Covid-19

SAFE SANCTUARY PROTOCOL

(Developed by the Re-Opening Task Force*)

 

We are all anxious to come together again on September 12, in our beautiful sanctuary!  Please read and follow this protocol, so that we can do this as safely as possible. Please note that this is subject to change at any time, so be sure to check Constant Contact for updates.

 

ALL SERVICES WILL BE LIVE STREAMED FOR THOSE WHO CHOOSE NOT TO ATTEND IN PERSON.

 

 

BEFORE ENTERING THE SANCTUARY please sign the Contact Tracing booklet, including contact information, in case we need to do contact tracing.  Please use your own pen.

 

MASKING

Anyone who enters Second church must wear a face covering that is secure and covers both mouth and nose.  Face coverings are required of everyone, ages 2 and up unless there is a medical reason for not doing so. Please bring your own face covering, but we will have some masks available at the doors.

 

SOCIAL DISTANCING

When entering and leaving the sanctuary, and when moving to the front of the sanctuary to light a votive candle, please follow the direction of the ushers.  The pews will be marked and roped off to allow for distancing between families and individuals.  Please try to maintain social distancing when entering and leaving the sanctuary.  We ask that you leave the sanctuary immediately after the Postlude.

 

VACCINATION

We strongly urge everyone who is age-approved and medically able to be fully vaccinated. Remember that this is not only for your own safety, but also that of others.

 

SINGING

The choir will be singing with masks on and we encourage others to sing quietly into their masks during the hymns. The choir will not be pro- or recessing.

 

RESTROOMS on the Choir Room level will be available, as will the restroom in the narthex.

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VENTILATION

Windows and doors will be left open during the service. As the weather gets cooler, we encourage people to wear appropriate clothing and keep coats on during the service.

 

HAND SANITIZER WILL BE AVAILABLE IN EACH PEW

We encourage people to use hand sanitizer before and after handling the hymn books or any other materials in the pews.

 

CHILDREN 12+ are encouraged to attend services and must follow all the protocols. We are currently reaching out to families with children under 12 to determine how they would like to proceed until their children become eligible for vaccination.

 

OFFERING

There will be baskets at each entrance to the sanctuary into which you can put your weekly offerings.  Please do this as you enter the sanctuary.

 

COFFEE HOUR

We will have an individually portioned coffee hour on the Welcome Back Sunday- September 12.  It will be held outside, in front of the Highland St. entrance.  People are encouraged (not required) to continue wearing masks and try to keep social distance.  We are still discussing whether or not to continue the food portion of coffee hour in subsequent services.

If it is raining, people can gather (masks required), socially distanced, at the altar area in the front of the sanctuary for a brief period of conversation.

 

SANCTUARY CLEANING

The entire sanctuary will be thoroughly cleaned after each service.

 

PARKING

Please use the parking lots as you normally do, being sure to leave the upper small lot (on the handicap entrance side) free for people who have mobility challenges. We do encourage people to enter through the Highland St door, but the Fellowship Hall entrance and elevator will be available.

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We ask that anyone who is experiencing any cold or flu-like symptoms to please stay home and participate in the service via live streaming.

 

If, after attending a service at Second Church, you test positive for COVID, please contact the church office immediately- 617-244-2690 or www.2ndchurch.org.

 

*Re-Opening Taskforce:  Jeff Davis, Frank Neal, Bubba Sooho, Ced Paine, Betsy Howes Pape, Sally Anderson, Kathy Lucey

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