Guidelines for In Person Worship - Updated October 27, 2020
Fifty people will be allowed in the sanctuary for the service.
You must register so we can track attendees and ensure that attendance is within the recommended guidelines.
Please indicate the number of people (tickets) who will be attending on each Sunday.
INFORMED CONSENT
Trinity Church will ask all parishioners and attendees to release Trinity Church Newtown, CT from all liability after having read the following “Informed Consent”. By registering for this event, you consent to the following:
COVID-19 is a serious and highly communicable disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, senior citizens and individuals with underlying medical conditions are especially vulnerable. An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. Although Trinity Church Newtown, CT asks all attendees to observe certain precautions, there is no assurance of protection from exposure to COVID-19 at our worship services. The risk of exposure to COVID-19 is voluntarily assumed by all attendees.
Protocols for in person worship:
We will not yet offer:
Arrival:
During Service:
Departure:
We sincerely thank you for your adherence to these protocols. They were designed for the safety and comfort for all. Should you have any comments or questions, please let Reverend Andrea, a Warden or member of the Vestry know.
May God continue to guide us as we navigate these days, and may you feel God’s presence always, no matter where or how we worship. Amen.
You must register so we can track attendees and ensure that attendance is within the recommended guidelines.
Please indicate the number of people (tickets) who will be attending on each Sunday.
INFORMED CONSENT
Trinity Church will ask all parishioners and attendees to release Trinity Church Newtown, CT from all liability after having read the following “Informed Consent”. By registering for this event, you consent to the following:
COVID-19 is a serious and highly communicable disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, senior citizens and individuals with underlying medical conditions are especially vulnerable. An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. Although Trinity Church Newtown, CT asks all attendees to observe certain precautions, there is no assurance of protection from exposure to COVID-19 at our worship services. The risk of exposure to COVID-19 is voluntarily assumed by all attendees.
Protocols for in person worship:
- Attending an in-person service is a personal choice. These services are optional, and the live stream of services will be available. Do not attend in-person should you feel it is not currently the best choice for you and/or your family – discern where and how you prayerfully sense God calling you to worship.
- DO NOT attend if you feel ill or have been recently exposed to COVID-19.
- You are required to properly wear a face mask at all times covering the nose and mouth. Masks provided if needed.
- Practice social distancing, staying at least 6 feet apart when in the parking lot, in the sanctuary, hallways or stairways.
- Practice proper hand hygiene. Hand sanitizer will be available.
- The church will be cleaned prior to your arrival.
- We ask that you wipe down your pew area before exiting your pew. Wipes will be provided.
- Offering envelopes can be placed in the alms basin at the back of the church. Online giving is encouraged.
- The restrooms on the Sanctuary level will be open. Sanitize after use.
We will not yet offer:
- Physical communion
- Nursery
- Physical exchanging of the Peace
- Coffee Hour
- Greetings by Reverend Andrea at the door or after the service
Arrival:
- CHECK IN at least 15 minutes prior to the service to confirm your attendance. Your temperature will be taken by non-invasive means.
- Practice social distancing as you walk to entrances and only enter by the main front red doors. The elevator will be available for those in need. Only one person at a time or one family together. Entrance to the Nave can then be accessed using the side Nave door.
- An usher will greet you and direct you down the proper aisle to a designated pew. Please follow the usher’s instructions for traffic and pew seating.
- Family groups (living together) may sit together.
- We will be alternating usable pews, so you will see some pews are taped off.
- Greet one another from your pews with a wave, a smile or an air hug ☺.
- Refrain from getting up and moving around in the aisles or going to other pews once you are directed to your pew.
During Service:
- All hymnals and prayer books have been removed from the Sanctuary.
- A personal device may be used to view the bulletin-please mute. Paper bulletins will be available. Take with you when leaving the church.
- If desired, sing softly with your mask on and say all appropriate responses as able with mask on.
- If you need something, please signal an usher.
- Keep your mask or face covering on properly covering your nose and mouth throughout the service.
Departure:
- Stay seated and wait for the Usher’s direction as to when and where to exit the church.
- We will dismiss pew by pew.
- Continue practicing social distancing as you exit the church and in the parking lot.
- Do not congregate or walk back into the building.
We sincerely thank you for your adherence to these protocols. They were designed for the safety and comfort for all. Should you have any comments or questions, please let Reverend Andrea, a Warden or member of the Vestry know.
May God continue to guide us as we navigate these days, and may you feel God’s presence always, no matter where or how we worship. Amen.