Phase Gamma: Reopening Restoration
Preamble
The Phase Gamma plan builds on the foundation that was established in Phase Alpha and Phase Beta. Phase Alpha was designed to be deliberately small and conservative so that we could test and pilot having a congregation in our sanctuary. We wanted to give Restoration people an opportunity to demonstrate their desire to worship in-person and we wanted to test our systems for doing it safely. Phase Alpha (July-Aug 2020) went very well.
Phase Beta (Sept 2020 to present) was an implementation phase that allowed scaling in scope and experience: We increased our capacity in the sanctuary to 23 quarantined pods (75 people) with subdued singing and added the sacraments of Eucharist and Baptism to our ‘Yard’ experiences. We continued to stream our service over YouTube Live each week.
The transition from Phase Beta to Phase Gamma is inspired by the ongoing and increasing distribution of COVID vaccines, the hybrid reopening of Arlington Public Schools, the decreasing infection rate in our area, and the updated guidance from our Governor.
The 3 primary changes in Phase Gamma will be multiple Sunday services, in-person gatherings for Apex on Sunday nights, and in-person, outside, Kids’ Small Groups for 16 kids on Sunday mornings.
Sunday Corporate Worship: Multiple Sunday Services
As long as the Governor keeps VA at Phase 3, we will generally keep the same guidelines for Sunday, in-person corporate worship as outlined in Phase Beta with these changes:
- Two indoor worship services at 9 and 11 each Sunday.
Our consistently filled SUG is indicating that demand is growing for in-person, in-sanctuary worship. We would like to provide 2 opportunities for that. Here would be a typical Sunday schedule:9:00 First service begins. This service will also be live-streamed on our YouTube channel.
10:05 First service transitions to outdoor Eucharist.
10:15 Outdoor Eucharist begins under the tent.
10:30 Outdoor Eucharist ends.11:00 Second service begins. This service will not be live-streamed.
12:05 Second service transitions to outdoor Eucharist.
12:15 Outdoor Eucharist under the tent.
12:30 Eucharist ends.
2. Cleaning Procedures for multiple indoor services
EO Mandatory Requirements: “Conduct routine cleaning and disinfection of frequently-contacted surfaces prior to and following any religious service.”
Restoration plan:
– We will keep Clorox wipes on the welcome table in the upper narthex. Before each service, ushers will wipe down doorknobs on entrances and bathrooms. We will NOT wipe down pews (Clorox will damage them.)
– We will also raise windows in sanctuary between services to increase air flow.
- Indoor Eucharist: not yet. We would like to offer indoor Eucharist and return to our pre-Covid liturgy. We are not ready to do that, yet. We anticipate being able to offer a 75 minute, indoor liturgy with Eucharist once the majority of people who are attending are vaccinated. That could be as soon as this summer.
- After-Service Prayer.
We will offer in-person prayer ministry after the 2 outdoor Eucharist services, at 10:30 and 12:30 and we will discontinue the Zoom option. There will be a yard sign indicating outdoor prayer location.
Key features of Phase Alpha and Beta Corporate Worship that are staying the same:
- Face-Coverings for everyone over the age of 2.
- Sanctuary capacity at 23 quarantined pods with a cap of 75 total people.
- Congregation may sing.
- Playground is open.
- Baptisms will continue to happen outside during Phase Gamma.
- We will not provide a shuttle from the parking lot at 15th and Quincy.
- All the bathrooms are available in the building and should be used by one family at a time.
- Every person who attends should administer a self-given medical screening:
Have you had a fever or other symptoms of COVID-19?
Have you been exposed to someone with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis?
Are you waiting on a COVID test?
Have you traveled internationally or out of state in the previous 10 days?
If you answered yes to any of these, please do not attend in-person.
Adult Small Groups: Continuing to be Outside or on Zoom
Restoration provides 2 Adult small group options. They typically meet for 60-75 minutes each week.
The format of the small group is chosen by the small group leader.
- Remote-only through an online platform like Zoom, Google Hangouts, or FaceTime
- In-person and outside with masks on that comply with VA Governor’s restrictions for outdoor gatherings (Zoom as a weather alternative)
Per our policy for in-person worship in our sanctuary, Restoration will notify small group attendees if someone in a small group they attend (outside, in-person) tests positive for COVID-19.
