Sisters and Brothers—
I’m excited to be writing to you under these circumstances. We have been authorized to resume adapted church meetings in the chapel starting next Sunday, May 31, 2020.
Before I get into the details of the worship services plan, please understand that it is not necessary for anyone to attend church meetings if there is discomfort for any reason. For the time being, we will continue to authorize at-home sacrament administration week to week for those uncomfortable attending. Remember, each of us are entitled to personal revelation for ourselves and our families. Please contact me if you have any questions.
If you have symptoms of illness, please stay home.
Below are bullet points outlining how we will be proceeding, for the time being. Again, please reach out to me or another member of the bishopric with any questions or concerns.
Attendance Plan
- To keep attendance numbers below the allowed 99 individuals, the ward is being divided temporarily into three groups alphabetically (by last name). Groups will rotate through weeks they are invited to participate in sacrament meeting at the chapel.
- Group A includes individuals and families whose last names begin with A through G. They will be invited to attend sacrament meeting at the chapel starting May 31 and every third week subsequent to that (June 21, July 12, etc…) until further indicated.
- Group B includes individuals and families whose last names begin with H through P. They will be invited to attend sacrament meeting at the chapel starting June 7 and every third week subsequent to that (June 28, July 19, etc…) until further indicated.
- Group C includes individuals and families whose last names begin with Q through Z. They will be invited to attend sacrament meeting at the chapel starting June 14 and every third week subsequent to that (July 5, July 26, etc…) until further indicated.
- We strongly encourage you to attend only weeks to which you are assigned. Any variations to this schedule need to be discussed and approved by the Bishop.
- Sacrament will be held at noon each Sunday.
Meeting Breakdown
- Sunday meetings at the church will begin with sacrament only.
- There will not be Sunday School, primary, young women, Aaronic Priesthood or Relief Society classes, until further notice.
- Sacrament meetings will be abbreviated to approximately 30-40 minutes.
- At the conclusion of sacrament meeting, members will be invited to leave the building without congregating in the foyer, enabling those assigned to begin sanitizing the building.
- Please limit social interactions to the area outside of the church building while maintaining healthy social distancing practices.
General Safety Precautions
- If you have symptoms of illness, please stay home.
- Those who choose to attend sacrament meeting at the chapel on their assigned day are encouraged to wear facemasks to protect other members of the ward.
- Priesthood holders administering the sacrament will be required to wear facemasks
- Those attending meetings at the church should park in the east parking lot and enter at the main east entrance (the side by the bishop’s office). Other exterior doors will be locked. Members should limit their use of the building, staying in the east side and using the restrooms, drinking fountain and mother’s room on the east side only.
- Doors will be propped open, alleviating the need to touch door handles.
- High-traffic touchpoints and hard surfaces will be sanitized before and after each sacrament meeting.
- Ushers will be assigned to assist families finding seats that maintain approved social distancing guidelines.
- Physical hymn books will not be used. Individuals and families are encouraged to use digital versions, where possible.
Sacrament Safety Precautions
- A member of the bishopric will oversee the sanitizing of sacrament trays before and after sacrament meeting.
- All priesthood holders preparing, blessing and passing the sacrament will wear masks and wash their hands before handling trays, bread and water.
- Those breaking the bread will also use hand sanitizer during the sacrament hymn.
- Those passing the sacrament will hold the trays from person to person, limiting the number of people touching the trays.
- Enough trays will be used to limit the pieces on each tray.
- Parents are encouraged to retrieve bread and water from trays for young children.
- Water cups will be discarded in a separate tray.
Please let me know if you have any questions or require clarification. Also, please remain faithful and flexible as we move forward.
I love you all and look forward to meeting with you all again soon.
Bishop Bennett