Important Message from St. Michael's on the Green

WORSHIP SERVICE CANCELLATIONS AND ACTIVITIES SUSPENSIONS FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS

Naugatuck, CT -

Dear faithful of St. Michael’s,

The Bishops and Standing Committee of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut (ECCT) is strongly encouraging parishes to suspend public, in-person worship for two weeks in order that we should do all in our power to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Public health officials, epidemiologists, and government officials all agree that the best way to mitigate the spread of the disease is to reduce human contact with a discipline and practice of “social distancing.”

Accordingly, after consultation with the Wardens last evening and in consideration for those of us who may be in demographic and health categories at particular risk, I am suspending all gatherings at St. Michael’s including in-person, public worship for two weeks. This includes suspending Sunday Worship Services, Choir Practices, Adult Lenten Education, Suppers or all other ministry led events. The situation will be closely monitored as we move through these next two weeks. We will also try to conform with what our community at large is doing as well.

The Church Office will be open during its usual hours, however, we discourage visitations to live in appropriate “social distancing” practices and we encourage you to contact us by telephone, email, text, messaging when possible. If you wish to hold teleconferences or distance meetings with anyone at the church, please contact me to set up a meeting through a tool called “ZOOM.”

I will provide a Live Stream of each Sunday Service at 10:00 am. The links for the Live Stream over Facebook and the Web will be provided separately to this message. Worship materials in the form of a PDF will be posted as well. Please bear with us as this will be our first try at using new technology in a Changing World.

I also encourage you all to check on all St. Michael’s and at-risk community members; to pass on this message of mitigation to those who might not subscribe to text, email, internet; and to hold all those affected by this virus in their prayers and act accordingly in the concept of “social distancing."

Maintaining financial support to the church community is also an important consideration in these changing times. Fostering a commitment to strong parish life is important to living God’s Mission in our community. Please stay current in your giving.
Attached as an addendum at the actions that groups using the St. Michaels campus are taking to mitigate the spread of COVID–19. Please be patient with these group’s mobilization, as the suspension of activities may time some additional time to fully take effect.

Faithfully yours,
Jules

ADDENDUM

MITIGATION EFFORTS BY GROUPS USING THE ST. MICHAEL’S CHURCH CAMPUS (AS OF MARCH 14, 2020)

SAFE CHURCH TRAINING
Safe Church training on Sunday, March 15, 2020 is canceled. A future date will be planned.

SCOUTING GROUPS:
Per there standing protocol, the Scouts do not meet when schools are closed.

NEON:
While we appreciate the people who share our meals and the many volunteers that support the work, we do each month, we want to consider their health first. Therefore NEON has suspended the sit-down Dinner on Saturday, March 21, 2020. However for the moment, NEON will be offering a take-out dinner instead to individuals who are dependent upon our monthly feeding program. NEON is also considering other remedial meal offerings for the school closings period.

TEEN THEATRE
The Teen Theatre will postpone its current show and cancel rehearsals for the next two weeks.
Anticipated dates following the hiatus include Tech Week beginning Sunday, May 3rd through Thursday, May 7th. Refresher rehearsal on Thursday, May 14th. Show Dates on Saturday, May 9, Sunday, May 10, Friday, May 15, Saturday, May 16, and Sunday, May 17
ADULT FORMATION AND LENTEN STUDY “LEVI’S CHALICE”
The next two Monday study sessions on March 16, and March 23 are canceled. A make-up session is scheduled for Monday. March 30, 2020, which will conclude the Book Study.

CHOIR
Choir rehearsals for the next two weeks through March 27 will be suspended.

CHURCH SCHOOL
Church School will be suspended for two weeks. For the moment, events planned for March 29, 2020, will go on as planned.

EMMAUS
Emmaus events will be suspended for two weeks.

GARDEN CLUB
Garden Club will not meet on Thursday, March 19, 2020.

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS
Seventh-Day Adventists will suspend their services and meetings following their Saturday, March 14, 2020 meeting in order to properly reach all their congregants.

AA
AA will suspend their meetings for two weeks. Although we are seeking to accommodate the importance of their collegiality in other ways.