OPENING Up Madison Again
Phase 3
Beginning February 2021
***** UPDATE *****
Beginning March 21st the “please do not sit in this pew” signs will no longer be used. We continue to encourage the practice of social distancing in our sanctuary and we’re making this change to accommodate larger co-exposed groups in our seats
Time-frame
Phase 3 procedures will be in place beginning on February 7th and will likely continue for some time. The Church elders continue meeting regularly to discuss the safety of our public gatherings and the opportunities for in-person worship that we can safely host as a Church
Notes
Madison will still be hosting Sunday-morning worship live online as we have been for the last several weeks. A higher-quality service video is updated to our Church Youtube channel later in the week (usually Monday or Tuesday)
If we run out of room in the sanctuary, we’ll invite you to space out similarly in the basement (where the service will be playing on the TV.
There is 0.0 pressure for you to attend services in-person, during this phase, or any phase of reopening during this pandemic. We understand if you do not feel comfortable going to Church in-person during this time and we’re continuing to focus on our online Worship service so that you can still be a part of the Madison family through this time.
Phase 3 Safety Precautions
Anyone feeling even slightly ill should not attend in-person services at Madison or at Church events like youth group
No More than 100 people in the building (1/2 of our sanctuary seating capacity)
If our seating capacity is exceeded by # or distancing requirements, we will ask the excess attendees to view the service live in the basement or lobby while practicing social distancing.
You must sit together in family (or co-exposed) groups using every-other pew.
a co-exposed group are people with whom you have had frequent recent exposure. For instance, after separating for some time, the Nielsen and Erickson families began letting their children play together and began interacting personally so Joel, Markie, Jack, Henry, Brady, Brianna, Clara, Micaiah, Mark, & Patty are co-exposed and could all sit in one very full pew
Signs will indicate which pews are to not be used for seating.
All pew cushions will be removed so that this surface will be easier to sanitize
Communion will be placed in the hymnal racks days before the service
There will be an offering plate near the back of the sanctuary which will not be passed.
If you are attending the service online you may mail your offering to the church (3501 140th St. Brooklyn, IA 52211)
Make every effort to remain 6+ feet away from those outside of your family or co-exposed group
Please conduct all pre and post-service socializing outside of the building and at a generous (6+ feet) distance from other families.
The use of masks is recommended in our building
masks will be made available in each foyer for you to use
Questions you may have
How many phases are there to Madison’s re-opening plan?
Answer: There are currently 4 Phases in Madison’s reopening plan, the details of each are laid out but pending finalization just before we’re ready to enter each phase. We are willing to share these details with you if you request them, simply send an email stating as much to church@madisonchurchofchrist.net.
What public health guidance are you considering when planning your in-person worship services
Answer. these two pieces of guidance, the first from the Iowa Department of Public Health, the second, from the CDC
Are you concerned about the safety of the people meeting at Madison Church for worship?
Answer: YES; We recognize the severity of this pandemic and the ease with which this virus spreads, and we remain committed to being a good-faith partner in our community’s effort to stop the spread and flatten the curve. For this reason we are using a phased reopening plan and taking extreme safety measures to make every reasonable effort to ensure that the virus does not spread at our gatherings.
If you have any questions or comments about Phase 1 or in-person worship at Madison Church of Christ, please complete the form below and we will respond as soon as possible.