An In-Person and Online Re-Opening Plan
for the Mattatuck Unitarian Universalist Society
This is a plan of how we will welcome in-person participation in church programs, including worship. We are planning for a future where we have both online and in-person programs, including worship. We are planning for a future where we can hug—if both people want—where we can see each other’s faces, hear each other’s voices, and be in each other’s presence—and where robust online options, safety measures, and other steps keep everyone connected and safe.
As of March 7, 2021, New Haven County (Southbury) is the leader in current Covid hospitalizations and Litchfield County (MUUS-Woodbury) is one of the top three counties with only 7 current Covid hospitalizations. However, neighboring Fairfield County (Newtown) is the second worst with 12 current Covid hospitalizations. Connecticut says it will be May before 16-34 year olds are eligible for the vaccine. That means it will be the end of summer, most likely—at the earliest—where we will have a generally vaccinated population in Connecticut.
Our general principles remain:
— Inclusivity and justice: We will not exclude people and will take special care that equity and anti-oppression are centered in our decision making.
— Safety: We will do our utmost to keep our people and the community safe. We will not contribute to community spread.
— Community matters: We value our community and being together. As soon as it is safe to gather in an inclusive way, we will.
— Pro-science: We support vaccination for those who are able as a scientific, reasonable, and loving decision. You protect yourself and others. We believe that vaccines are effective and trust the scientists who have worked on them.
Here is our plan:
MUUS does not currently have a meeting place. When we do have an indoor meeting space again, either temporary or permanent, the guidelines below pertain to that space as well as to ANY OTHER space members of MUUS gather for MUUS programming or events.
Rev. Tony is vaccinated and able to do in-person pastoral care with other vaccinated people; he will begin doing so immediately. Beginning this month (March, 2021), small groups can choose to meet in person or stay online. Other options for small groups might include a hybrid model, with some group members online and some group members in person—as the group sees fit. In-person meetings must be an appropriate size for the size of space: enough room to do socially distanced seating, with at least 6 feet between people (or family/household groups) and participants must still wear masks. We will always continue to have some online-only small groups. However, worship will remain an online-only experience through March.
Worship Services Outside First—
When the following criteria are met, we can begin in-person, outdoor services maintaining socially distanced seating and requiring masks.
— Average daytime temperatures are above 60 degrees F.
— Connecticut has not regressed to Stage 1.
When this criteria is met, we can select a date 2 Sundays away to plan to hold such a service.
Worship Services Indoors Later—
When these criteria are met, we will plan to begin hybrid worship: online and in-person indoors. If things remain in a state of meeting the criteria, we can continue to meet in-person.
Those criteria are:
1. Connecticut has re-entered Stage 3.
2. On CovidActNow, https://www.covidactnow.org/?s=1577517 the local county Infection Rate and Test Positivity is “green.” As of this writing, March 7, 2021, it is orange.
3. The vaccine is widely available to adults. Widely available means free to patients, at multiple accessible locations in the local area, with a same day appointment. Right now (March 7) that will be May at the earliest in Connecticut.
Once these criteria are met, we will select a Sunday, at least four weeks out from that date, to welcome in-person worshippers. Even when we can return to in-person services, we will have outdoor-only children’s programs through at least Labor Day weekend. If weather cooperates, children’s programs will be outside as long as is possible.
Vaccines are required for any volunteer leading worship services IN PERSON (this includes greeters, ushers, coffee hour prep, service and cleanup, groups, religious education programming or working with children). If you know you will be vaccinated by mid-summer and are ready and able to be a regular RE volunteer, please contact Rev. Tony.
We promise to be transparent, responsive, and deliberate about how we go about this. Below is our beginning list of questions and answers. If you have a question, please ask—it will help us think through all the aspects of this process. You can email or call or text Rev. Tony at revtonyuu@gmail.com and 508-344-3668.
FAQ’s
What about masks?
We will wear masks for in person gatherings until the vaccine is available to everyone, including children. People with any COVID or flu-like symptoms should stay away from in-person gatherings.
Will we require proof of vaccination?
We will only require proof of vaccination for in-person worship leaders and RE volunteers. Hospitality volunteers should be vaccinated, but that—and our encouragement for everyone who is able to be vaccinated—is on the honor system. We did not feel it was appropriate for the church to ask or keep track of this information. However, if we find that we have a large number of unvaccinated people whose choice to not get a vaccine puts those who cannot get one for medical reasons at risk, we will reevaluate this. The Board of Trustees and Rev. Tony agree that you can be trusted to get your vaccine—please do so.
Why don’t we worship outside all summer?
Outside worship, though lovely on a mildly warm day, is not 100% accessible. Even with a good sound system, it is hard to make audio work well outside for everyone, AND it can be too hot or too cold for many people.
What happens if new variants or slow vaccine uptake changes things?
In all cases, we will follow the most conservative advice of science, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the State of Connecticut. That includes how we might respond to a new strain, to rising case numbers, or other measures.
What happens if we have an outbreak in the church?
If an outbreak occurs among our people (5 or more cases that may be linked), we will pivot immediately to online-only worship while we assess what happened and what steps we should take.
What about singing?
When and how we begin to sing at worship is an open question. We await the science on this. It may be that we can begin to sing when we return, or it may be that we wait for a herd immunity threshold. After vaccines are generally available, we may be able to have choir and others who wish to sing use “singing” or “performing” masks, which are 75% more effective than other masks.
What if lots of non-vaccinated people are coming and putting folks at risk?
If we become concerned that a large number of unvaccinated persons is putting the health of those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons at risk, we may require vaccination (or prof of ineligibility) to attend. The Board will make this decision. Please, plan to get vaccinated if you can.
I know this is driven by metrics, not dates, but what’s your best guess for when we will start in-person worship again?
It is possible—and by no means for sure—that we will have an outdoor worship in April or May and indoor service perhaps by the end of summer, although after Labor Day is more likely. That’s a reasonable guess, but it could be a few weeks later. We doubt it will be sooner.
What about families with children?
We are waiting for more details to be worked out with regard to Religious Education for children. Rev. Tony, the Board, and the Religious Education Committee will wait for further guidance on what activities are safe for children and teenagers under the age of 16.
What about coffee hour?
There will be no coffee hour at in-person worship for the time being.
What about staff or volunteers who can’t get vaccinated for medical reasons?
Those who are counter-indicated for a vaccine because of a history of medication-related anaphylaxis or another similar reason will be offered a reasonable accommodation when possible, and in accordance with our policies. That might mean limiting their exposure to crowds through shifts in duties, providing socially distanced space around their work area, or other measures. Anyone who is not medically counter-indicated may receive some accommodations, but there are no guarantees.
How do I submit a question?
revtonyuu@gmail.com and 508-344-3668
March 7, 2021
