March 8, 2022 Session Approves New Regathering Guidelines At its Stated meeting on Monday, March 7, the Session approved the following new guidelines for CPC:
Beginning Sunday, March 13, 2022, masks are recommended but optional in worship and throughout the buildings. This also applies to choir members and instrumentalists in worship.
When Communion is received it is to be provided individually for worshipers to pick up on their way into the Sanctuary. We anticipate returning to passing the offering plates and fellowship pads in April.
With cold and flu season continuing into the early spring, and with the advent of allergy season upon us, the Task Force requests that anyone experiencing allergy symptoms wear a mask inside.
We are aligning our guidance for anyone who works or volunteers with children under 5 years of age (who cannot be vaccinated against COVID-19) with those of the Cary Presbyterian Preschool. The Preschool Board will meet soon: when they have made a decision we will communicate that to you.
Groups meeting in the church buildings, including youth groups, may serve food as they feel it is appropriate; however, anyone who prepares food or serves food in the kitchen area should continue to wear a mask.
As always, folks who are feeling unwell or don’t feel ready to attend in person are encouraged to worship with us via live-stream.
February 8, 2022 From Pastor Paul: "I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the LORD!'” (Psalm 122:1). These words resonate with us perhaps more now than before the interruptions and isolation brought on by COVID. The Session’s decision to return to in-person activities is made in the interest of trying to balance the need to keep mask-wearing and other COVID-safe measures in place, while also acknowledging the spiritual health of the congregation. We know that you join us in being eager to return to worship in the Sanctuary and to faith-formation opportunities. We will continue to stream as often as we can to provide these worship and faith-formation events to those who cannot yet return to in-person gatherings.
Monday, February 7, the Session approved a recommendation from the Regathering Task Force allowing in-person activities to resume at CPC on Sunday, February 13. This decision was reached with careful thought and consideration of ongoing public health concerns around the COVID-19 pandemic and in support of the spiritual health needs of our congregation. The approved recommendation includes the following:
Resume in-person worship with no limitations on the number of attendees. Continue to live-stream worship.
Resume Faith Formation activities in progress prior to the latest shutdown, including the Pastor's Class, Confirmation, and Youth Fellowship.
Retain the requirement that masks be worn at all times when inside the building by adults, teens, and children 2 years old and older.
Continue to avoid food service of any kind or congregant meals inside the building.
Limit communion service to pick up communion as was done previously, rather than serving communion during the service.
In addition to the recommendations for continued personal protection precautions, CPC has technology in place to contribute to safe and healthy environment. In the early days of the pandemic, the Building & Grounds Committee of Session moved quickly to oversee the purchase and installation of ultraviolet (UV) lights to several of the HVAC systems at CPC. This UV light (often referred to as an air scrubber or sanitizer) kills germs and bacteria passing by the light in the return air path. This technology has been used for many years as a method to keep HVAC systems and air clean. The air scrubbers are installed in the systems that provide heat and cooling to the Sanctuary, Fellowship Hall, the Preschool, and the main Church Office. The Task Force will continue to monitor state recommendations and community conditions to support the Session in safeguarding the physical and spiritual health of CPC members, friends and visitors to our campus.
Please feel free to share suggestions or ideas with any member of the Task Force: Meredith Bullis, Julie Henry, Bob Johnson, Jason Troiano, or Ken Worsham.
