October 4, 2021 First Church Brooklyn Reopening Plan

October 4, 2021 First Church Brooklyn Reopening Plan God’s peace, First Church Brooklyn,   The day we have all been waiting for is finally here! Soon, anyone who wants to worship in-person will be able to do just that. Under the leadership of our dedicated and courageous session, we are ready to open the doors of our church!   We have changed the carpet and removed trip hazards in the sanctuary; steam cleaned the pew cushions and secured our stained-glass windows; built a permanent accessibility ramp in the garden and installed new stoves in the kitchen; updated our network infrastructure and improved technical capacity; all while planning a joyous Homecoming Celebration on Sunday, October 10th. Church, our vision for multi-access worship continues – worship that leaves no member of our community behind whether joining from Switzerland, South Carolina, or State Street right here in Brooklyn Heights, NY.   Your church elders and lay leaders have done a tremendous amount of work to prepare for your safe return to worship, and we have two things to ask from you: Session leaders have crafted the attached Covid safety plan. It demonstrates our commitment to loving our neighbor as ourselves regardless of age or vaccination status. Please read it carefully and prayerfully before returning to the sanctuary. We have not lost a single member to the virus and we intend to keep it that way. This plan is our blueprint for keeping one another safe.   Because we are a community of faith that welcomes all God’s people, we will not require proof of vaccination for entry into God’s house at this time. However, we will and are asking you to get vaccinated if it is in your power to do so. Children under 12 who cannot be vaccinated are safest around others who can be vaccinated. Help us to keep our children, elders, and other vulnerable people as safe as we can. Please get the Covid vaccine. Speak with your primary care doctor if you have concerns. The day is nearly upon us, and we have a good safety plan. Thank you for supporting the care of our entire community as we look forward to gathering and giving thanks to God for bringing us to this joyful day of reunion. See you soon.   You are loved, Pastor Adriene and the First Church Brooklyn Session Reopening Preparedness Policy and Plan   General Information   The current recommendation of the Presbytery of New York City is to follow state and local guidelines, which are not superseded by CDC guidance. For COVID-safer worship and public gatherings, the Presbytery recommends adopting a “two out of three” approach by choosing one of the following options: ·       Masks + social distancing (indoors) ·       Masks + outdoor gathering ·       Social distancing + outdoor gathering   In accordance, the leadership of the First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn has elected to adopt the masks + social distancing (indoors) option. Our goal is to gather in a manner that does not exclude or put at risk unvaccinated members of the community, such as children or medically vulnerable individuals.   Please be aware that this Reopening Plan and Policy is being implemented for risk reduction only. There is still a chance that COVID-19 may be spread as a result of attending in-person worship services. This Reopening Plan and Policy will be updated as needed to ensure we are adhering to current public health guidelines and protocols.   The Reopening Task Group   This Reopening Preparedness Policy and Plan builds on the work of the Reopening Task Group (RTG) which was formed by Session and tasked with formulating a plan that would facilitate a safe return to in-person services. In addition to tracking the evolving pandemic, and researching guidelines and protocols, the RTG conducted a survey of the congregation. Their final report provided recommendations specific to the First Church Brooklyn community. We are grateful for their dedication and substantial contributions to our return to in-person worship services.   Best Practices for Health Safety   Current Guidelines and General Guidance We all have a responsibility to look out for the welfare of others, particularly those who are vulnerable (65 years of age and older, individuals with underlying health conditions, those who are not/cannot be vaccinated). Pursuing vaccination and getting tested are important community care steps. Following public health precautions such as handwashing, wearing face masks, physical distancing and avoiding large crowds are also essential to limiting the spread of COVID-19. The currently authorized vaccines are highly effective at protecting against COVID-19, and are recommended by the CDC. While vaccinated persons are less likely to contract the virus, they are still at risk as no vaccine is 100% effective. Everyone’s situation is unique, and so all congregants are encouraged to seek and follow the guidance of their health care professionals.   Congregants who are ill, suspect they are ill, or have come in contact with someone who is ill within the last 14 days should stay at home. Those who have any of the following symptoms are advised to seek medical advice: cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the COVID-19 virus.   If a congregant begins to feel unwell while within at First Church, they should inform an usher and then leave immediately. If assistance is needed, please contact an usher or a member of the Welcome Team.   