we include a reader than it is 9.. This leaves us with 16 people who could attend worship service.
Why does it take so long? Well, let us try to explain:
At this time, indoor gatherings of more than 25 persons are prohibited*. While malls can be open at 50 percent and restaurants at 25 percent - each of them does not constitute ONE gathering. In a mall people may walk by each other but usually do not remain for an extended time in each other's company. Risk increases with location, number of people, and time spent in the vicinity of a person who may have the virus. In worship on the other hand, we are all gathering as ONE body of Christ and not each as individual families,we sit together for about an hour in one room with little movement of air and people. Therefore, the strictest guidance of 25 persons is what is safest for us as we consider returning to worship.
So what does 25 people look like?
On a typical Sunday, we have 1 pastor, 1 organist, 2 sextons, 2 greeters, and 2 ushers - that is 8 people out of the 25. If we include a reader than it is 9.. This leaves us with 16 people who could attend worship service.
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Do we feel comfortable allowing only 17 people to attend?
What would we do with an 18th person arriving? Would you want to turn that person away? And if we have people sign up, what do we do with people that did not know or did not sign up but felt called to attend church? Do you remember that "Bouncer" TV add from the UCC? Wouldn't it feel a bit like that? As if we are bouncers that turn people away? |
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A careful check of our worship space and pews allows for seating between 32 and 46 people, depending on how many families, couples, or single individuals, while adhering to social distancing guidelines. This count does not include the pastor and organist. While this still is a small number, looking at the survey results, this number does more closely fit within the number of worshipers we can expect when we first reopen. Because of this, it is best for us to wait for the lifting of group limits before considering a return to worship;
Now you may say "Other churches are meeting!". That is correct, Some churches are holding in-person services. Many of the churches within our denominations are holding their worship outside, which has larger group limits. Trinity is limited in how it could hold outdoor services and the cost of renting a large tent as well as outdoor speakers etc. is prohibitive. It simply is not within our budget unless all of the giving is doubled or even tripled nor do we have a large enough outdoor space.
We hope this helps you to understand "What is taking so long?". It is taking so long not because we want to or because the pastor, council, or anybody else is dragging their feet, or because the UCC or our conference or our association make us wait and stay closed - but because we (that means all of Trinity) love you and care about your physical, spiritual, and emotional health and safety - yours and everybody else's - and that means we do not wish to turn people away.
*https://www.pa.gov/guides/responding-to-covid-19/#WhatPhaseIsMyCountyin
Now you may say "Other churches are meeting!". That is correct, Some churches are holding in-person services. Many of the churches within our denominations are holding their worship outside, which has larger group limits. Trinity is limited in how it could hold outdoor services and the cost of renting a large tent as well as outdoor speakers etc. is prohibitive. It simply is not within our budget unless all of the giving is doubled or even tripled nor do we have a large enough outdoor space.
We hope this helps you to understand "What is taking so long?". It is taking so long not because we want to or because the pastor, council, or anybody else is dragging their feet, or because the UCC or our conference or our association make us wait and stay closed - but because we (that means all of Trinity) love you and care about your physical, spiritual, and emotional health and safety - yours and everybody else's - and that means we do not wish to turn people away.
*https://www.pa.gov/guides/responding-to-covid-19/#WhatPhaseIsMyCountyin
August 2020
Hand sanitizer machines are in place and cleaning supplies have arrived. At this time we are waiting for the group limits to be lifted so that the Council can move forward with opening plans.
July 2020
We are now focused on our re-opening plan since achieving ‘green’ status in Montgomery County. Please carefully review the developed procedures also found in The Bell, to make sure you understand what worship will look like once the church re-opens.
Please know that re-opening has a very fluid time-frame based on getting the needed safety supplies for the church as well as monitoring the number of COVID-19 cases in the community. The Church Council and re-opening committee understand that some of you may be eager to get back to church. Please know that we, too, look forward to the time that we can worship together and share in fellowship. The responsibility of the safety of the congregation weighs heavily on Church Council, and we want to honor the commitment we have made in making rational and informed decisions. Please read our August newsletter for more information.
