Beloved members and friends of Foundry,

Blessings to each and to all as we move into 2022. With a new year has come a new wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The highly contagious Omicron variant is affecting record numbers of persons and families and causing new disruptions in our common life.

Even so, we give thanks to God for the scientists and medical professionals whose efforts to create and distribute vaccines and boosters are protecting thousands from critical illness, hospitalization, and death. We continue to pray for all sick with COVID and those who care for them.

In late December 2021, in light of growing concern and out of an abundance of caution, Foundry pivoted to online-only worship from December 26 through January 9. This week, our Reentry Implementation Task Force met to determine next steps for worship and ministry engagement at Foundry. 

Our deliberations included review of a variety of local congregations’ and organizations’ practices and protocols along with the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of our Foundry family.

Over the past six months, Foundry has implemented and tested a variety of safety protocols for in-person gatherings, including worship. Since early Fall, we have generally followed our Hybrid Worship Model, with the congregation gathering simultaneously in the sanctuary and online.

Utilizing different levels and configurations of these protocols based on the totality of circumstances surrounding the various stages of the pandemic as we’ve lived through it over these nearly two years, it has been decided that:

• This Sunday, January 16, we will return to Hybrid Worship for one service at 11:15 a.m. 
• On Sunday, January 23, we will return to Hybrid Worship at both 9 and 11:15 am. 
• We plan to remain in Hybrid Worship Mode with appropriate protocols unless and until factors clearly dictate otherwise.
• Baptisms and other life events will continue to be celebrated at the discretion of the families and clergy involved, and in keeping with our protocols.
• Parking will be available in the Colonial Parking Garage until 2 p.m. on Sundays going forward.

Starting this Sunday and until further notice, our protocols for entry into the building for worship will be similar to what was implemented for Christmas Eve, including:

• intentional physical distancing, with every other pew restricted
• worship check ins only by QR code/phone
• entry at all front doors to mitigate congestion in the Bell Tower lobby or narthex
• additional air filtering units in the sanctuary
• limited choir and use of some pre-recorded music during service

Of course, masks will continue to be required at all times unless the person speaking is at a microphone. 

If you are not feeling well or fall within the isolation or quarantine guidelines adopted by the CDC, you are encouraged to make loving decisions for yourself and others and worship with your Foundry family online.

We continue to consider related matters as they emerge, such as the resumption of Sunday School.

We encourage you to reach out to the Task Force with any questions, concerns, or feedback. We can be contacted via email at reentry@foundryumc.org.

In the Spirit,

The Re-entry Implementation Task Force (Gwen Williamson, Nick Jessee, Matt Hansen, Sam Kilpatrick, Paula Blair, PJ Taylor, and Rev. Ginger Gaines-Cirelli)