Personal COVID-19 Protection While the most recent CDC guidelines pertain to fully vaccinated individuals, it does not address organizations. This Policy addresses the needs of our mixed-vaccination status community and is mindful of those who are not yet vaccinated and those who cannot be vaccinated. Because anyone who walks into First Church could be an asymptomatic spreader, everyone entering the church will be required to wear a mask to reduce spread of the COVID-19 virus and its variants. Masks must completely cover the nose and mouth, and must remain in place throughout the worship service and/or while in the building. Masks will be provided for those who do not have one. Children younger than two years of age are exempted.   Congregants are encouraged to maintain frequent hand hygiene, washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Hand sanitizer stations are located near the doors and at other key locations. Congregants from separate households should avoid physically interacting before, during, or after services. Congregants are reminded to be conscious of social distancing and to prevent congestion at doorways. Please allow ample time to arrive before the service, and to depart after service.   Sanitation The church building and the school have been deep cleaned and sanitized and will be cleaned on a regular schedule moving forward (between worship services, after small group meetings, etc.). To facilitate the necessary sanitation measures, congregants are encouraged to exit the building and depart directly following each service.   Ventilation In addition to air sanitizers, in our confined spaces (narthex, church office, Thurman Room), natural space ventilation (open windows and doors) will be used to maximize airflow.   Contact Tracing Congregants are encouraged to pre-register for attendance at in-person worship services.Registration will include screening questions and contact information. Congregants will also be able to register at the church, on the day of worship, as space allows. Ushers leading congregants to their seats will give them a slip of paper with information about how to contact the church in the event of a subsequent infection, noting on the slip what section/area they are seated in. In order to minimize risks to our collective health, we ask that you please stay at home and worship with us online if you feel unwell or are aware of any potential exposure within the previous week.   Worship Services As of October 3rd, services will be multi-access with a mix of live and pre-recorded segments. Congregants will have the choice of attending in-person worship services at the church, or viewing from home.   Seating Congregants will be seated in accordance with the current CDC physical distancing guidelines. Family units will be seated together, and are asked to remain within their pews/pods throughout the worship service.   Bulletins and Worship Materials All worship service information can be found in the bulletin. To minimize contact, bulletins will be located in the narthex and in designated pews. After worship service, bulletins should be disposed of or taken home.   Passing the Peace For those who are not from the same household, we encourage Passing of the Peace without physical contact (a wave, peace signal, etc.).   Singing In order to practice safer singing, it is especially important that everyone continue to wear masks and practice social distancing throughout the worship service. We ask congregants to refrain from singing and to instead deeply listen and meditate during the musical offerings.   Communion As of October 3rd, Communion will be celebrated the first Sunday of each month, in the Peace Garden. In-person congregants will be offered pre-filled communion cups with wafers as they exit the church following the benediction.   Offering To minimize contact, the offering plate will not be passed between congregants. Offering collection boxes are posted in the sanctuary at the doors to the narthex and at the door to the garden entrance foyer. Congregants are encouraged to utilize the online giving services listed in the bulletin and on the website.   Coffee Hour Coffee Hour will be suspended until further notice.   Children’s Ministry Activities Children’s Ministry activities will be held in-person in the outdoor classroom located in the playground area (weather permitting). In the case of inclement weather, activities will be held in the indoor classrooms which are outfitted with air-sanitizing equipment. Children will need to be pre-registered for contract tracing purposes and to ensure adequate space and personnel.   Worship Children and caregivers will have the option to watch the worship livestream from the outdoor classroom or may watch live in the Sanctuary. Children who join worship in the Sanctuary will remain with their family units.   Masks Children over the age of two will remain masked for indoor and outdoor activities.   Nursery The nursery will be closed until further notice.   Small Group Building Usage First Church encourages small groups to meet online, outdoors and/or off-site whenever possible.   Small group designated leaders will be responsible for ensuring this Policy is followed. Meeting attendees must pre-register and provide contact tracing information prior to the meeting.   Attendees will be required to wear a mask at all times.

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