Do you remember the 3-question survey?
Charlie Lange executed a brief survey to inform the task force about what St. Matthew members thought regarding the current situation. Thank you everyone who responded. The results are shown in graphical form.
Based on the arrangements detailed above, what, would be your personal/family’s level of willingness to attend initial services with (up to) 50 people present?
Our takeaway was that at least half of the congregation would not be comfortable attending a worship service in-person, until the pandemic is over, or a safe, working vaccine is available. Most of those responding are concerned about their own health, or of infecting others should they catch COVID. A second takeaway is that the virtual worship service through Zoom is working well for the time being. Members do miss the communal nourishment of the soul, Holy Communion.
What, if anything would MOST hinder you form coming back immediately?
The task force, working with this information, has recommended to Council that in-person worship services resume after Labor Day, possibly September 13th. Even this will depend on conditions at the time, and on any limitations set by the civil authorities. We have developed a plan with rules for masks and safe distancing. The task force will leave it to the Worship Ministry and to Pastor Trozzo as to whether there should be one worship service or two. Currently, there is a limit of 50 persons in the Sanctuary at one time. With families sitting together, the Sanctuary can just accommodate that many safely. If we have a single service, there will be some sort of reservation system.
The Reopening Task Force is considering changes that would let us hold in-person service with communion. If precautions are taken would you be comfortable in taking communion at this point?
The task force has an overall plan, with general guidelines, and provisions for specific rules for parts of our ministry—worship, our office, the food pantry, and various groups and committees who would like to resume meeting at our building.
We will keep everyone advised, particularly as plans are finalized for in-person worship.
—John O’Meara