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Grace Church Covid Policy Update

Friends,

As we suspected, Covid numbers are rising again in a 4th wave and this variant is more highly contagious and affects children in a higher rate. For this reason, we are reinstituting the following procedures at Grace starting this week:

• Masks will be requested for all persons, vaccinated or not.

   A. It is not yet required by the state, but we highly ask you to mask while in the building.

• Choir will immediately suspend again. We will return to quartets with social distancing.

• Temp checks and sign in lists will be a regular part of worship again.

• Please maintain good Covid guidelines while at Church by sitting only in the pews NOT marked as reserved. This will help us maintain safe distance.

A reminder: while these are not mandatory (yet), we are trying to lead the way in being cautious to protect those most at risk. We appreciate your cooperation. I hope we are through this soon.

Blessings

Pastor Rob+   

Letters from Pastor and Council:

November 2021

Dear Friends,        

When I was in Germany for a churchwide conference a few years back there was a huge gas pump in the assembly hall. On it were written the words DANKSTELLE. It was a play on words. In German the word for gas station is Tankstellle. The word Dankstelle would be translated as “Thanks-station” (Danke is the German word for Thanks) In this Dankstelle, people could write their reasons to be thankful and place them inside. People loved it. We wrote multiple slips of things for which we were thankful and the Dankstelle began to fill.

Writing a blessings list is a suggestion counselors will sometimes make to clients who are looking for ways to focus on the positive things in life. A simple list of three things that happened throughout the day which makes you thankful. What 3 things happened today that were a blessing to you?

The truth is that sometimes a change in mindset can help make a positive change in our attitudes and behaviors. Remember the old adage” You are what you eat?” Well, this is kind of like “You are how you think!” If we focus on the positive, it can help frame our day. Its not gonna solve every problem, but focusing on being thankful can focus us in ways that give us good direction: Godward.

So as we enter the season of Thanksgiving, we are challenged to contemplate how our lives are blessed. Our possessions, the people we love and who love us, our health… Its so easy to take things for granted. Its so easy to allow the negative to be our focus. Our faith, our understandings of psychology and even medicine all show us that focusing on thankfulness (a positive mental attitude) can have positive benefits.

Enjoy the month and as the old hymn says, “Count your many Blessings…see what God has done.”

Pastor Rob+

REOPENING LETTER

Dear Friends,

After many months, it is time to let you know that we are beginning the process of reopening for people to join us for weekly worship. Other churches have been opening for the past few weeks; but, at my recommendation, Council has decided to wait a bit to see if infection rates in our area would remain low once people start gathering for worship.  Honestly, things are working remotely, so we were more concerned with gathering safely than gathering quickly.

And so I am writing with good news and better news!  The good news: We are inviting people to join us for worship in person starting August 2nd.  The better news: Our live stream broadcasts of worship have been more successful than we imagined and they will continue to be a part of our ongoing worship experience.  So if you don't feel comfortable returning to worship in person yet, you can still join us every week as you have been! 

What to expect when you return? 

1. You will be warmly welcomed by someone who will take your name and contact information. Creating a contact list for each service means we will be able to reach everyone should one person end up getting sick at any point. 

2. You will have your temperature taken with our fancy new no-touch thermometer. 

3. You will be asked if you have a mask. If you do not have one with you, we will have one for you! (Masks must be worn at all times, no exceptions.)

4. Hand sanitizer will be available should you want it. 

5. The doors will be open so that there is no need to touch hardware.

What will look different?

1. Seating will be intentionally separated from each other.  Families of course will sit together, but we will seat in alternating rows every other row. (They will be clearly marked.) 

2. There will be no passing of the peace in the service.  We would ask you to greet each other with a heartfelt smile and wave instead!

3. There will be no offering during the service. (That doesn't mean we don't need your gifts. LOL)  We will have collection baskets at the doors when you enter and when you leave so you can drop off your tithe. 

4. There will be no Hymns, at least for now. The CDC and the National Council of Churches recommend no singing as that produces more vapor droplets which might spread germs in the sanctuary. A study is coming out in the fall which will have more definitive word on this, but until then, there will be lots of good music, just not vocally!

5. Fellowship hour will NOT resume for the near future. Once the weather cools, we might want to gather outside after church for donuts and coffee, where we can be outdoors and safer in a group. 

So, as you can see, we are doing all we can to make sure our reopening is as safe as it can be.  We hope you will join us as you feel able, either in person or on Youtube.  We are excited for this regathering and look forward to the day when we can all be together again soon!! 

Much love and know that you are missed!

Pastor Rob+

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