Please know that re-opening has a very fluid time-frame based on getting the needed safety supplies for the church as well as monitoring the number of COVID-19 cases in the community. The Church Council and re-opening committee understand that some of you may be eager to get back to church. Please know that we, too, look forward to the time that we can worship together and share in fellowship. The responsibility of the safety of the congregation weighs heavily on Church Council, and we want to honor the commitment we have made in making rational and informed decisions. Please read our August newsletter for more information.
June 2020
The Reopening Committee continues to establish guidelines. Hand sanitizer stations and cleaning supplies are on order at this time but have not yet arrived. Montgomery County reports a flattening of the curve. We are hopeful.
May 2020
Trinity cancelled gathered worship as of March 15th, due to the recommendations by the Montgomery County Health Department, the Governor’s Office, and the Centers for Disease Control. The Church Council and we wish we had a re-opening date by now. Instead, we do not yet know when we will be able to resume church activities and gathered worship and we do not fully know how a reopening may look, The Council will establish a Covid-19 Committee that will write down specific guidelines and rules for an eventual reopening.
April 2020
Considering the current situation and the “open-endedness” of it, the council in consultation with our Christian Education team has decided to cancel Vacation Bible School for this year. I was so excited to go “To Mars and Beyond” with the kids and teachers in July, but unsure of how social distancing and VBS can go hand in hand, we felt this was the best and safest decision for our children and volunteers.
March 2020
Greeting Siblings in Christ,
We have taken the recommendations of the Montgomery County Health Department and the Governor to heart and understand that it is best if we all do our part to decrease the risk of infection with the COVID-19 virus. There is no use in closing schools and mass gatherings if the same people gather in other places. At this time it is believed that severely reducing any gatherings of people and reducing the physical person to person contact will result in a slowdown of the spread of the virus and protect our most vulnerable populations.
Because of this, the leadership of Trinity had to prayerfully consider what is best for the congregation as well as the community. We believe that the decisions made are the most loving decisions we could make at this time, and that is to close our building to all meetings and worship. If you do need to enter the building, please contact the office and we will make arrangements as needed.
If you are able, please monitor our website at wwww.trinityucccollegeville.org and/or our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TrinityUCCCollegeville for further updates.
Please join Trinity’s leadership as we lift up in prayer all those directly or indirectly affected by this virus. We also pray for those who cannot stay home from work and those who are on the front lines of caring for the sick. Lastly, we pray that no one has to go hungry while store shelves are rapidly being emptied. Please check in on vulnerable friends and family members and see if they need anything and also check in with your kids - this is hard for us and it is also hard for them. Lastly - but most importantly - don't panic. Practice self-care and connect to the peace of Christ deep within you.
Peace and Grace,
Pastor Suzanne and the Trinity Church Council
We have taken the recommendations of the Montgomery County Health Department and the Governor to heart and understand that it is best if we all do our part to decrease the risk of infection with the COVID-19 virus. There is no use in closing schools and mass gatherings if the same people gather in other places. At this time it is believed that severely reducing any gatherings of people and reducing the physical person to person contact will result in a slowdown of the spread of the virus and protect our most vulnerable populations.
Because of this, the leadership of Trinity had to prayerfully consider what is best for the congregation as well as the community. We believe that the decisions made are the most loving decisions we could make at this time, and that is to close our building to all meetings and worship. If you do need to enter the building, please contact the office and we will make arrangements as needed.
If you are able, please monitor our website at wwww.trinityucccollegeville.org and/or our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TrinityUCCCollegeville for further updates.
Please join Trinity’s leadership as we lift up in prayer all those directly or indirectly affected by this virus. We also pray for those who cannot stay home from work and those who are on the front lines of caring for the sick. Lastly, we pray that no one has to go hungry while store shelves are rapidly being emptied. Please check in on vulnerable friends and family members and see if they need anything and also check in with your kids - this is hard for us and it is also hard for them. Lastly - but most importantly - don't panic. Practice self-care and connect to the peace of Christ deep within you.
Peace and Grace,
Pastor Suzanne and the Trinity Church Council
