The Reopening Task Force began its work seven months ago, tasked with the responsibility to develop a plan to address the impacts of the coronavirus on the church and its congregation and ultimately for the reopening of the church for meetings and gathered worship. The Task Force created a document called the “Roadmap for Reopening”, which was approved by Session to provide guidance during this difficult time. In the development of the “Roadmap”, the safety and wellbeing of our congregational family was our highest priority. During this seven-month period, there have been many highs and lows relating to the coronavirus and the members of the Task Force analyze all information available in any decision making relating to the church, the congregation and making the church facility once again available for everyone to enjoy.

While our ultimate goal remains the same, the reopening of the church, our mindset also remains the same – the safety and wellbeing of our congregational family. Until the coronavirus numbers decrease significantly, both in terms of new cases and hospitalizations, we will not be authorizing the reopening of the church for gathered worship. We do want to see all of your smiling faces once again at church, but only when we feel it is truly safe for all of you to be back at church.

May the Hope and Peace of the season sustain you. God’s blessings,

The Reopening Task Force: Mike Blau, Chair;
Laura Cacchione, Linda Daily, John Ferraro, Joe Lhotsky,
and Pastors Joanna Hipp and Ann Jahnes

Over the past months, we have authorized the reopening of the Ministry Center for meetings, have increased the number of attendees that can attend meetings because our coronavirus statistics improved and then reduced those attendee numbers when those statistics went in the wrong direction. When the statistics looked positive, we had also established tentative dates for limited gathered worship in the Sanctuary. However, those tentative dates have come and gone when the coronavirus numbers increased and the Governor issued stricter Executive Orders to address the increase.