The Smart Team has developed additional guidelines and protocols to aid our continuing safe return to in-person ministry. Previously, a set of guidelines were developed for gatherings taking place outdoors. What follows governs the indoor use of our church facilities, recognizing that the safety of our community, including staff, tenants, visitors and guests, remains our guiding priority. These guidelines will take effect on Oct. 1 and remain in place until additional direction is developed by the Smart Team.
Of particular note and interest: in order to remain safely within these protocols, in-person worship on Sunday mornings will continue to be provided by video. We will expect this to remain our plan for the foreseeable future, now including the season of Advent, our celebration of Christmas and likely into the new year. Worship planners and ministry leaders are already developing creative ways for our community to remain connected by providing meaningful opportunities for this church to prepare for and experience the full depth of God’s promise as experienced in the nativity story. We welcome your involvement in this effort – connect with any pastor with your ideas.
Guideline and Protocols for Safe Use of Indoor Facilities
- Strong consideration should continue to be given to using virtual gathering platforms whenever possible.
- Participants should be given an option to connect virtually whenever possible.
- Any participants exhibiting a recent history of Covid-like symptoms should not participate in person. Symptoms include:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Use of Prince of Peace facilities for scheduled events and meetings:
- All gatherings, meetings, rehearsals must be scheduled in advance with the office (call 651-484-4144 or email).
- To protect the staff, students and and families served by the Caterpillar Learning Center (CLC), while they are in operation (M-F, 6am-6pm), building entry should be through the main building entryway (not the west “office” door, as has been our practice). Call the office or event organizer if the door is locked.
- Participants should take care not to enter into the spaces primarily occupied by CLC, especially during their hours of operation.
- All office visitation is by appointment only (call 651-481-4144). We continue to discourage “dropping by,” even if just delivering your offering – the US mail still works great for that.
- Main entry should be monitored whenever unlocked.
- A check-in station will be directly inside entry.
- All participants must sign-in with current contact information.
- Participants required to declare symptom-free status.
- Participants required to have temperature taken and recorded.
- Event leader will be responsible to ensure all participants adhere to these guidelines.
- All participants required to wear a mask and maintain a social distance of at least 6’ with seating arranged accordingly. Households may be seated together.
- Capacity:
- Sanctuary & Gymnasium – 20 persons maximum.
- Reception Room – 8 persons maximum.
- Library and Choir Room – 6 persons maximum.
- Classrooms & Kitchen – 4 persons maximum.
- Offices – 2 persons maximum.
- Restrooms & Elevator – 1 adult maximum.
- Any enclosed room not listed – 1 person maximum.
- Rooms will remain empty for thirty minutes between occupants to allow for adequate air exchange.
- Care should be given to keep distances during building entry and exit.
- No water fountain usage.
- No shared food or beverages.
- Music ministry to follow all of the building use guidelines listed above plus these additional protocols:
- Group rehearsal/recording time limits: 30 minutes indoors, 60 minutes outdoors
- Risk Mitigation Strategies for Leaders and Participants
- Ventilation – using largest space possible
- 7.5-12’ spacing in all directions
- Masking or plexiglass barriers
- Hygiene – no hand holding, sharing music, etc.
- Spray and wipe down music stands, chairs, light switches, and door handles when entering and vacating a room.
- Piano and Organ keyboards should be wiped and sanitized prior to and after each use.
- Instrumentalists should use bell covers when possible.
- Brass players must have a 100% cotton condensation towel in a separate bag.
These guidelines and protocols may be adjusted as we continue to monitor the guidance of public health officials. We encourage you to check back here from time to time.