COVID-19 Updates

November 19, 2021

Dear friends,

We have had our first notification of an individual testing positive for COVID-19, one who was present at the First Service (9 a.m.) on November 14. All those who registered upon arrival to the church for the 9 a.m. service were informed of this via email. While we feel there is little risk of exposure to those attending the 11 a.m. service on November 14, our community will be made aware whenever there is a potential risk. Here is a copy of the notification.

Contact tracing remains essential in the church’s COVID-19 protocol. Whenever you enter the church building—for worship, a meeting, or any other gathering—please make sure you sign in.

At this time we will continue with in-person worship even though the pandemic situation in Minnesota remains critical. Our hospitals are at capacity and people who need emergency care are being turned away because there are no hospital beds available. If you are feeling at all unwell, please stay home and take good care.

Our protocol for worship remains the same, and you can find all our safe practices below. If you have not yet attended worship, I ask that you please read the protocol before arriving at the building.

• There will be no pre-registration for attending worship. Only Door #1 will be open on Sunday mornings. Please plan to park in the main church lot or at Park Nicollet. When you arrive you will be asked to sign in. This is so we can alert you if we learn that someone in attendance develops a positive Covid case up to seven days following Sunday morning.
• If you receive a positive Covid-19 test result (even if you are asymptomatic!) within 7 days of participating in a church activity: worship, small group, meeting, etc. please contact me. (BethF@plymouth.org or 612-977-1286) Your name will be held in confidence but we must alert others of a possible exposure.
• We will not be requiring vaccination Rather, we ask that all adults planning to be present for worship be vaccinated and we trust that you will be thoughtful in the decision to attend. Vaccinations have begun for our children under 12 but in the meantime, we do not want to exclude children from worship and we hope families will attend Sunday morning church activities. We can not emphasize enough the importance of vaccination as the most effective way to protect you, your loved ones, and our community at large. Even in the youngest age groups it is remarkably effective in preventing the serious consequences of COVID-19.
• We require facemasks for everyone in all parts of the building on Sunday morning (and all days).
• We ask that you maintain a social distance, to the best of your ability, inside the sanctuary. Family groups are of course welcomed to sit together. Some pews will be roped off to encourage distancing.
• The sanctuary will be open at 8:45 am for 9:00 am worship and 10:45 am for 11:00 am worship. If you arrive at church earlier than this you will be asked to wait in Guild Hall.
• While it will be a blessing to be together in person inside the sanctuary, the experience of worship will be different. Offering plates will not be passed, rather there will be depositories for the collection of giving envelopes. We will not yet celebrate communion. Initially there will be no coffee fellowship. And only two of the three clergy will be present each Sunday because all three of us cannot risk exposure together, forcing all of us into quarantine at the same time.
• While we are taking seriously all precautions to prevent spread of infection, we cannot eliminate all risk. If you are feeling at all unwell, please stay home and take good care.
• Please stay tuned as protocol may need to change based on circumstances.

Even in the midst of pandemic calamities and complexities, I pray we can be rooted in gratitude. As we enter Thanksgiving week, I invite you to join me in being especially mindful of the multitude of blessings within our community: the way we care for and nurture one another; the power of prayer, which provides necessary balm for those in need; the joy we know through our delight in one another. I am so thankful for you who make Plymouth Church a spirit-filled, loving place—whether scattered or gathered. Whatever your holiday brings, I will be holding you in prayer that you might indeed know how much you are loved.

May we be people of hope, may we be kind and caring, may we remain faithful in community.

Blessings,

Rev. Beth Hoffman Faeth
Minister for Congregational Care and Worship