June 29, 2020
Dear Members and Friends,
This letter is intended to advise members of the Unadilla United Methodist Church of the status of the church as it regards reopening. Pastor Brandi has organized a Task Force to research and plan reopening. The members are Pastor Brandi, Donna Bond, Doug McKown, Rick Fisher, Stephanie Beams, Barbara Rothenberg, and Steven Rothenberg and we welcome your suggestions.
At this time the church building remains closed. We have received updates, directives, suggestions, options, policies, orders, and requirements from a variety of agencies and organizations including, the New York State Department of Health, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Office of the Governor of the State of New York, and The Upper New York Conference of the United Methodist Church. These directives are not always in agreement with each other and are subject to change as time and circumstances change the overall situation.
At present there is no set date for our church to reopen, and there are requirements that must be met before a church can reopen. This includes the filing and subsequent approval of a reopening plan with the State.
We are required to do a complete top to bottom cleaning of the church, removal of all the hymnals and seat cushions from the sanctuary, purchasing of supplies, and installation of signage and tape to inform people about new procedures and to designate areas which are off limits. Then, after reopening, we will have to maintain social distancing, (six feet and twelve feet if singing which is discouraged), masks to be worn by everyone including the pastor, temperature checks of everyone on entrance, and a log of everyone coming into the church on each occasion in case there is a later need to do tracing.
John Wesley said, “The Gospel of Christ knows no religion but social; no holiness but social holiness,” emphasizing the centrality of community in the life of the disciple. He also established “do no harm” as a primary practice of faithful living. UNY’s church reopening guidelines seek to balance these two values – community and well-being – in ways that are faithful, reasonable and practical.
Part of Christian fellowship is lovingly setting certain traditions aside for a short period of time in order to ensure that everyone remains healthy. You may find that churches in other states or elsewhere in New York are opening faster then we will; but we are proceeding in a manner we believe is focused on the safety and health of those most at risk in our congregation. At this time we will continue with online worship; we will communicate with you again in the coming weeks as new information becomes available.
At this time, we will continue with online worship and we are also planning an outdoor worship service this summer to give us the opportunity to see each other while maintaining social distance. We will communicate with you again in the near future as new information becomes available.
Peace and Grace,
Rick Fisher, Administrative Council Chairman, on behalf of the Re-launch Task Force
Dear Members and Friends,
This letter is intended to advise members of the Unadilla United Methodist Church of the status of the church as it regards reopening. Pastor Brandi has organized a Task Force to research and plan reopening. The members are Pastor Brandi, Donna Bond, Doug McKown, Rick Fisher, Stephanie Beams, Barbara Rothenberg, and Steven Rothenberg and we welcome your suggestions.
At this time the church building remains closed. We have received updates, directives, suggestions, options, policies, orders, and requirements from a variety of agencies and organizations including, the New York State Department of Health, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Office of the Governor of the State of New York, and The Upper New York Conference of the United Methodist Church. These directives are not always in agreement with each other and are subject to change as time and circumstances change the overall situation.
At present there is no set date for our church to reopen, and there are requirements that must be met before a church can reopen. This includes the filing and subsequent approval of a reopening plan with the State.
We are required to do a complete top to bottom cleaning of the church, removal of all the hymnals and seat cushions from the sanctuary, purchasing of supplies, and installation of signage and tape to inform people about new procedures and to designate areas which are off limits. Then, after reopening, we will have to maintain social distancing, (six feet and twelve feet if singing which is discouraged), masks to be worn by everyone including the pastor, temperature checks of everyone on entrance, and a log of everyone coming into the church on each occasion in case there is a later need to do tracing.
John Wesley said, “The Gospel of Christ knows no religion but social; no holiness but social holiness,” emphasizing the centrality of community in the life of the disciple. He also established “do no harm” as a primary practice of faithful living. UNY’s church reopening guidelines seek to balance these two values – community and well-being – in ways that are faithful, reasonable and practical.
Part of Christian fellowship is lovingly setting certain traditions aside for a short period of time in order to ensure that everyone remains healthy. You may find that churches in other states or elsewhere in New York are opening faster then we will; but we are proceeding in a manner we believe is focused on the safety and health of those most at risk in our congregation. At this time we will continue with online worship; we will communicate with you again in the coming weeks as new information becomes available.
At this time, we will continue with online worship and we are also planning an outdoor worship service this summer to give us the opportunity to see each other while maintaining social distance. We will communicate with you again in the near future as new information becomes available.
Peace and Grace,
Rick Fisher, Administrative Council Chairman, on behalf of the Re-launch Task Force