Safe Gatherings Update
Here’s some good news! Our limited, in-person Worship will resume on Sunday, February 7th, 10:30 am. If you’d like to attend worship in person remember that you must have a reservation at www.rpcjax.org/worship. The campus is also open to small groups with all safety protocols in place.
After the holidays, we suspended our limited, in-person worship and on campus gatherings while we watched the impact of the post holiday surge of COVID cases locally; the impact on our hospitals; the spread of the newly identified COVID variants; the rollout of vaccinations; and the impact of our normal flu season. We did see the surge in cases as predicted by our local and national medical providers. Additionally, in January, our area hospitals were caring for a high number of COVID patients.
We’ve also observed that the post holiday surge has leveled. Duval County’s daily average of positive cases for the first two weeks of January was 11.97%. The daily average of positive cases for the last two weeks of January was 9.3%. The target range according to the Florida Department of Health is below 10%. While still concerning, we expect and hope that the biggest surge after the holidays is behind us. Our local vaccine rollout is proceeding steadily, though not at the pace we’d hoped. We do not know of broad local spread of the COVID variant viruses. Flu season has shown mild activity in Duval County during the month of January. Our hospitals have begun seeing lower numbers of COVID patients
Considering all these factors along with the commitment of our congregation to comply with the safety recommendations and protocols, the Safe Gatherings Committee, in consultation with the staff, is recommending that we resume limited, in-person worship on Sunday, February 7th. All of our safety protocols will be in place including reservations required, masks covering the nose and mouth required, and social distancing. Please worship at home if you’re experiencing any symptoms of illness. We continue to encourage those who are more vulnerable and who have ongoing health conditions to worship online at home.
Small groups that would like to resume meeting on campus may do so remembering that all safety protocols must be observed. Rooms must be reserved with Jan Carr, jan.carr@rpcjax.org. Watch for more information on meeting opportunities for Sunday School classes.
Whether you are worshipping online at home or in person in the sanctuary, you are an important part of the faith community that is Riverside Presbyterian Church.
Your feedback, questions, and concerns are always welcome, Kathy Para, Chair; Maribeth Ashley; Barbara Bath; Michael Brumback; Bill Hoff; Cory Meyers; Jane Miller; Susie Morrow; Dave Tuttle.
