From Peter Arian and Rae Dumont, Co-Chairs of the RoIT
Dear Congregation,
We are, happily, no longer facing a surge of COVID hospitalizations, despite the newest highly transmissible Omicron variant. Vaccination prevents serious illness in most people, and roughly halves the likelihood of long COVID, though too much remains unknown about this.
With warmer weather and increasing outdoor time, the risk of COVID will further decline. So we propose a gradual reduction of COVID precautions, as we remain committed both to connection, and to safety.
Services:
- We propose that masks now be optional during the service.
- We will continue to offer a single 10 AM Sunday service, and encourage distancing in our well-ventilated sanctuary. And we ask that all who can, be vaccinated.
- A space is set aside in the front of the sanctuary for families with unvaccinated children.
- There will be hymn leaders in our services, at a safe distance.
- Congregational singing and choir singing will begin April 3rd, with masks on.
- Attendees are welcome to sing, but we ask that masks be worn while singing.
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Services will also be live-streamed on YouTube and Facebook.
- Since the reintroduction of (masked) singing increases the risk of aerosol transmission, we will reserve the Narthex for those who wish to attend the service, without increasing their risk of exposure. And we will re-evaluate later in April.
Connection Café
- This will take place, with masks optional, in Fletcher Hall after the service. Prepackaged snacks and coffee in disposable mugs will be offered, and we ask that these be consumed outside as much as possible.
- The Alliance Room will be designated for deeper reflection, and we ask that no refreshments be consumed there, and masks and distance be respected.
- Virtual Connection Café will also be offered on the third Sunday of each month at 11:15 AM.
Seder, Stone soup, and other meals
The sharing of food creates a level of exposure, which we encourage you to evaluate in light of risk factors you or your loved ones may have. Please keep yourself as safe as you need to be.
Small groups
We ask that the masks always be worn at the beginning of a gathering. The group leader will ask about comfort, and if everyone present agrees, masks can then be taken off to hold the meeting.
Religious Education
- Our Trimester III Activity Groups, the UU Youth Group (U-YG), and 8th Grade OWL are ongoing. With compassionate acknowledgment and support for the comfort level of all involved, and in parallel with masking guidelines for the Worship Services, masks will now be optional in RE also,
- Please continue to review the RE Newsletter for additional and more specific updates.
Nursery
- The demand for a nursery during services is small, as families are cautious about risk to their young unvaccinated children. Albeit on a small scale, we are exploring how to offer a nursery safely. Personnel and volunteers would of course be required to be vaccinated and masked.
- We are also looking into COVID testing of the caregivers.
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Would your family be interested in nursery care? Please contact Religious Education Director Judith Hogan to let her know: jhogan@uumontclair.org
MESH (Montclair Emergency Services for Hope)
- In person “grab and sit” meals are open to vaccinated guests.
- Meals and drinks are offered in take-away containers, and vaccinated guests may stay and eat if they wish.
- Non-vaccinated guests are offered meals to take away.
- Volunteers must be vaccinated and masked.
- We have a warming space for MESH on Saturday and Sunday afternoons in the Peierls room, for the cold winter days.
We would like your input:
We know there is no perfect solution, so we want to hear how these steps affect you. Please drop us a note and tell us how safe our next steps feel to you, and what else you would like to see.
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to the Care Team, a member of RoIT, or to the ministers.
