WHILE WE WILL NOT BE REOPENING JUNE 28, AS PLANNED, we have prepared our Covid-19 policies and here offer then for when it becomes safer to open.

We rejoice in that we deeply value the in-person fellowship so central to Christian community, and we have trepidation that our mostly older members may be thereby put at greater risk of infection.

For this reason we have adopted the following policies and procedures:

First Christian Church Covid-19 Policies and Procedures

Introduction: The following are the policies and procedures adopted by the board of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) on June 12, 2020. Please note that our reopening process will be gradual, beginning only with Sunday morning worship. Other meetings and programs will be added over time, as decided by the board.

1. State-mandated cleaning and disinfection protocols will be adopted by the church custodian.

2. Pews, tables and chairs will be rearranged to encourage social distancing.

3. Fellowship Hour will be moved to Anniversary Hall. Attendees will be directed to exit through the north door from the sanctuary to the back door of AH and exit AH through the front door.

4. A sign will be posted requiring that masks be worn in the church building. Masks should be available for visitors who do not come with masks.

5. Sick members will refrain from attendance.

6. Hand-sanitizers and tissues will be readily available.

7. The men’s and ladies’ rooms will be closed and the unisex rest room in Anniversary Hall will remain open for use.

8. Worship

a. Greeter will screen people as they enter, and take their temperatures (according to CDC guidelines) with a no-touch thermometer.

b. Attendees will practice social distancing with everyone except members of their household.

c. Worship leaders may remove masks for their duties, but must remain more than 6 feet from worshippers, use microphone and speak normally so as not to project droplets.

d. There will be no live singing. Hymnody will be recorded, if needed.

d. Communion:

1) Deacons will wear mask and gloves as they prepare communion.

2) Bread will be in single-bite servings.

3) The single-serve glasses will be used in their trays for the grape juice.

4) The presider will handle only the paten and chalice, which will not be used in the distribution.

5) Elders and deacons will wear masks and gloves to distribute communion by handing both bread and cup to each communicant.

6) An alternative option will be to purchase pre-packaged communion wafer and cup and distribute to members upon entrance.

9. Fellowship Hour and other Food Events: Deacons or servers will set table wearing masks and gloves and will plate individual servings to each member. Seating will be social-distanced.

10. Table of Love: Bags will be prepackaged and simply handed to each client. The Islamic Center will also be included in the planning and execution of Table of Love.

11. Guidelines will be revised in light of changes in the infection pattern or upon availability of vaccine, etc.

12. A church YouTube channel will be established and the worship service will be streamed via the channel each Sunday.

13. The Trustees, with church custodian, will determine the details of seating, floor markings for social distancing, etc.