Dear Church:
Some exciting news to share: We have been hard at work. Thanks to hours of research, engagement with a video/audio consultant, the purchasing of technology, installation of cameras, and many trial and error sessions, we feel ready to unfurl our first ever fully hybrid worship service on Sunday, September 12, 2021 at 10:30am. This will be “hybrid” as everyone will be welcomed to join online from your “home sanctuary”, and – for the first time since March 2020 – we will also welcome 25 worshippers to join us in person in our beloved sanctuary at 67 Newbury Street in Boston! In order to make this work in a safe and accessible way, we will agree to the following:
In person participation requires:
1) having full COVID-19 vaccination (if any documented exemptions to this, contact Rev. Rob),
2) willingness to bring a copy or phone photo of your vaccination card to show to staff on the 12th,
3) willingness to wear a mask for the entire time you are in the building,
4) having no COVID-like symptoms for you or anyone in your household, and
5) pre-registration (see below).
If any of the above are not possible, please plan to worship with us online via Zoom/ YouTube as we’ve become accustomed. More details will come on Friday’s “This Week at Covenant” regarding the specifics for online participation. If there are concerns with any of our protocol, please be in touch with Rev. Rob or Council.
Registration:
For now, we will welcome 25 people in person in the sanctuary in order to limit the number of people so we can properly physically distance. Every 2 pews will be roped off, and congregants will be instructed to sit only with those in their household. We will not allow “walks-ins” who have not pre-registered to join in person. We will of course welcome anyone who does not pre-register to participate in the service online. To register in person, click here, then click again on the line that shows the number of spots remaining, and fill out the required information that will only be viewed by staff and kept for contact tracing purposes. The first 25 who register will be allowed to join in person. In order to be allowed into the building, you will need to show a photocopy or phone photo of your COVID-19 vaccination card. Council has made it clear that we will have to turn pre-registered people away at the door if they forget to bring proof of vaccination. This is important to minimize risk and ensure everyone in our community is safe. Please do not bring your original vaccine card as we don’t want this to get lost/ damaged. Once you have shown your photocopy/ photo, you will not have to show it again on future Sundays. For the safety of the youngest among us, at this point, we are also not able to allow unvaccinated children under age 12 in the sanctuary – however, CYCE leaders are in direct touch with families of our children and youth about our ministry this fall.
If there are spots available, confirmation email will follow successful registration. If for any reason your plans change and you can no longer join us for worship in person, please see your confirmation email and click on the “cancel registration” button to open up your spot for others. Please contact Rob or Kate if you have any difficulties as we can add your name to the list directly if there are spots still available. As we move along this fall, we’ll ask people to share spots to ensure everyone who would like to get the chance to attend in person.
In Person Worship:
On Sunday, pre-registered worshippers will come in the “steeple” entrance at the corner of Newbury and Berkeley streets where they will be greeted by a worship leader/ staff who will welcome them, ask to see their proof of vaccination, check they are masked, and usher them inside to a pew. Following the service, there will be no time for socializing inside the sanctuary, but all will be invited outside to gather on the Berkeley or Newbury Street steps for a brief time of greeting. There will be no coffee hour or adult ed sessions at this time.
Pews will be appropriately roped off to help maintain physical distance for congregants from different households. While keeping masks on, person worship participants will be allowed to sing together! Something so many of us have missed during this pandemic. Bathrooms on the main floor “in front” of the sanctuary (outside the “secret” door) will be accessible to all worshippers. New hand sanitizer stations are in place in the front and back of sanctuary.
Thank you reading this, and for your solidarity as we move ahead into this fall in new ways under the same ancient and always new grace of God upon which our trust and hope depends.
In the peace and shielding of Christ,
Rob (with the rest of staff)