APEX: Safe, In-person, Inside and Outside events
In the interest of having all of this information in one place, we are including the protocols developed by our Apex team. It is also available as a stand alone document for distribution to parents and volunteers.
Preamble
As Restoration begins widening the options for opening the building for in-person worship, in Phase Gamma we will begin hosting APEX for students in 6th-12th grade on Sunday evenings.
Given the need for social distancing, our APEX worship services will include primarily outdoor elements of gathering, games, and testimonies and talks shared by leaders, transitioning to small group gatherings around the church property. We would like to have the flexibility to use the sanctuary in the event of inclement weather.
Below are the guidelines and best practices we will follow in order to ensure a safe environment for our students.
REGISTRATION
Students must register for in-person APEX on the APEX Sign Up Genius to be sure we are able to adequately socially distance during the time. Attendance will be limited to 25 quarantine pods per evening at APEX.
Before coming to APEX on Sunday
Complete your own health screening at home to include a temperature check (must be below 100.0 degrees) and examine your general health. If any of the following symptoms have been present in the prior 14 days, please do not come to church: cough, running nose, muscle aches, nausea, loss of taste or smell.
If you have been exposed to a person with COVID-19 in the 14 days prior to attending APEX, please do not come to church.
If you have traveled internationally or out of state in the previous 10 days, we ask you to thoughtfully consider not attending in person in our sanctuary.
APEX DETAILS // 6:30-8:00 pm
ARRIVALS AND GAMES // 6:30 pm
- Students will arrive and gather socially distanced in the parking lot, under the tent to socialize and play games together. Leaders will organize and lead the games, encouraging social distancing throughout.
OPTION 1: TEACHING OUTDOORS // 7:00 pm
- Students will transition to the testimonies and talks shared by leaders, sitting in outdoor chairs under the tent. Students will be socially distanced, but may sit with those with whom they are in a “pod,” either their family members or members of other families.
OPTION 2 : TEACHING INDOORS // 7:00 pm
- Students will transition indoors, ushered by their leaders. Leaders will usher students to one of the 25 quarantined unit seats in the sanctuary. Students will sit with their family members or members of other families, if they are in a “pod” with that family.
SMALL GROUPS // 7:30 pm
- Students will transition to small groups. The MC will release students one small group at a time, ushered by leaders to their locations. Small group locations will be:
- Upper Narthex (doors open)
- Lower Narthex (doors open)
- Outside under the Tent
- Outside Backyard
- Sanctuary or Fellowship Hall (windows open)
DISMISSAL // 8:00 pm
- Students are dismissed and picked up via the parking lot of the church.
If a student becomes ill during APEX or exhibits any COVID-19 symptoms, he/she will be immediately isolated and the parents will be contacted to come immediately to pick up their child.
Safety Protocols
APEX SMALL GROUP LEADERS (STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS) and STUDENTS
APEX Small Group Leaders (staff and volunteers) will complete a mid-day health check before coming to church in the evening.
APEX Small Group Leaders (staff and volunteers) and students will wear face coverings at all times, unless consuming a snack or drink while socially distanced.
APEX Small Group Leaders (staff and volunteers) and students will wash/sanitize hands on a regular basis throughout the evening.
The APEX Leader teaching may remove their mask while teaching, but will be distanced at least 10 feet from others.
We will maintain proper adult-child ratios consistent with our Keeping Kids Safe @ Restoration child safety policy and the DOMA guidelines for the protection of students.
SPACES AND SUPPLIES
APEX Small Group Leaders (staff and volunteers) will encourage social distancing throughout all elements of time together at APEX.
If gathering in an indoor space, windows and doors will be left open to promote good air circulation.
IF THERE IS A DIAGNOSED ILLNESS AFTER BEING TOGETHER ON A SUNDAY
As always, if your child is diagnosed with an illness (ex. pink eye, lice, COVID -19) the following week, please immediately notify Nathan Dickerson, Interim Director of APEX at nathan@restorationarlington.org
Kids’ Small Groups: Zoom and Outside under the Tent
In the interest of having all of this information in one place, we are including the protocols developed by our KSG team. It is also available as a stand alone document for distribution to parents and volunteers.
