Virtual Services & Gathering Guidelines Extended

The Board of Trustees (BoT) voted to continue to hold virtual services and to continue the previously advertised facilities usage guidelines through June 30, 2021.

We are watching the Covid-19 cases in our area and will reevaluate at our May and June BoT meetings about extending this decision further. There are groups of congregants and staff that are researching reopening with guidance from the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA).

The following Gathering Guidelines for small groups at our facilities (inside and outside of buildings) continue to apply.

Gathering Guidelines for Inside and Outside Church Facilities:

We strongly recommend continuing to use online forums for small group/committee/team meetings. However, the HVUUC Board has voted to allow people on site for activities that must be held in person, e.g. work groups.

• Only 1 group may meet at a time inside the church building. To schedule your meeting or workgroup and make sure other groups aren’t already scheduled, please contact Karyn at office@hvuuc.org to reserve your group on the church calendar. You can check the calendar to make sure there aren’t conflicts at: https://localendar.com/public/hvuuchurch

  • To locate the church calendar from the church website (hvuuc.org), go to the "News & Events" menu and select the 3rd item, "Church Calendar of Events and Meetings,” from the drop-down menu

Additional Guidance:

• No children’s activities allowed at this time.

• Please do not bring children to any activity happening at the church.

• Groups of 10 people and less

  • No more than 1 meeting of 10 people or less inside the church building.

  • No more than 10 people in any 1 area of the outside property for workdays. For example, the entrance garden.

  • Whenever practical, work projects should be divided into small groups or individuals.

• The Fred Ball room (fellowship hall), sanctuary, and deck are the only meeting areas that are open for use. The REZ is still off limits for meetings.

  • People doing work projects may enter other locations, but must maintain at least 6 feet of distance while inside.

• Must wear a face mask (please bring your own)

  • When working alone outside a face mask is not required. Face masks are required when working in groups of 2 or more.

  • Anyone in the building must wear a mask.

• Must wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds upon entering buildings, or use hand sanitizer and let air dry. Hand sanitizer is in several locations (foyer, kitchen, REZ), to be used as needed.

• Continue keeping a distance of 6 feet between people of different households.

  • This is especially for inside activities but should also be adhered to when outside as much as possible.

• Whenever possible do not share work tools. If sharing occurs, wipe down handles with disinfecting wipes before returning the tool.

• Meals should be sack or box lunches, no family style meals, ie pizza. No water coolers or other communal drinking, ie punch. Maintain 6 feet of distance during meals.

• If you are ill, have a fever/cough, are someone who is at increased risk, or traveled to endemic areas infected with COVID-19, please stay home and enjoy online content and fellowship.

• Must clean commonly touched hard surfaces like door handles, light switches, counter tops, metal surfaces (chair backs), etc., when finished.

  • Please use the cleaning wipes and/or bleach solution and paper towels in the foyer, kitchen, and REZ for cleaning/disinfecting after each visit.

Online services (on YouTube) will continue during this time. Virtual Religious Education (RE) activities for preschool through 12th grade, will continue. Please register your children at: https://hvuuc.org/religious-education-registration-form

If your small group/committee/team would like to use Zoom, find instructions on how to request a Zoom meeting at this link.

Pledge calls starting this week

Hello, friends!

We are making good progress in our pledge drive—we are at 75% of our goal, and 2/3 of our households have pledged so far. However, that also means we need to hear from the other 1/3 of households to raise the remaining 25%, so the Stewardship Committee will begin phone calls soon to follow up on the email and snail mail pledge requests.

Thanks so much for all the support you give the church and the work we do both within our walls and in the community. Your contributions in love, time, money, and spirit make our community what it is.

We are excited as we look forward to beginning a new church year in June, welcoming a new minister in August, and, hopefully, being able to see each other in person more regularly—and we invite you to join your fellow congregants in the joyful work of continuously creating our community by making your pledge of support.

You can pledge by emailing stewardship@hvuuc.org, mailing in your physical pledge card, or sending a note with your name, phone number, address, email, and annual pledge amount to Stewardship at HVUUC; PO Box 8383; Gray, TN 37615.

Church Workday Saturday, February 27 9am - 1pm

Come out and help with some outside maintenance on Saturday morning, February 27, from 9am to 1pm. Will be mainly clearing woods and trails. Contact George Cross with any questions at macho@hvuuc.org.