Over the last week I have had several inquiries about whether to meet in person or not. People are getting antsy as we approach the first anniversary of the lockdown.  We all have thought or wished  or said out loud that “we are  done with this pandemic”.  The virus is not done with us, however.

The Property and Insurance Team met last week and affirmed that even though we all want to be “back to normal” now is not the time to let our guard down. Statistically we are at or higher than the peak of last spring.  According to the CDC, over this last week our counties has averaged 6.5% increase in cases. In Morris, Sussex and Passaic Counties the increase is over 18%.

Given this Covid infection, death and positivity numbers should we be meeting in person? The answer is both yes and no.

Yes. We now know how to mitigate the exposure to the virus. Keep a distance of 6 feet. Wear a mask. Wash hands regularly. Do not Sing.  Provide good ventilation.  Limit the number of people in the room.  We did not know this a year ago.  In a technical way we know how to deal with the virus.

The church is not just technical. The church is a diverse, relational community of people. We gather because of our love for Jesus Christ. We are a community that declares that we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind and soul and love our neighbors as ourselves.

We love our neighbors. We love our community, and this makes the conversation about gathering so much harder, deeper, and spiritual.

The other part is no or maybe “not yet”.  We care about making sure that our people and neighbors are safe and healthy. Even with mitigation rules in place does not mean everyone is safe from contracting the virus. The vaccines are still rolling out. In New Jersey we are still under 10% who are fully vaccinated. The rate of reproduction of the infections is still over 1 and the positivity rate overall is 8.7%.  This means it still infectious. All counties in Highlands Presbytery are still RED and the positivity rate averages 7.8%.

As you have conversation about next steps please remember we are still in a very infectious phase of the pandemic. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but we haven’t arrived.  Also remember we need to keep the love of neighbor the top of our consideration list as we determine whether it is time to meet in person.

The Property and Insurance Team met this week and reaffirmed the Reentry Plans and guidelines. The congregation should not meet in person if:

• The Property and Insurance team recommends that if your county or region is orange or higher OR a CALI score of 3 or more OR has a positivity rate of more than 5% then worship services should go back to being online     You can find  your region or county’s risk level or positivity rate at  COVID 19 ACT NOW and/or  COVID 19 Activity Level Index.
• Continue your work to connect and reach out to those who are isolated and alone.
• Find ways to help those who cannot manage the online vaccine appointment apps to get appointments and to get to the appointment.
• Have a place on your webpage or in your weekly enews where people can find the closest testing center. Encourage people to be tested for the COVID virus. Also encourage all to work with contact tracers.
• Find ways to help those who cannot manage the online vaccine appointment apps to get appointments and to get to the appointment.
• Other than worship we recommend that all church gatherings, including session, committee and congregational meetings, be online even if the gathering is 10 or less.
• Continue to follow diligently your reentry plans when it is safe to do so. If you have not already done so, please send your reentry plans to the Trustees for review. Your reentry plan needs to  be unanimously approved – INCLUDING THE PASTOR – by the session.
• If you can or have the desire to hold outside worship services, please make sure people are masked and socially distanced and not crowded around the source of heat.
• Even though the CDC says it is safe for SMALL groups of fully vaccinated adults to gather without mask, please wait until the Governor’s and NJ Health Department provides guidelines for our state.
• All Presbytery gatherings including Presbytery meetings, committee or team meetings, Installation services will be online until further notice. Only exception will be Presbytery ordination services.

FOR ADDITIONAL COVID INFORMATION