COVID Update from Hal

Dear Plymouth Family,
 
After more than a year of often-dismal news, I’m writing to you with a spirit of excitement…we have in-person outdoor worship and activities planned in June, and we are launching a pilot in-person service, starting Sunday, May 23 at 6:00 p.m.! It feels as though the logjam of pandemic isolation may finally be breaking up, at least a bit.

Our Pandemic Team met again last evening, and I’m sharing some of what the team decided, based on the most recent recommendations from the CDC and Larimer County Health. If you haven’t yet been vaccinated and you wish to be, there are many opportunities on the Larimer County Health website. If you are 16 or over, I heartily recommend getting vaccinated.

The team is acutely aware that there are different safety criteria for those who are vaccinated and those who are not (which includes anyone under 16), and we are doing our best to provide a range of opportunities for everyone at Plymouth. We appreciate your patience and cooperation, knowing that we aren’t able to do a perfect job of accommodating everyone’s desires. And as the Covid situation in Larimer County changes, we will adapt our plans accordingly.
 
For Those Vaccinated or Not…

• At 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 6, we will have outdoor worship at Rolland Moore Park in our usual pavilion location. I encourage you to bring either a camp chair or blanket to sit outside the shelter if you are able. We will be socially distanced, masked, and hand-gelled! We won’t be serving food this year, but you are welcome to bring a picnic lunch to share with your family on your own after worship. (There will be no 6:00 p.m. service on June 6.)
• Intergenerational outdoor activities at Plymouth are in the works with Congregational Life and Christian Formation…stay tuned! (Our socially distanced, masked youth groups had a great time, having rented out a full Cinemark movie theater last week, as did folks building flower boxes for Habitat!)
• Meet on the lawn! If your Plymouth fellowship group, study group, or small group would like to meet in person in a gathering of 10 or fewer, you can reserve the sanctuary lawn, which is equipped with lawn chairs. To reserve, call Barb at 970-482-9212 or email barbara@plymouthucc.org
• Take a hike! …or at least a walk. Our labyrinth is open for your use, and as part of our Visiting Scholar event on May 16, we will offer contemplative walks on your own and at Plymouth’s labyrinth.
• Receive in-person pastoral care. If you’d like an appointment with either pastor, please let us know by phone or by email. We are available for outdoor visits with folks who are not fully vaccinated.
• Attend our Visiting Scholar event with Wes Granberg-Michaelson on May 16. He’ll preach at 10:00 on “Can Pandemic Be Pilgrimage,” lead at workshop from 1:00 – 3:00 on “Walking Forward: The Practice of Pilgrimage,” and will worship with us via Zoom at 6:00 and discuss “Re-entry: Our Congregation’s Pilgrim’s Progress.” Registration and info are at plymothucc.org/visitingscholar
• Join us on Sundays at 10:00 for recorded worship!

For Fully Vaccinated Folks… (fully vaccinated = vaccinated + full waiting period)

• In-person worship resumes at 6:00 p.m. on May 23! This is a pilot to see how face-to-face worship goes. We will be using masks, social distancing, and lots of hand gel! You must make a reservation to attend the service at plymouthucc.org/worship (ends at 4:00 on Sunday) or you can call the church office until 3:00 on Friday at 970-482-9212. The Deacons are working on mechanics (like entering near the office and departing via the North Wing doors) and safe ways to share communion. In accordance with the most recent CDC guidelines, we will be able to sing (gently) with our masks on! We’ll ask you to depart right after the service and socialize outside the building. We anticipate widening the sphere of attendance as the prevalence of the virus declines locally. (Clergy, staff, singers, and deacons are fully vaccinated.)
• Meet in the Fellowship Hall with your fellowship or small group. If your Plymouth small group or fellowship group of 10 or fewer would like to meet inside, the Fellowship Hall will be available to you. There are guidelines posted in the Fellowship Hall, and you must make a reservation with Barb at 970-482-9212 or barbara@plymouthucc.org
• Help with Faith Family Hospitality at Plymouth. The Pandemic Team approved hosting families experiencing homelessness June 6 – 20. Adult guests will be vaccinated, and their use of public spaces and interactions with members will be somewhat curtailed, as part of new safety protocols in place. (June 20 worship at 6:00 will be outside…stay tuned for details!) If you’d like to help, please be in touch with Scott Houser at scotthous@gmail.com
• Chancel choir rehearsals will resume soon, with a smaller number of singers involved.
  

As conditions change (hopefully improve), the Pandemic Team will continue to work toward taking further steps in the ways we can be together.
 
Together, we have walked a very long road through this pandemic. I have so appreciated your faithfulness in attending our broadcast services, staying as safe as possible, understanding our limitations, providing financial support, and continuing to be the church. You are a blessing!
 
I leave you with a prayer

God, help us be a part of the solution.
Let us do our part for the common good.
Help us to have patience, to care for one another.
Guide us through moments of ennui and languishing and
Lead us toward the abundance of life Jesus promised.
Help us be safe, hopeful, and whole.
Amen.

Deep peace,

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Links in red below are not live. Use these links:
Larimer County Health Website, Larimer County COVID-19 Dashboard