Statement of goals and guidelines for Cressey Road UMC during the COVID-19 era
We strongly desire to return to worship face-to-face with our CRUMC family.
We want to be good citizens and follow the directives set forth by the CDC and the State of Maine.
We want to be good church citizens and follow the guidelines of the District Superintendent / Bishop.
We want to be good church members and respect the health and needs of our own congregation.
ABOVE ALL, we desire with all our hearts to follow Christ, who teaches us to follow the directions of our government and those in authority over us – provided those directions are not contrary to God’s Word – and to care for and support one another. We are called to do love!
“Because of the above, the CRUMC Council is providing the following items as the way to move forward in the near and foreseeable future to re-open our church for worship and some meetings. The Pastor and Council apologize in advance if the following list seems in any way negative. We all want very much to gather again with our church family, and following these guidelines and rules will be the best way to make that happen safely. Please read and accept these with the gentleness and love that are intended. ”
1. These first two requests are of primary importance!
If you consider yourself in a higher risk category by virtue of age or underlying health condition, please strongly consider watching services online for the time being.
If you are not feeling well or showing any possible symptoms related to COVID-19... OR ... if you have been exposed directly or indirectly to someone with the same circumstance, please do not come into the church and risk exposure to any person in the church family.
2. As you arrive at church, there will be no distancing requirement for parking, just a request that as you exit your car and head towards the church building, you maintain respectful distances from each other.
3. Worship services in the sanctuary will be limited to 50 people. If more than 50 people arrive on a given Sunday morning, the “overflow” will be seated in the fellowship hall, where the service will be live-streamed.
4. Ushers will direct church family to the correct door for entrance based on the number of people already in the building.
5. Seating in both sanctuary and fellowship hall will follow strictly the six-foot distance requirement between family groups. That is --- a couple or family will sit together and others will space out by the required distance.
6. To the extent weather permits, all doors will be open for the arrival and departure of church members. Ushers will be trained to assist people where to sit and which door to use when leaving the sanctuary.
7. Upon entering the church building, a mask must be worn by everyone (other than infants). It is requested that everyone come with their own mask if they possess one, but we will have disposable masks for those without.
8. There will be hand sanitizer available in multiple locations, and we respectfully request that hands are sanitized or washed, as appropriate.
9. We will be working hard to regularly sanitize restrooms and any items that may be touched regularly, such as doorknobs or light switches. Please be considerate in your use of the rooms and wipe surfaces down after you have touched or used them.
10. Regrettably, we will not be able to engage in congregational singing. Projecting your voice in song sends out particulate more forcibly than regular speaking. There will also be no live choir or praise team for the time being.
11. We will not be partaking of communion in the usual way. We will continue the “spiritual” type of communion we have been practicing while watching services online.
12. There will be no “communal” objects in the pews, with all hymnals, bibles, pencils, etc. removed for the time being. This prevents the incidental spread of any virus on surfaces and also precludes additional cleaning and disinfecting.
13. There will be no Sunday School or Nursery services provided for the time being. Children are welcomed in the church service – joyful noises!
14. Here is one of the hardest requests we make – no handshakes or hugs for now. We need to stay physically apart so that we can eventually be together as we were, exchanging peace and love with hugs and handshakes.
15. TO GROUPS WISHING TO USE THE CRUMC BUILDING & FACILITIES: Please check in with the Pastor or Office to request permission and check scheduling for your proposed use of the building and facilities.
“You will need to follow all the above guidelines, as applicable. Further, and in order to avoid extra cleaning and disinfecting, all meetings inside the building will need to be scheduled on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. This allows time for any virus left on any surface in the church building to dissipate enough to be safe for the next occupants – without extra cleaning and disinfecting. Any exceptions must be cleared through the Pastor. We apologize for inconveniences this may cause and hope this limitation can be lifted much sooner than later.”