REOPENING GUIDELINES

Our reopening committee and staff have been working hard to plan for the safe reopening of our beloved First Congregational Church. Based on state and local requirements, we have developed the following guidelines for each of us to follow:

• Face coverings will be required upon entry to the building. If you need one, please contact the church office.
• Social distancing of 6 feet (minimum) will be observed at all times.
• Physical contact with those outside of your household should be avoided. Air hugs are highly recommended as well as contagious smiles!
• Entry will be limited to the ramp entrance only. The Front Street Sanctuary doors to the outside will not be open.
• Everyone will be required to sign-in upon arrival for tracing purposes. You may preregister by calling or emailing the church office to provide your name, address, phone number and email to help sign-in go quicker. OR you may bring a printed address label with you.
• Please consider coming early to allow time for sign-in and for a slower entry into the Sanctuary due to social distancing.
• At this time, we are not able to accommodate childcare for children of any age. Children will remain in the Sanctuary and are asked to stay seated with their appropriate household.
• Seating in the Sanctuary will look very different. Please keep in mind that you may not be able to sit in the pew you are accustomed to and that your seating may change from week to week.
• The bulletins will contain everything you will need to follow along with the service (scripture, hymns, readings, etc.). They will be located in the pews and will be an indication as to where you can sit upon entry into the Sanctuary.
• Bibles and Hymnals are to remain in the pew racks.
• Currently, due to state guidelines, we will be unable to sing along with the hymns but we do encourage you to hum along with them!
• All prayer requests and announcements will need to be submitted to Kari the Wednesday prior to each Sunday service in order to be included in the service announcements.
• Communion will be suspended until it is deemed safe to resume.
• Offering will be collected by placing your envelope in a basket upon exiting the Sanctuary.
• Once service is over, we will leave the building in an orderly manner to allow for social distancing (dismissed row by row).
• Coffee hour and other such gatherings will remain suspended until further notice.
• One person at a time will allowed in the restrooms.
• Hand sanitizing stations are located throughout the building. Please wash your hands or use sanitizing stations frequently.
• We ask that if you are not feeling well and/or may be exhibiting cold or flu-like symptoms, that you refrain from attending until you feel better.