PHASE GAMMA: April 11 – June 13, 2021
Preamble
As Restoration begins widening the options for opening the building for in-person worship, we will begin hosting small groups for kids from preschool-5th grade during each service.
Given the need for social distancing, our classroom sizes, and Restoration’s child safety policy requiring two adults in a room with kids, we will use the tent and limit the number of children to 16 per service. This will allow us to maximize our available space and staffing abilities.
We will maintain kids’ small groups via Zoom on Sunday mornings at 9, in addition to our other mid-week offerings to provide different entry points for families to engage as they are comfortable with others in our church.
Below are the guidelines and best practices we will follow in order to ensure a safe environment for our children.
REGISTRATION
Weekly registration is required for attendance. Families will register to attend worship through the Phase Gamma In Church Sign Up Genius. Families must also register each child attending kids’ small groups on that same Sign Up Genius. Spots will be limited to 16 kids per service. If all of the spots for kids are taken by the time you register for in church worship, you must plan to keep your child(ren) with you in the service.
Before coming to worship on Sunday
Complete your own health screening at home to include a temperature check (must be below 100.0 degrees) and examine your general health. If any of the following symptoms have been present in the prior 14 days, please do not come to church: cough, running nose, muscle aches, nausea, loss of taste or smell.
If you have been exposed to a person with COVID-19 in the 14 days prior to attending worship, please do not come to church.
If you have traveled internationally or out of state in the previous 10 days, we ask you to thoughtfully consider not attending in person in our sanctuary.
If you need to cancel your registration, please update the Sign Up Genius and contact Louise Brooks (louise@restorationarlington.org) and Abigail Westbrook (abigail@restorationarlington.org).
KIDS’ SMALL GROUP DETAILS
Kids will start in worship with their families.
Kids will be dismissed to the upper narthex before the readings.
Kids will gather socially distanced in the upper narthex and walk with their leaders out the front doors and around the outside of the building to the tent.
Kids will meet socially distanced with their leaders under the tent. Kids, supervised by their leaders, may also use the playground or walk as a whole group to Cherry Valley Park — the green space near church — for observation, reflection, and journaling that aligns with the teaching.
Kids will have individual supplies for use under the tent. There will be one set of supplies for the 9 and a different set of supplies for the 11.
Kids will be met by their parents in the tent for Eucharist. They will not return to the sanctuary.
Kids will sanitize their hands upon entering and leaving the tent.
Kids will be required to wear masks both inside the building and outside the building. If children do not have a face covering, Restoration will provide an individually wrapped one for them.
If a child becomes ill during kids’ small groups or exhibits any COVID-19 symptoms, he/she will be immediately isolated and the parents will be texted to come immediately to pick up their child.
Safety Protocols
KIDS’ SMALL GROUP LEADERS (STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS)
Kids’ Small Group Leaders (staff and volunteers) will complete a morning health check before coming to church.
Kids’ Small Group Leaders (staff and volunteers) will wear face coverings at all times.
Kids’ Small Group Leaders (staff and volunteers) will wash/sanitize hands on a regular basis throughout the morning.
We will maintain proper adult-child ratios consistent with our Keeping Kids Safe @ Restoration child safety policy and the DOMA guidelines for the protection of children.
SPACES AND SUPPLIES
Kids’ Small Group Leaders (staff and volunteers) will encourage social distancing as they are able by establishing a place for each child using “sit spots” as visual reminders.
All surfaces, chairs, tables, etc. will be wiped down with sanitizing spray or wipes prior to children entering the tent.
Individual supplies will be given to each child.
If your child is inconsolable, we will text you right away in order to avoid prolonged close contact with a child. We will ask that you come immediately to collect your child.
IF THERE IS A DIAGNOSED ILLNESS AFTER BEING TOGETHER ON A SUNDAY
As always, if your child is diagnosed with an illness (ex. pink eye, lice, COVID -19) the following week, please immediately notify Louise Brooks, Director of Kids’ Small Groups, louise@restorationarlington.org
