CLICK HERE TO VIEW A SUMMARY OF ALL FOUR PHASES

Phase 2 - Worshiping Together

Starting July 5

​SUMMARY OF PHASE 2

• Service time will change from 10am to 9am. Doors will open at 8:45am.
• We will switch from a pre-recorded service to a livestreamed service; and will continue to be livestreamed moving forward.
• We will host one service in two locations - live in the sanctuary and livestreamed to the gym. The Sanctuary will have a max capacity and we’d like to give priority seating to those who are older or have mobility issues. The gym will have direct access through the side entrance around back. 
• Masks are required for those who are 6 years old or older in all rooms when attending services.
• Primary Safety Measures: Limited and socially-distanced seating, doors propped open,  masks required, hand sanitizer available at all entrances, no handouts, new methods for offering and communion.
• During the week, our Church Office and the Library are available by appointment only. Please call ahead! Building will remain locked and the rest of the facility is closed.

BEFORE YOU COME TO WORSHIP

• As always, those who are showing symptoms or who have weak immune systems are encouraged to stay home and participate through the livestream. We will continue to provide a livestream of all services moving forward and are investing in more resources to create a better online experience. 
• ​The service will switch from being pre-recorded on Fridays to livestreamed on Sundays, and will continue to be structured as it currently is (a blended service).
• Service time will change from 10am to 9am. Pre-quarantine, it was decided that 9am would be the best time for those Sundays when we do one service only and may be a better fit as we enter into summer.
• For at least the first Sunday (July 5), we are asking people to RSVP by noon on Friday, July 3 so that we know how best to prepare for our first Sunday back! You can fill out the RSVP online by CLICKING HERE!​
• Masks are required for those who are 6 years old or older in all rooms when attending our services. As per CDC Guidelines, cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated, or unable to remove the mask without assistance. We know this can be difficult for families of young kids, and our church council has decided to raise the age requirement to those who are 6 years old or older. If kids older than 6 will continue to struggle wearing a mask, we ask families worship down in the Gym where it is easier to maintain social distancing practices. 
• If the Governor of Minnesota increases restrictions, the church council will re-discern our plans for in-person services.

​WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT FIRST COVENANT

• Doors to the building will remain locked until 8:45am. We ask that you wait in your cars until this time rather than lining up at the door. 
• All exterior doors are to be opened/closed only by the hosts and will be propped open when they are primarily in use. We will prop open other doors needed to enter the Sanctuary and lobby area by the Gym (to access the bathrooms). 
• As people enter, everyone will be asked to sign in their family by checking in with the hosts who will take down your name and make sure that we do not reach our max capacity. 
• We encourage everyone to use hand sanitizer that will be provided as you enter the facility.  
• Communion will be provided in professionally-packaged containers. Participants will receive the elements as they enter at the beginning of the service. Trash containers will be available to throw away your packaging as you exit the facility.
• For at least our first Sunday (July 5), name tags will also be provided as you enter as well. Please state your first name and a council member will write it on the tag for you.
• Sanctuary Seating - Due to the size and layout of our Sanctuary, will be limiting the amount of people in this space to 60 guests (which is significantly lower than the current MN guidelines). Those who are sitting in the Sanctuary will utilize the entrance closest to the Sanctuary.  Because our pews are exactly 3 feet apart, every other pew will be blocked off. Since we must limit the amount of people who can worship in the sanctuary, we will be giving priority seating to those who are older or have mobility issues as these friends would have a harder time making their way down to the Family Life Center (Gym). If we reach max capacity and need to ask you to worship in the Gym, we hope you will be gracious and understanding. We all have to work together to make this a positive experience for everyone and your cooperation will be greatly appreciated! In addition, once the Sanctuary is full, we will send everyone else down to the Gym. 
• Gym Seating - Based on the MN Stay Safe Guidelines, we can have a maximum of 250 people in the gym for worship (325 is our 50% capacity). Those who will be in the Gym are asked to use the side entrance that opens directly into the Gym. Clumps of chairs will be spread out throughout the Gym to maintain social distancing for families to use. We have a team working on how to make this space feel more inviting and worshipful!
• ​Besides the lobby areas (outside the Sanctuary and Gym) and bathrooms, the rest of the facility will remain closed on Sunday morning. We will post signs indicating access to these rooms are off-limits. Please follow the signs indicating restricted areas and do your best to limit touch points as able. 

DURING THE SERVICE

• We will communicate regularly to everyone attending that they “assume everyone needs 6 feet of social distance until they invite you to come in closer, and do not be offended if people wish to keep their distance. This is how we can best serve one another well during this time.”
• There will be no coffee/snacks provided. Attendees should BYOC (bring your own coffee).
• Drinking fountains are disabled to eliminate another touchpoint.
• All bathrooms will have disinfecting wipes made available for people to clean any desired surfaces beforehand. Please remember - do not flush these wipes down the toilet!
• Nursery - There will be no nursery or kids programming available to attendees at this time.  All kids/infants are to remain with their families throughout the service. Parents are responsible for ensuring their children follow social distancing rules. Please have these conversations with your children prior to coming. However, the nursery will be available for staff/volunteer team’s kids only (birth-3rd grade). Families that will utilize this nursery provision must pre-register ahead of time by contacting Anna Bechtold or Melissa Zenzen. Nursery teams will follow the guidelines set through our church’s approved cleaning procedures to keep this environment safe.
• The use of busy bags will also be discontinued at this time. We encourage families to bring their own busy bag for kids to utilize for the service.
• Volunteer Teams - Teams will be simplified to help keep the size needed per Sunday smaller and more contained. Volunteer teams include: Sound booth team (2-3 people per service), Hosts (3-4 people per service), and Nursery (as needed). 

AFTER THE SERVICE ENDS

• After service ends, we ask that everyone leave the facility and continue any socially-distanced conversations outside in the parking lot.  Sanctuary seating will be dismissed from the back pews first and use the side isles to keep social distancing. 
• Offering will take place as a retiring offering in a basket located in both gathering spaces near the exit of the Sanctuary/Gym. You can also give online by going to our website at www.redwingfirstcov.org/give.
• Hosts will be available to assist you at the welcome desk (in both locations) to answer any questions you may have or assist you in filling out a connection card.
• After people leave, we will then quarantine these sections of the facility for the remainder of the week. We do not need to do any special cleaning in these rooms (as long as they will not be used again till the next service). CDC reports that if any facility is quarantined for 7 days, no additional cleaning and disinfection is necessary.