THIS WEEK (Nineteen)+
of pandemic restrictions
of pandemic restrictions
WEDNESDAY July 22
—Intercession Salad supper, 5:30 PM @ parsonage
–Fabulous Friends/Parsonage classes Zoom mtg, 7:00 PM
–Fabulous Friends/Parsonage classes Zoom mtg, 7:00 PM
SUNDAY July 26
Meeting for worship-sharing, 10:00 AM, both in the meetinghouse and online by Zoom
MONDAY July 27
Ministry & Oversight, 7:00 PM by Zoom
BULLETIN BOARD for JULY 19, 2020
Return to the Meetinghouse
The Ministry & Oversight has set July 26 as the Sunday to begin gradual resumption of in-person meetings for worship at Winchester Friends. They seek to be mindful of Friends who are longing to gather again for worship in-person, of others who prefer to meet online until the COVID pandemic poses less risk to groups meeting in enclosed places, and of several who have been joining us online, do not live near us, but would like to continue worshipping with us.
To try to honor those wishes, new video and audio equipment has been ordered to enable us to experiment with meeting both online and in person in the church building, still using the worship-sharing format we have utilized since the pandemic began to encourage everyone to participate, not just spectate. We are proceeding on the assumption that the equipment will be delivered in time for use on July 26.
To try to honor those wishes, new video and audio equipment has been ordered to enable us to experiment with meeting both online and in person in the church building, still using the worship-sharing format we have utilized since the pandemic began to encourage everyone to participate, not just spectate. We are proceeding on the assumption that the equipment will be delivered in time for use on July 26.
In worship-sharing, all participants consider the same piece of input (a devotional essay in this case) and a few queries about the scripture it’s based upon or the concerns it covers. After the essay topic is introduced and summarized briefly by leader(s), the remaining time is spent in unprogrammed worship with attenders speaking out of the silence to respond to the queries with their own spiritual reflections and leadings.
Based on current public health advice, the M&O requests that Friends coming to meet in person follow these expectations:
1) If you are experiencing any symptoms of illness (fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea), please remain at home and join the meeting online by Zoom or telephone.
2) The two entrances on the east (parking lot) side of the building and the entrance to the annex will be unlocked on Sunday morning at 9:30 AM. Earlier entry is discouraged in order to minimize risk from close contact visiting.
3) Hand sanitizer will be available at each entrance. Friends are asked to use it as you enter so that we can all “start clean” as we share the room.
4) Facemasks also will be available at each entrance, or you are welcome to bring your own. Out of concern for one another’s well-being, Friends will be expected to wear masks while we are together in the building.
5) In order for everyone attending in person to be able to see the Friends attending online, we will use distanced seating in the parlor, arranged around the largest TV monitor we can obtain. Fellowship before and after the meeting must honor safe physical distancing, so there should be no handshakes, hugs, or other close contact. In keeping with medical professionals’ advice, no refreshments will be served.
6) As in the weeks since April, the Zoom meeting invitation and a devotional essay with queries for worship-sharing will be emailed to Friends on Saturday for your contemplation prior to worship. Paper copies of the devotional essay will be available on Sunday for those gathering at the meetinghouse. You are welcome to forward the emails to others to invite them to worship with us on Sunday morning. Those who do not have the necessary computer/phone equipment or internet capability may connect by conventional telephone by dialing 1-301-715-8592, then keying in the meeting ID (249 900 7533) and meeting password (162473) when prompted.
7) The meeting will begin in person and via Zoom at 10:00 AM and will end as close to 11:00 AM as possible.
8) If music is available, it will be mostly instrumental because medical authorities consider singing in close proximity to others to be a high-risk activity for droplet and aerosol spread of the COVID pathogen.
9) To avoid virus spread by contact, offering plates will not be passed around. A box or other recepticle will be available on a table if Friends wish to leave an offering.
Ministry & Oversight will continue to monitor pandemic statistics and the ongoing advice of public health authorities. If the pandemic worsens or risks become elevated in this area, our gatherings for worship will return to online-only meetings via Zoom.
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Winchester Friends Church 765-584-8276
124 E. Washington St. Winchester, IN 47394
www.winchesterfriendschurch.
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