Please read over the Reopening Safety Plan that has been approved by the Church Council effective immediately and for the reopening of the Lyons United Methodist Church this Sunday, July 5.

If you're feeling well and want to return to in person worship services, join us at 9am this Sunday, July 5.

COVID 19 Reopening Safety Plan

Lyons United Methodist Church

93 William Street Lyons, NY 14489                                                           Clergy: Pastor Brett Johnson

315-946-6035                                                                                             Secretary: Jennifer Lake

I. People

     A. Physical Distancing

              1. All employees will maintain a 6 ft social distance unless the safety or core function of the work activity requires a shorter distance. When social distancing is not feasible, acceptable masks will be worn by all parties.

2. Tightly confined spaces, such as elevators, will be occupied by only one individual at a time unless all occupants are wearing face coverings. If occupied by more than one person, it will keep occupancy under 50% of maximum capacity.

3. Signs are posted denoting 6 ft spacing in the church office and hallways leading to the sanctuary.

4. At this time we are limiting in-person gatherings to essential meetings. If in-person meetings need to  take place, they will be held in either the sanctuary or dining room, where social distancing is the most feasible and limited to 33% occupancy under Phase 4.

5. Visitors will be required to wear masks and asked to either wash their hands or use hand sanitizer. Visitors will also be required to sign a login sheet stating they are not experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

II. Places

     A. Protective Equipment

1. Acceptable face masks, such as but not limited to, disposable or cloth reusable masks, will be available for both employees and visitors and no cost. Visitors are expected to wear their masks until they depart from the building.

2. Disposable masks have been ordered and will be monitored for reordering purposes.

3. If an employee or visitor must dispose of a mask for whatever reason, there is a designated disposal site      outside the church office.

4. Any personnel or visitor who wears a washable mask is in charge of cleaning them appropriately following      CDC guidelines.

5. We recommend everyone to use hand sanitizer or wash their hands in the bathroom when entering the church and leaving. Hand sanitizer and masks are placed on the bookshelf in the entry hall.

6. Hand sanitizer will be placed at the two exit doors (door by the mailbox, and the door by the kitchen), outside the church office by the mask disposal site, the two doors leading into the sanctuary, and the room behind the front of the sanctuary that leads to the back stairs.

     B. Hygiene and Cleaning

1. There is a cleaning log hanging on the cleaning supply closet. Each volunteer will sign their name by what they cleaned and write the date.

2. Normal routine cleaning will take place weekly.

3. Highly touched items, on Sunday morning, i.e. banisters, door handles, collection plates, elevator buttons will be disinfected every Sunday morning before opening the church doors to visitors. If there is a funeral or other necessary gathering sanitizing will be done on demand. Highly touched items during office hours (ie: computer, desk, door handles) will be disinfected by employee’s before leaving for the day.

     C. Communication

1. Signs are posted at public entrances and throughout the church to remind employees and visitors to adhere to proper hygiene, social distancing, appropriate use of PPE, and cleaning and disinfecting protocols.

2. The safety plan will be posted on our website, Facebook page, and filed in the office.

3. The secretary will keep a log of all visitors to the office for tracing purposes, affirming that visitors are not symptomatic for COVID-19. (excluding deliveries that are performed with appropriate PPE or through contactless means.)

4. The Pastor will keep a log of all visitors, appointments, and in-home visits, affirming that visitors are not symptomatic for COVID-19.

5. Sunday Attendance personnel will keep track and log everyone attending service. In the event of new visitors or special occasions (funerals, weddings, baptisms) Contact cards will be placed in pews for attendees to fill out.

6. If an employee tests positive for COVID-19 the Pastor will contact the state and local health departments. The church will cooperate with contact tracing efforts, including notification of potential contacts, such as other employees or visitors who had close contact with the individual, while maintaining confidentiality required by the state and federal law and regulations.

III. Process

     A. Screening

1. Each employee will fill out a Google survey each morning before coming to work. The survey will include the following: their name, date, temperature, have they had COVID-19 symptoms in the past 14 days, have had a positive COVID-19 test in the past 14 days, and if they have come in close contact with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 case in the past 14 days. These surveys will be reviewed each day by a member of the SPPRC, printed each week, and put in a file.

     B. Contact Tracing and disinfection of contaminated areas.

1. If an employee or visitor tests positive for COVID-19, the church areas where the infected person occupied will be closed off for 24 hours, if closing off is not feasible then wait as long as possible.

2. All areas the infected person touched or visited will be cleaned and disinfected. The floors will be vacuumed and/or swept and mopped.

3. If more than 7 days since the infected person visited or used the facility, additional cleaning and disinfection are not needed.

4. The church will use a CDC approved disinfectant.

5. In case of a positive COVID-19 test, the church will call and/or inform all persons, in cooperation with the Health Department who may have come in contact with the infected person, following state and federal privacy laws.

IV. Other

     A. Communion

1. Communion will be given using sealed elements.

2. The person preparing for communion will wash their hands and wear gloves. They will place the sealed elements into two clean bowls. They will place the bowls on the communion table.

3. Ushers will wash their hands or use hand sanitizer and wear gloves when passing out the elements. Ushers will take the bowls after the blessing, and go from attendee to attendee wearing a mask and handing out the elements.

4. After the taking of communion, all refuse can be deposited in the trash receptacle, located in the Alpha lounge, on their way out of the church.

5. The trash receptacle will be tied and emptied after each communion.

     B. Funerals

1. Funerals will follow the same rules and standards as a regular church service.

2. The church’s high-risk areas will be disinfected prior to the service.

3. There will be no reception following the funeral until it is safe to do so.

Submitted: June 29, 2020

Approved: by the majority of Church Council 7/3/2020

We are sorry to announce that the Annual Strawberry Social, a fundraiser for the UMW (United Methodist Women) will NOT be held this year. 

This event is always well supported by the community of Lyons and we will miss seeing everyone! Lord willing, we'll be back next year! Please take care. Stay safe and healthy!