Dear Friends,
What is happening:
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board Executive Committee and Senior Staff have decided to suspend all church use until April 26th, 2020. This decision comes after consultation with medical professionals from within our congregation; review of information from the CDC; consideration of the local response and the well-being of our congregation as a whole; and acknowledgement of our UU values.
To live our values we will honor the inherent worth and dignity of every person by ensuring that the most susceptible of us are not put at risk. We will show respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part by acknowledging our vulnerability as social beings to this virus, and also by recognizing that as social beings who have created a community, we still need to interact.
What this means:
Starting on Thursday, March 14th to April 25th we are suspending all use of the church buildings and grounds including service on Sundays, activities, meetings, and rentals until April 26th when we will reopen with a Sunday worship service. The board executives, church staff and the Medical Advice Team (made up of medical professionals and doctors from within our congregation) will meet remotely (weekly) to reassess our response to the pandemic to see if extending the timeframe is warranted. This information will be communicated weekly through church email.
Any upcoming activity will be most likely rescheduled for later in the year. The office will be closed. Staff will continue to work and will be asked to think of their personal health and well-being before deciding whether to come in to work or work from home.
Why close the church?
The executive board and the senior staff agreed on this course of action in order to err on the side of caution. This way, if we are wrong and there is nothing to worry about, we can reopen sooner after consulting with the medical advice team. We will have been inconvenienced at most and can go on with living our values. With many other venues and organizations closing, this seems to be the prudent choice. If we were to remain open, the worst case scenario is we unknowingly allow transmission of a mostly unknown virus into our community.
This is a virus for which we have no innate immunity or vaccine to fight. This virus has shown to be fatal in over 20% of confirmed cases in those over 80 years of age. Transmission of the virus is not fully understood and testing is still not up to speed. This leads to a worst case scenario of causing illness or even death within our congregation as well as adding to the workload of medical workers and medical centers that have limited capacity to treat a large number of infected people.
Currently the infection count of the virus is doubling every three days. We are choosing to err on the side of caution, protect our congregation, and not add to overtaxing our health care workers.
What we are doing in the meantime:
In order to keep a sense of community and connectedness in this time of limited contact we ask that you hold sacred time on Sunday mornings.
Sacred time on Sunday mornings:
Each Sunday at 10:15, please light a chalice or turn on a lamp and say in unison with others:
May this light of love give us comfort.
May this light of hope help us dwell creatively in the present moment.
May this light of truth help us act wisely for the common good.
During the hour, listen to a sermon:
Close the worship time by lifting up meditations of love or prayer for all beings to have what they need for healing.
Staying connected to each other:
All groups are encouraged to meet remotely and follow the CDC guidelines of personal safe zones if you are around others.
Sandy Brooks and Sean Skally are heading up the Coronavirus response team in coordination with staff, Care Net, Active Minds, Medical Advice Team, Pastoral Visitors, Membership, and Communications. We are working on identifying and contacting our most susceptible members and creating a structure to support their continued well-being and safety by running errands, delivering food, or just calling to see if they are okay, while also supporting the health and safety of those helping. We are working on phone trees for those members who are not internet connected to stay informed. We are asking you if you know of a member who may be in need of assistance from being ill or isolated to let Sandy or Sean know.
Sandy can be reached at Carenet@UUCharlottesville.org
What can I do?
Stay informed. If you are sick, please self-isolate and do not spread this infection. Avoid touching, handshakes, or hugs. Greet others with a bow, a peace sign, a smile, etc. Be aware that those over 75 years of age, and those over 60 years of age who also have cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, hypertension, or cancer. They too are at a significantly elevated risk from this virus.
Be on the lookout for more emails from the church. Encourage other church members to sign up to receive church emails by contacting church staff at office@uucharlottesville.org.
Like many social crises, a disproportionate economic burden falls on people with fewer resources. Please think creatively about how to support structural and systemic adjustments.
Most importantly, if you can volunteer to help, or know of those who are ill or isolated, please give Sandy or Sean the information.
Thank you for you time. If you have any questions please contact staff. Please stay safe and healthy, and we look forward to seeing you in person in April.
Lorie Craddock, President of the Board
Elizabeth Breeden, Vice President of the Board
Ann Salamini, Secretary of the Board
Stan Walker, Treasurer of the Board
Rev. Alex McGee, Assistant Minister
Leia Durland-Jones, Director of Faith Development
Sean Skally, Director of Administration and Finance
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TJMC Covenant of Right Relations
In order to create the beloved community we all desire for ourselves, we, the Congregation of Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church Unitarian Universalist covenant to:
Communicate with compassion and respect, especially when we disagree
Celebrate diversity and nurture our inclusivity,
Promote social justice within our congregation and the larger community,
Generously support the ministries of the church with time, money and enthusiasm, and
Lovingly call each other back into covenant when we have fallen short.