Adjustments CUUC is Making to Help Prevent Further Spread of COVID-19, and Plans We are Putting in Place to Stay Connected as a Beloved Community
Friends,
Over these last few weeks, CUUC’s staff and leadership have been responding to the ever-changing landscape, making adjustments and plans to keep you and our community both safe and connected. While these actions may seem "alarmist," we, along with the Board of Trustees, believe CUUC must do its part to minimize the number of interactions that cause the opportunity for COVID-19 to spread. If no one from CUUC gets sick and COVID-19 goes away, you may wonder what all the fuss was about. Yet public health experts remind us that
if this fizzles out because of our efforts, then we’ve done it right. Here are some of the immediate measures we will be taking:
CUUC’s Plans for Worship, Programs, and Services
As unanimously approved by the Board of Trustees, these plans and directives are valid as of March 11, 2020, and may change at any time; we will remain in touch with you throughout this pandemic, and the Board and Staff will assess weekly.
- Worship: We will suspend in-person worship services and post-service activities; we will stream our services instead.
- Listen via phone at 646-876-9923. When prompted, enter Meeting ID #289 850 7899.
- Connect online via Zoom at zoom.us/j/2898507899. During this time, we will send an order of service and the links to connect each Friday. Click HERE to learn more about how to connect.
- Meetings and Journey Groups: Unless absolutely necessary, conduct business via email OR choose to meet online. Click HERE to learn more about how to connect.
- Religious Education: We will continue to have Religious Education in some form or fashion; we will be adapting it to offer it remotely. Tracy Breneman will be in touch with RE families and teachers about these plans.
- Staff: We are encouraging staff to work as they see fit from home or CUUC.
- Renters: We are in constant conversation with the Montessori School; they are taking precautions as well, and we will consult with them as needs arise. We are also in conversation with other renters about their programs and services.
Pastoral Care Connections
Please let us know if you have decided or are ordered to self-quarantine and whether you might need any food or other supplies while staying home. Also let us know if you are ill, have tested positive, and/or have been hospitalized. You may reach out to our monthly Caring & Sharing representatives Johanna Baur (
johbauer@msn.com, 914-636-1047) or Lois Holt (
mediamomforlife@gmail.com, 914-329-0603), or to Rev. Kimberley Debus (
sabbaticalmin@cucwp.org, 518-423-1964).
Because some may feel isolated, we would appreciate having more helpers for Caring & Sharing who can make visits, deliver supplies, make a phone call, assist with technology, and help those who may not be going out at this time. If you would like to help, please contact Astrid Rogers (
astridrogers@aol.com, 914-949-0294).
We are also developing many other ways to connect – including online story times, joint work spaces, virtual coffee hours, journey group check-ins, playing games together, and more. If you have ideas or wish to help, please reach out to Rev. Kimberley (
sabbaticalmin@cucwp.org, 518-423-1964). We will send along a schedule of these great ways to connect each week.
As always, please let us know how we may be of assistance, and what questions you may have.
To learn more about how to connect via phone and Zoom, click
HERE
.
Our Role in Preventing Further Spread of COVID-19
We know that pandemics rely on close social contact, and we can “flatten the curve” when we reduce our social interactions.
This is important, because COVID-19 is a highly contagious virus that adversely affects people living with compromised immune systems, older members (over 60) whose immune systems are generally more vulnerable than younger members, and people living with chronic health conditions, especially lung conditions. There may also be underlying conditions that have yet to be identified. We also know that younger folks may get sick but are also carriers, so social interactions can compromise otherwise healthy people. This means that we should all consider practicing “social distancing” to prevent the spread.
