The Church Reopening Team drafted guidance for returning our church to full operation. The State of Connecticut is proceeding through a phased reopening guided by public health principles and infectious disease statistics. CFC will proceed in similar fashion, although at a slower, deliberate pace, and with additional phase steps. The Team elected a more careful approach based upon guidance from our two church conferences (ABC and UCC), the CDC, and the CT Department of Public Health.

The guidance emphasizes the importance of personal monitoring for the signs/symptoms of disease, good hygiene (hand washing), masking to minimize exposure when close, maximizing distance, and minimizing time for exposure. The guidance also includes principles and decision “checkpoints” with approximate dates for progressing through four (4) phases of reopening.  Each move into a new phase assumes continued improvements in local and state health statistics and state-wide reopening progress, increased disease prevalence will inhibit progress.

Phase I and II began already.  As a reminder, Phase II allows some additional church activities, but requires mandatory health practices, and outdoor activities will be more readily approved than indoor ones. The Church Office will be technically open, but scheduling office visits, social distancing, masking, and hygiene practices remain mandatory.

Phase III began in August.  This phase will open the Sanctuary for in-person attendance during the worship service to less than 40 individuals (who we strongly recommend are less than 65 years old and with no underlying health conditions).  Strict social distancing, masking, and hygiene will be mandatory. There will be no congregational singing in the Sanctuary and Communion will be BYOE (bring your own elements). A virtual service will be available and we anticipate folks viewing the service on CFC's Facebook Page using Facebook Live.  The recorded video will be available on the website later in the day that Sunday. The Church Office will be open, and follow continued social distancing, masking, and hygiene practices.

Phase IV will probably begin in the Fall. During this phase, the Sanctuary will be open to more typical attendance numbers; nevertheless, we expect everyone attending to be symptom-free, maintain social distancing, use masks, and maintain rigorous hygiene practices.  Virtual services will remain available. Decisions regarding corporate singing and Communion performance will be made by the Church Staff and the Reopening Team pending improvements in local and state health statistics and state-wide reopening progress. Sunday School will resume in a fashion consistent with standards set by local schools. The Church Office will be open and in person Church Meetings may resume if everyone continues social distancing, masking, and hygiene practices.

Please contact us if you have questions. Church Staff and this Team shall continue to monitor local/state reopening progress as well as disease statistics.

Peace and health to all and we will see you soon!

Mark Bosse, Kurt Frantzen, Nicole Hosford, Cheryl Letendre, and Tom St. Louis