Beloved members and friends of Foundry,

Caring for our children and other vulnerable members of the Foundry family is of utmost importance to us in every season. Responses to our Covid-19 survey earlier this summer affirmed this commitment. The survey revealed broad and clear concern that our children be protected, accommodated, and included in worship and other activities at Foundry. 

As we continue to turn the corner and prepare for our return to in-person engagement, we wanted to provide an update on our Family Ministries’ approach to reentry, including child care and youth activities. 
 
Here’s what parents can expect when we return to in-person gatherings at Foundry:

• Masks will be required for all indoor activities, including all worship services, until future notice per DC government.  All who can are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated — vaccination is a primary way we love our neighbors.
• All Foundry employees and volunteers working with children and youth will be required to provide proof of vaccination.
• Starting on September 5, families will have the option of entering a clean building for the 9 a.m. service. Our building will undergo a deep cleaning and sanitization weekly on Saturday and Monday. 
• During both the 9 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. services, childcare will be available for infants through pre-K in the Childcare Center. Until it is safe to resume Kid’s Worship, those older than five years old will be invited to attend the full service with their parents, where we’ll have the traditional children’s message. We are developing a strategy to make the children’s message both inclusive and safe.
• We continue to finalize plans for Sunday School and will provide more details as we approach our first Sunday back at 16th and P.

We are very grateful that Pastor K.C. and our Childcare Coordinator Lead, Rachel Jamieson, shared their expertise and developed safety protocols in dialogue with parents. The protocols are designed to protect our kids who cannot yet be vaccinated and who make up the largest group of vulnerable persons in the Foundry family. We’ll share more details about the protocols as we get closer to our first in-person Sunday worship on September 5.

Also of interest to Foundry families and many others in our community is our annual Family Camp tradition at West River UMC campground over Labor Day weekend. To protect the safety of our unvaccinated children and youth, we have reached the unfortunate decision to defer Family Camp again this year. The Family Ministries team is working on alternate programming that will offer a safer opportunity for fellowship closer to home. 

As always, please feel free to submit comments and/or questions to reentry@foundryumc.org. To read previous reentry updates, visit foundryumc.org/covid19.

Thank you for your patience and for continuing to be alert, nimble, and flexible as, together, we continue to navigate these challenges. We cannot wait to worship with you all at 16th and P.

Peace,

Pastor Ginger and the Reeentry Implementation Task Force (Gwen Williamson, Nick Jessee, Matt Hansen, Sam Kilpatrick, Paula Blair, and PJ Taylor.)