The following policies and procedures are current as of October 7, 2021, but may change anytime based on information available:
Building Policies
- Masks are required for everyone inside Zion’s building at all times.
- Food and drink may only be served outside.
- All adults who work with children will be vaccinated.
Exceptions may be made to these policies only with the prior approval of the Re-Gathering Team:
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- Masks may be made optional by Zion’s Re-Gathering Team for an event or gathering in the building if all participants show proof of vaccination prior to the event or gathering.
- Currently, since children under 12 years of age cannot receive the vaccine, the Re-Gathering Team may make an exception to the line above for unvaccinated children, if the county health department guidelines of at least 95% of participants are vaccinated. This exception is contingent on other factors, such as the number of people, current number of cases throughout the county, etc.
- Such an exception will only be granted if there are no other groups using the building during the same time as the event or gathering.
- Such an exception will only be granted if proper justification is given that the event or gathering is necessary for the operation of the community, and can only be done without masks.
In-Person Worship Policies
All are welcome to worship at Zion.
- Masks are required in worship for all people, including pastors, readers, band and choir, and other worship leaders.
- The sanctuary is well ventilated with fresh air introduced from the outside, so even though the building is heated, during the winter months we invite worship participants to be prepared by wearing layers to keep warm.
- We do our best to provide space for worship participants to feel distanced from others, and ask that each worshiper respect the needs of others by keeping masks on inside, greeting others with eye contact, a head nod, a wave, or other like sign to offer a sign of Christ’s peace.
- Holy Communion will be offered with the options to either receive the bread and wine in your place with individual kits to avoid moving around the sanctuary, or served in person by vaccinated and masked worship leaders, keeping distance from other worshipers.
- Worship will continue to be offered by Zoom indefinitely. See the front page of Zion’s website for the link to worship.
Background
Since March 2020, a “Re-Gathering Team” has met regularly to keep track of the cases of COVID-19, including hospitalizations and deaths, and our congregation’s response. We know it is impossible to balance different opinions around the pandemic, vaccines, and the use of masks, so as the name of the team implies, it our goal to provide opportunities for gathering in community in ways that keep people safe, healthy, and confident that they can gather with others safely without undue risk while caring for the most vulnerable among us, especially those with compromised immune systems and children who are unable to receive the vaccine. Because information is abundant and can often be conflicting, the team will use information primarily from the CDC, Larimer County Health Department, and Thompson School District, as well as guidance from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) churchwide and synod bishops.
