KINNAIRD CHURCH OF GOD COVID-19 SAFETY PLAN

March 11th, 2022 update: 

KCOG is continuing to have in-person services!

• Masks are no longer mandatory according to the BC Provincial government and the Interior Health Authority. 
• Please continue to stay 6 feet away from people unless the close contact is consensual. We want everyone to feel as safe as possible in our church!
• If you are unable to join us for in-person services, please join us Sunday Mornings at 10:30am on facebook live or YouTube LIVE! You can also watch the LIVEstream under the “Watch” tab on this website.

FOR IN-PERSON SUNDAY SERVICES (Updated March 11th, 2022)

For the past 2 years, we have experienced sheltering-in-place and stringent social-distancing and have learned to be “The Church without walls.” But, on Sunday, May 28^th at 10:30 a.m. we were thrilled to be relaunching “in-person” services in our building.

We realize how vitally important it is, on every level, for us to be able to come together as a community of believers. We also know that there remains concern and uneasiness regarding the COVID-19 virus. We want to move ahead with faith and love, as well as wisdom and discernment.

To that end, we have developed a robust safety plan in compliance with the mandates and recommendations of our provincial public health officers and medical professionals. This includes social distancing protocols and enhanced cleaning and sanitizing of common areas in the facility. Additionally, our building is equipped with two (2) state-of-the-art air-exchangers which completely filter and exchange all the air in the building every 30 minutes. We trust these measures will help ensure both the physical well-being and peace-of-mind of all who attend services in our building.

A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF PROTOCOLS

1. Most importantly – Stay home if you are sick. Call us – we would love to pray with you for healing. Please review the COVID-19 Entry check before attending the service.

2. Masks are not mandatory, but you can continue to wear a mask if you feel safer that way.

3. Maintain social distancing measures of 2 metres between families, cohort groups and individuals.

4. No handshakes, smooches or hugs (unless both parties are consensual). Smiles, air-hugs and waves are welcomed!

HOW COVID-19 IS TRANSMITTED

COVID-19 is thought to be spread in a few different ways. The primary way is through droplets created when a person coughs or sneezes. It can also spread if you touch a contaminated surface and then touch your face. The closer your physical proximity to people and the greater the amount of time spent with them, along with the more people you are exposed to – increases the risk of possible transmission.

Getting vaccinated is a way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to ultimately end the pandemic. Vaccines work by injecting an inactivated part of the virus in to your body so your immune system can learn to fight it off. This inactivated part of the virus is non-disease causing part that provides the virus with means of entering your body’s cells. Your immune cells will learn to recognise this means of entry and will learn to fight it off if you ever come across the real COVID-19 virus. If you are interested in being vaccinated please visit this website: GetVaccinatedBC.ca

SOME CONSIDERATIONS BEFORE YOU COME TO CHURCH

• We realize that not everyone is comfortable or able, due to health concerns, to attend in-person services. We lovingly and respectfully encourage you to make the choices that are right for you and your family! Our messages will continue to be available via live stream and archived on our website, YouTube channel, and Facebook channel. We trust that they will be a source of encouragement and connection to our church family in these challenging times.

• Do not attend if you are sick. A person is infectious 48 hours prior to onset of symptoms to 10 days after onset of symptoms. Symptoms include, but are not limited to fever, chills, new or worsening cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, and new muscle aches or headache. If you are exhibiting any of these symptoms, please refrain from church attendance for two weeks (unless fully vaccinated and have followed public health guidelines).

• If you have recently returned from out-of-province (or country) travel or have had contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case, please follow provincial directives and wait 2 weeks before attending a worship service (unless fully vaccinated and have followed public health guidelines).

• Seating can be maximized by cohort seating – where two families or 2-3 individuals who are already in each other’s social “bubble” sit together 2 metres away from other families, individuals, or cohort groups. 

WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT CHURCH

•  Masks are no longer mandatory in the church. Disposable masks are available at the entrance for those who would still like to wear one.

• Avoid handshakes, hugs and sharing items outside of your family or cohort group (unless you are fully vaccinated and the contact is consensual)

• Please sanitize your hands upon arrival. An automatic hand sanitizer will be at the front doors as well as on the lower level outside the Fellowship Hall. If you are unable to tolerate hand sanitizer, please go directly to one of the washrooms and wash your hands with soap and water for minimum of 20 seconds.

• Maintain 2 metres of distance between yourself and others who are not part of your immediate family or cohort group.

• Please enter through the front doors quickly and follow the directional signs through to the Narthex and Sanctuary or Fellowship Hall on the lower level.  An elevator-lift is available for those requiring accessibility assistance.

• If you would like to chat with someone, please find a roomy area that allows you to maintain social distancing, or even better (i.e. chat outside the building while maintaining a 6-foot distance).

DURING OUR WORSHIP SERVICE

• Please sit with your household or cohort group and maintain at least 2 metres between yourself and other families/cohort groups.

• We will celebrate Communion every week. The elements are in individual, self-contained (wrapped) cups. Ushers will direct you to pick these up as you enter the Sanctuary. Please hold them until the end of the service when we will be directed to partake of them together. 

FOLLOWING OUR WORSHIP SERVICE

• Please follow 2 metre social-distancing as you prepare to leave. If there is sufficient space inside the building as people leave, you are welcome to linger and chat (but chatting outside is optimal).
• Coffee and refreshments are usually available after the service. Please try to distance yourself from others, and try to sit with people in your social “bubble”.

Gathering together in our building is different than it has been in the past, but as we have been exploring in our messages over the last several months, being “The Church” is not about observing external rituals and routines that we love or perhaps have grown a bit complacent about. It is all about loving union with Our Saviour, Jesus, and compassionate care for our neighbour. As we embark on this new adventure, DOING LIFE TOGETHER, let’s remember, a hurting, frightened and confused world is watching and our actions speak louder than words… so let your light so shine so that there is no mistaking the One Who Abides within.