2/20/2022

In-Person Safety Reminders

  • Masks are required for everyone (older than 2 yrs.).
  • Vaccinations, including boosters, are expected for all who are eligible.
  • Services will include reduced seating and singing, with overflow in the Hearth Room as space allows, and increased ventilation.
  • If you are sick, please join us online for the 9 am livestreamed service or anytime after that.
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Link to our YouTube Channel HERE. Subscribe to our channel and click on the bell to receive notifications of future services.

View previous services and Orders of Service HERE.

2/1/2022

Dear First UU Church,
Our guidelines team and staff met this past Sunday to discuss our plans for the coming weeks. For a variety of reasons, we will resume in-person attendance for worship and courtyard coffee hour beginning Sunday, February 20.
This will allow us to continue to monitor community risk, which is predicted to decline, and allow us time to adjust plans accordingly. It also allows us to celebrate two important pre-planned online events early in the month. Here is the schedule for the next few weeks:

Sunday, February 6: Online Worship only at 9:00 am

Sunday, February 13: Side With Love: An national online worship service for Unitarian Universalists, with many voices and music from across the country. Rev. Luke will offer an opening reflection to ground us within our national church.

Both services can be found at our usual YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIHDXlG7FUAhZY0TNBI_Mwg/

Sunday, February 13: Annual Valentine Tea at 10:15 am on zoom
Fill your favorite teacup or coffee mug, and wear some pink, and join hosts Barb Foss & Robin Taylor for the annual UU Valentine Tea Takeover of Coffee Hour on Zoom!
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86971359533

Sunday, February 20: A Wild and Precious Life
In-Person Services and Courtyard Coffee Hour Resume!
A festive service including music from local band Root River Jam, reflections from church members Heather Vinge Hanson and Stephanie Evans Hanson on spiritual journey, and a welcoming of new members!

We will continue to place care and love at the center of all our decisions, including a commitment to both in-person and online opportunities for community. We are gladly anticipating opening our doors in welcome again. Evidenced by the photo above, we have ordered and prepared the space for you with our “welcome back” checklist:

– High quality masks
– Coffee Creamer
– Gift books for new members
– An abundance of love

In care,

Gathering Guidelines Team
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, Erika Beetcher, Joe Lobl, Ann Hutton

1/14/2022

Dear friends,
As you know, local cases of Covid19 are rising rapidly. While we knew this wave was coming, its speed is still alarming. We are also aware of the strain on many institutions and workers, including in healthcare and education.
In solidarity and support of our community, and in care for the most vulnerable among us, we will temporarily suspend in-person attendance for worship services through the end of January, and then re-evaluate. Services will be livestreamed at 9 am Sunday mornings with only necessary staff and participants. We hope this will be a short pause in our in-person Sunday mornings.
We have been, and will continue to be, committed to offering in-person options in safe ways, and yet we feel compelled to take a brief pause. We plan to resume in-person attendance as soon as possible, hopefully after an anticipated quick rise and fall to this wave. Here are ways to stay connected:
We will keep you updated as plans and practices change, paying close attention to our local situation and following several sources, including CovidActNow.In the meantime, stay healthy and whole – and remember to ground yourself in love and care in these days:


Feel below you the earth and its ancient turning;
and above you the stars shining with ancient light.
You, made of earth and stars – know that in this house
you are named and you are known as beloved.
In care,
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
with the Gathering Guidelines Team: Joe Lobl, Erika Beetcher, Ann Hutton

12/8/2021
Re-Gathering Guidelines Team: Survey Update

Thank you to all the 200+ respondents to our survey! We appreciate the time and thought shared with us to help guide our decisions to gradually re-gather. Here is a summary of survey results and updated practices:

  • Multi-Platform: Even though a vast majority of congregants want to meet in person for worship, 20% prefer online. The numbers are similar for families with and without young children.
  • Masks & Limited Capacity: Almost 90% agree with continued masking and limiting capacity is strongly favored.
  • Groups: For adult groups and classes, 40% prefer online, so keeping multiple options open will be important for all. In-person small groups may consider options around masking and food/drink depending on vaccine status and individual/group preferences. Contact the office for current specific guidance if your group wants to meet in-person.
  • Vaccines: 100% of those reported (all but 3 respondents) reported all eligible members of their household are fully vaccinated, or in process. Most respondents expect that everyone, who is able and eligible, be vaccinated to participate in church events. This is our current expectation, though we will not require proof at this time for general participation.
  • Christmas Eve Services: Over 200 people plan to attend Christmas Eve services, including 14% of respondents preferring a service with increased Covid mitigation (lower capacity limit, pre-registration, little or no singing, etc.)  Details for service plans and other holiday gatherings are shared HERE.
  • Sunday Mornings: As noted last week, registration and roping off of rows were felt to be unhelpful and possible detriments to attending services by many, and we eliminated those aspects from our mitigation procedures.

We appreciate all the thoughtful comments and input. Although hard to summarize the variety of opinions (we are UU’s after all!), many were grateful for getting back together in person in a safe manner and agreed with being cautious especially in light of the new Covid variant and the unknown risks associated with it. We continue to be committed to finding ways to gather on both sides of our doors. We wish you a very happy and healthy holiday season!

In care,
Re-Gathering Guidelines Team
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, Joe Lobl, Erika Beetcher, Ann Hutton

9/29/2021

We are committed to community on both sides of the door, providing ways of gathering in-person and online. We want to be clear about what to expect on Sunday mornings so you can choose how you feel most comfortable and safe to participate. Here is our plan for our gradual re-gathering in the coming weeks:
Sunday Morning In-Person Practices:
  • Sunday Services in the Sanctuary at 9:00 am and 11:00 am
  • Registration Required for all events (worship, children’s activities, nursery care). Register HERE
  • Capacity Limited to 50% (including distanced seating with rows roped off and self-distancing between households).
  • Masks required for everyone (worship leaders, including speakers and solo singers/musicians, may be unmasked while speaking/playing/singing).
  • Children are welcome to begin in the Sanctuary (for about 10 minutes) before proceeding to activities (if registered) outdoors when possible, otherwise distanced indoors. Limited nursery care is also available by registration.
  • Social Hour in the outdoor courtyard between services with coffee/tea provided, weather dependent. (masks encouraged outdoors).

Sunday Morning Hospitality volunteers are needed. If you would like to help greet or usher to welcome folks back, sign up HERE or for more information go HERE.

Online Opportunities:

  • Livestreamed Services at 9am on our YouTube channel HERE (and available any time after that).
  • Zoom coffee hour Sundays at 10:15 am. Join HERE.
  • Wednesday Evening Forums at 6:30 pm on Zoom beginning October 13. Join HERE.
  • Various small groups (contact the office for more information).
Ongoing Communications and Practices: 
  • We’ll provide community Covid-19 practice or concern updates in the weekly e-News, or through direct communication as needed.
  • Small groups are encouraged to meet online or outdoors. Small groups may request to meet in the building with additional safety practices.
  • We will monitor local and congregational risk and adjust practices as needed.
Friends, we are excited to welcome those who are comfortable to gather in safe ways in our building, and glad to continue to stay connected with many others online. If you have questions, concerns, or hopes, please reach out anytime. With guidance from public health and the UUA, we will follow the science, go slow, and be flexible. Mostly, know that we continue to hold this church in love, and we will keep learning how best we can stay connected on both sides of our doors.
In Care,
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
along with our Re-Gathering Guidelines Team:
Joe Lobl, Erika Beetcher, Ann Hutton