COVID-19 Prevention & Mitigation
SMART (St. Michael's Assessment and Reopening Team) continues to Meet to review current protocols.
Updated November 12, 2021
As we move through November and December, busy times in our life together, the team addressing COVID-19 continues to be hard at work.
First off, we continue to track the significant rise in COVID-19 in our community and across the state. We are aware of the anxiety that takes shape for many as we talk about exposure, quarantine, and even pausing activities. Our on-going goal is to continue to gather and be community with one another during this challenging time... and to continue to strive to keep people healthy and safe. We do this knowing that there is, again, the real possibility of pausing events if the current trajectory doesn’t change in coming weeks. What we can say, though, is that we feel very lucky that people at St. Michael’s take this pandemic seriously and strive to care for their own health and the health of their neighbors. Thank you!
With regard to updates, our work continues to be creating “layers of protection.” Following the work of many epidemiologists we look at 1) vaccination rates as shared with staff and leaders in our congregation 2) indoor ventilation 3) physical distancing 4) air filtration 5) masks and 6) the particular activities/events we are engaging in. All of these guide what we feel is possible for us at this time. Items of note:
• Masks: we continue to require masks in the church building and sanctuary. These continue to provide one means of protection. The Minnesota Department of Health looks for people to wear masks properly (above the nose, below the chin) and also to not use vented masks.
• Physical Distancing: in most schools and public buildings there has been a move to 3 feet (or greater) physical distancing. We are making that adjustment in the sanctuary (note the removal of the blue tape). We do ask that when seated in the sanctuary you do not have anyone seated directly in front of or behind you—to allow for space (especially due to speaking and singing).
• Food and Beverages: the church allows for very limited food and beverage at any events. Children and youth activities allow for food in small groups following school protocols—6’ physically distanced, facing the same direction, masks placed back on as soon as finished. Some small groups of adults (15 or less) allow for food if those in the group are vaccinated, physically distanced, in a room with air filtration, and placing masks back on after eating. We are not serving coffee, treats, or meals indoors for large groups due to indicators of more significant spread of COVID-19 at events where masks are removed and physical distanced is lessened.
• Youth Lock-ins/over-night events: for the next few months lock-ins and overnight events will be
changed to not having over-night stays to minimize any opportunities of exposure. This will be
revisited later in the winter.
• Choral groups: as we move into Advent and the Christmas season we anticipate a larger number of people in the sanctuary. The stage will be set up at the front of the sanctuary to allow for the full choir to sing and, at times, the entire choir to be seated at the front. As this group is vaccinated and the majority have also received their booster, as well as masked, we are looking at ways to adjust seating and also continue to provide music that is rich and meaningful for all who gather for worship.
• Staff: we continue to encourage all staff who are able to receive their vaccination booster. We have been thrilled to have a staff that is fully vaccinated, but are aware of break-through cases and want to continue to protect those who serve so faithfully. Ideally this also makes sure that our pastoral staff are available to provide hospital, nursing home, and assisting living visits as called upon.
We will continue to meet and assess next steps in the coming weeks. And, again, a deep word of gratitude to you all!
Sincerely,
The St. Michael’s Assessment & Reopening Team
Sandra Eliason
Rev. Brad Froslee
Deb Legan
Sarah Osterman
Dennis Skovsted
Hal Tiffany
Jone Tiffany
Karen Wilkerson
First off, we continue to track the significant rise in COVID-19 in our community and across the state. We are aware of the anxiety that takes shape for many as we talk about exposure, quarantine, and even pausing activities. Our on-going goal is to continue to gather and be community with one another during this challenging time... and to continue to strive to keep people healthy and safe. We do this knowing that there is, again, the real possibility of pausing events if the current trajectory doesn’t change in coming weeks. What we can say, though, is that we feel very lucky that people at St. Michael’s take this pandemic seriously and strive to care for their own health and the health of their neighbors. Thank you!
With regard to updates, our work continues to be creating “layers of protection.” Following the work of many epidemiologists we look at 1) vaccination rates as shared with staff and leaders in our congregation 2) indoor ventilation 3) physical distancing 4) air filtration 5) masks and 6) the particular activities/events we are engaging in. All of these guide what we feel is possible for us at this time. Items of note:
• Masks: we continue to require masks in the church building and sanctuary. These continue to provide one means of protection. The Minnesota Department of Health looks for people to wear masks properly (above the nose, below the chin) and also to not use vented masks.
• Physical Distancing: in most schools and public buildings there has been a move to 3 feet (or greater) physical distancing. We are making that adjustment in the sanctuary (note the removal of the blue tape). We do ask that when seated in the sanctuary you do not have anyone seated directly in front of or behind you—to allow for space (especially due to speaking and singing).
• Food and Beverages: the church allows for very limited food and beverage at any events. Children and youth activities allow for food in small groups following school protocols—6’ physically distanced, facing the same direction, masks placed back on as soon as finished. Some small groups of adults (15 or less) allow for food if those in the group are vaccinated, physically distanced, in a room with air filtration, and placing masks back on after eating. We are not serving coffee, treats, or meals indoors for large groups due to indicators of more significant spread of COVID-19 at events where masks are removed and physical distanced is lessened.
• Youth Lock-ins/over-night events: for the next few months lock-ins and overnight events will be
changed to not having over-night stays to minimize any opportunities of exposure. This will be
revisited later in the winter.
• Choral groups: as we move into Advent and the Christmas season we anticipate a larger number of people in the sanctuary. The stage will be set up at the front of the sanctuary to allow for the full choir to sing and, at times, the entire choir to be seated at the front. As this group is vaccinated and the majority have also received their booster, as well as masked, we are looking at ways to adjust seating and also continue to provide music that is rich and meaningful for all who gather for worship.
• Staff: we continue to encourage all staff who are able to receive their vaccination booster. We have been thrilled to have a staff that is fully vaccinated, but are aware of break-through cases and want to continue to protect those who serve so faithfully. Ideally this also makes sure that our pastoral staff are available to provide hospital, nursing home, and assisting living visits as called upon.
We will continue to meet and assess next steps in the coming weeks. And, again, a deep word of gratitude to you all!
Sincerely,
The St. Michael’s Assessment & Reopening Team
Sandra Eliason
Rev. Brad Froslee
Deb Legan
Sarah Osterman
Dennis Skovsted
Hal Tiffany
Jone Tiffany
Karen Wilkerson
