Summer Worship

During the month of July, worship will continue on Zoom. With hearts full of cautious optimism, we are looking forward to worshiping in the sanctuary starting on August 8^th. We invite people who feel more comfortable to join in the service online as it will be live-streamed. For those who attend in-person, we will adhere to mask-wearing, 6-foot distances and not more than 150 people. Thanks to Jane Ring Frank’s focused attention on the guidance around indoor congregational signing, we will be singing together (with masks on)!

Please share this news with your friends and family.

The Building

The building is open from 7 AM – 3 PM Monday through Friday. Small group meetings can take place in Ripley Chapel, the Palmer Room, and the Health Ministry office. Please contact Sarah Marino in advance to reserve a room or to inquire about facility use.

In this transitional time, we are asking you to wear a mask and keep an appropriate distance from others in our common areas out of respect to those who may be vulnerable among us.

Fall

We pray that the health of our community continues to improve and that we can return to the traditions and customs that we cherish. We will make decisions in August for the Fall about gathering limits for the sanctuary, Ripley Chapel, and Chidley Hall, as well as other considerations. We expect to be worshiping in a hybrid way (in the sanctuary and live-streamed) with gradually loosening restrictions, but we are taking a wait-and-see approach.

Yours in Faith,

The Regathering Team: Ed Banzy, Will Burhans, Regina Campbell, Kate Carpini, Jane Ring Frank, Sarah Gallop, Jake Greenberg, Maggie Keeler, Sarah Marino, Doug McCall Taylor, Bill McCarter, Kathy Mortensen, Susan Rozmanith, Jennie Ryan, Andy Spiegel, and Kathleen Zagata

Dear FCCW Congregation,

As we come to the end of our regular church year, we know the thoughts of many are turning to the question of what the fall 2020 church season will look like for First Congregational Church of Winchester. We do not have the answers to that question yet, but we do want to assure you that our Regathering Team is in frequent discussions and planning.

As we have communicated before, we will continue to worship virtually through the summer. As we work through the uncertainty around the trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic, we will be back in touch with an update by August 21.

Our Regathering Team is guided by the following principles:

• The well-being and safety of our congregation will always be our highest priority. While the CDC and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health have established protocols and guidance for houses of worship, we are taking a very cautious approach to reopening. We recognize that a majority of our congregational members, leaders, and staff members are in higher-risk categories. We will make our decisions based on how it will affect the most vulnerable among us. We are also aware of—and trying to take into account—mental, emotional and spiritual needs and vulnerabilities, as well as physical considerations.
• Religious gatherings are considered highly contagious events. The acts of singing, the familiarity of people across households, the multigenerational community of children, youth, adults and seniors—the things that make our congregation special—create more risk for spreading the virus.

To date, the Regathering Team’s virtual discussions have focused on understanding the guidance from the CDC, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Council of Conference Ministers United Church of Christ and the National Officers of the United Church of Christ. We want to understand how their guidance around in-person meetings and cleaning protocols relate specifically to us and our building, including staff, congregants and tenants.

• Our building remains closed, with controlled access by a small number of people.
• Anyone needing to go into the sanctuary to see the space is required to wear a mask, use hand sanitizer or wear gloves, and disinfect surfaces afterwards.
• For our steeple renovation project, the contractor and our FCCW staff are following strict protocols for limiting contact and maintaining a clean environment.
• We are educating ourselves on cleaning approaches and protocols so we can be prepared for any regathering scenarios.

No matter what we decide in the coming weeks, even if it means worshiping virtually for a while longer, the gospel will be preached and the realm of God will grow through our efforts. Our ministries are essential services.

These are most certainly unfamiliar and uncertain days, but we can be reassured that God is ever-present. Pray often. Listen for the comfort and guidance God’s Spirit has to provide. Steep yourself in the love of God at all times.

Feel free to reach out to any members of the Regathering Team if you have questions or ideas.

Yours in Christ,

The FCCW Regathering Team
Ed Banzy, Will Burhans, Regina Campbell, Kate Carpini, Jane Ring Frank, Sarah Gallop, Maggie Keeler, Jessica McArdle, Bill McCarter, Kathy Mortensen, Elizabeth Rozmanith, Susan Rozmanith, Jennie Ryan, Doug Taylor, and Kathleen Zagata