Update from the Reuniting St. Luke’s Task Force

As of July 4, 2021

Updated Phase 4 Guidelines:In-person worship is now staff priority. Indoor worship will be livestreamed each Sunday morning for members who are not comfortable attending indoors and to welcome digital visitors to our community. Any individual or group that prefers to refrain from in-person gatherings is heartily encouraged to do so.

INDOOR WORSHIP GUIDELINES

• Sunday morning worship will take place indoors at Wrightwood and Kimball at 10:00 a.m. (This will change to 11:00 a.m. in the fall.)

• Individuals will sign in when they arrive. RSVPS are not required. (To allow for contact tracing in case of a future reported COVID case.)

• Individuals must be physically distanced and wear masks for the duration of the service, except to briefly remove masks for communion.

• Worship leaders who are fully vaccinated may remove their mask during their portions of the service.

• Due to the vaccination rate of members, group masked singing by the congregation is allowed. (As of July 4, 2021.).

• Communal spoken responses are acceptable.

• If an individual is feeling sick or displaying any symptoms (fever, body aches, dry throat, loss of smell or taste, dry cough), questioning if they are sick, or may have been in contact with someone who is sick, they should not attend any in-person gatherings.

• If you’ve been with a St. Luke’s group recently and discovered you tested positive, please contact Pastor Erin. Pastor Erin will then alert those who were present at the gathering that someone in the group tested positive. Confidentiality will be maintained insofar as possible.

SMALL GROUPS IN-PERSON OUTDOORS GUIDELINES 

• Groups may meet outside for St. Luke’s related gatherings.

• Masks will not be required for outdoor gatherings; members are invited to wear masks if that makes them more comfortable. Groups are encouraged to practice social distancing. Food may be consumed as long as members/ households are six-feet apart when masks are removed.  It is up to the discretion of individuals if they are comfortable sharing food items or prefer to only consume items they brought. Group leaders should check-in with members to assess members’ comfort level and consent to mask wearing and food sharing. Any group meeting should consider offering a virtual or phone participation option, but this is not required. Meeting in-person outside is at the discretion of the group. Group leaders are asked to make sure members adhere to these guidelines.

• If an individual is feeling sick or displaying any symptoms (fever, body aches, dry throat, loss of smell or taste, dry cough), questioning if they are sick, or may have been in contact with someone who is sick, they should not attend any small group in-person gatherings.

• Group leaders should provide the above guidelines to their small group in advance of the meeting. 

• Small group leaders should have masks and hand sanitizer available for other group members. The church can provide those supplies to small group leaders as needed.

• If you’ve been with a St. Luke’s small group recently and discovered you tested positive, please contact Pastor Erin. Pastor Erin will then alert those who were present at the gathering that someone in the group tested positive. Confidentiality will be maintained insofar as possible.

SMALL GROUPS IN-PERSON INDOORS GUIDELINES 

• Meetings may occur indoors.

• Groups are encouraged to defer to the caution level of the most cautious member of the group. Fully vaccinated groups have the option to meet unmasked if the whole group enthusiastically consents.

• If not all members of the group are fully vaccinated, individuals must be masked and physically distanced.

• The group leader should coordinate with the church office to reserve a room that accommodates the size of the group with physical distancing.

• No food or drink may be consumed if not all group members are fully vaccinated.

• An electronic option should be provided for those uncomfortable attending indoors.

The pastoral staff may schedule socially distanced in-person pastoral care meetings.

The building will be cleaned regularly; this will be coordinated by the Space Sharing Committee.