Dear all,
As the incidence of COVID-19 continues to rise in Cuyahoga County and throughout the State of Ohio, I have made the decision to suspend in-person worship as long as our county remains in the Red or the Purple category. This decision is consistent with our policy that was in place prior to our going back to in-person worship this Autumn. As a Christian community, I believe that we should model what it means to care for our neighbor, including the most vulnerable among us. One way that we can do this is to follow the recommendation of Governor Michael DeWine and public health officials that public gatherings of any size be avoided while the pandemic is at this critical stage in our area.
We have adopted the following guidelines for our future resumption of in-person worship and ministry events. Holy Communion will be available for individual reception by appointment with me. Please email me or call my cell phone should you like to receive the Blessed Sacrament. It is our hope that we will soon move back into the Orange Phase and resume in-person worship as we have been doing for the last few months. In the meantime, let us hope and fervently pray for one another during this difficult and unprecedented time. While we are not physically together, we are bound together as members of the Body of Christ. These bonds remain and will continue to sustain us in this time of travail and suffering. God is in our midst and we shall not be moved.
Faithfully,
The Rev. David R. Radzik, Rector
St. Thomas Episcopal Church COVID-19 Re-Opening
Plan
Goal: To provide for the
safety of St. Thomas members, visitors, staff and those that use our building
as we transition to a new normal. Transition from one level to another will be
determined by the Rector, in consultation with the Wardens, according to both
the current Public Health Advisory Level in Cuyahoga County AND a 14-day
sustained decrease in new cases. It is expected that all who enter our building
will adhere to these procedures for the health and safety of everyone.
Level 3 Purple/Red; Closure,
Online Only |
Level 2 Ð Orange; Small
Groups |
Level 1 -
Yellow; Larger Gatherings & Outside Groups |
Green; New Normal |
Overview á All non-critical
gatherings cancelled or held virtually. á Essential Workers
Only. á Face Masks are
required. á Social Distancing. |
Overview á Begin allowing small
gatherings according to state guidelines. á Face Masks are
required á Social Distancing. á High Risk Individuals
continue to shelter in place. |
Overview á Begin allowing larger gatherings
according to state and reopening team guidelines. á Face Masks are
required. á Social Distancing. á High Risk Individuals continue
to shelter in place. |
Overview á The New Normal. á Continue to monitor
the situation and information from the BishopÕs Office, the GovernorÕs office
and Federal, State and local health departments. |
Worship á Complete Virtual
Worship. á Minimize the number of
people in building. |
Worship á Virtual options still
available. á Possible limited in-person
worship. á In-person worship
would be limited to no more than 34 people, reservation required. á Face masks,
temperature checks, and distancing required. Hand sanitizer will be
available. á Signage will direct
traffic flow through the building. á No choir or corporate
singing. á No-touch greeting,
etc. á No Coffee Hour. |
Worship á Virtual options still
available. á Limited in-person
worship indoors (no more than 34 people) á Face masks,
temperature checks, and distancing are required. Hand sanitizer will be
available. á Signage will direct
traffic flow through the building. á No choir or corporate
singing. á No-touch greeting,
etc. á No Coffee Hour. |
Worship á Virtual options still
available. á Begin New Normal
worship with changes and modifications in sacraments, potentially time and
number of services, and set up of worship spaces. á Coffee Hour may return
with modifications. |
Outside Groups/Building á All building
activities and groups that meet in the building are cancelled. á The building is locked
and used very minimally by staff. |
Outside Groups/Building á Small groups (10 or
less) may begin to gather at the discretion of the Rector/Wardens. á This is limited by our
capability to clean/sanitize spaces. |
Outside Groups/Building á Larger groups will be
scheduled according to the current state regulations and the recommendation
of the Rector/Wardens/Vestry á Establish building
guidelines. á Outside groups Ð limited
by our capability to clean/sanitize spaces as well as no cases of COVID-19. |
Outside Groups/Building á Cautiously begin full
rental of building. á Meals permitted in
building again. á Continue to monitor
our ability to clean and keep space safe for all. |
Small Groups/Children/Youth á All Small Groups
cancelled or held virtually where able. á Only essential,
mission activities may occur with a limited, consistent team. |
Small Groups/Children/Youth á Small Group Gatherings
(10 or less) may resume at the discretion of the Rector/Wardens. á Virtual gatherings
continue. |
Small Groups/Children/Youth á Small Groups continue
as in Level 2 with adjustments made to number of people according to state
regulations and the recommendation of the Rector/Wardens/Vestry á Consider various
options for children and youth. |
Small Groups/Children/Youth á Begin resuming more
normal activities and groups. á Continue to monitor
and to offer virtual gatherings or options. |
Staff á Essential staff,
pastor, & program staff will primarily work from home. |
Staff á Same as Level 3. |
Staff á Same as Level 2. |
Staff á Staff continues to
work in the new normal with more availability to church office. |