Re-opening Plan for Harriston United Church
Adopted by the Official Board on August 31, 2020
 
Worship:

• To access the building on Sunday morning people will enter through the doors on the left hand side of the sanctuary (sound system side).  They will exit by the same doors.
  
  • Our accessible entrance is available! Accessible entrance on John Street to be used *only* by those who need the elevator.  Riders can go up only with people in their household.  Elevator attendants will be masked and will face away from their rider.  High touch areas on the elevator will be wiped down between each rider. 
    
• Attendance will be recorded on a spreadsheet that has all regularly attending members and their phone numbers listed.  One of the ushers will check off who is in attendance each week.  Guests will be added on blank lines at the bottom.  This information will be kept for 30 days after each worship service for contact tracing purposes.
• Seating.  Ushers will seat people starting in the front pews and moving towards the back.  This will avoid people walking by others as much as possible.  Sections will be marked where people can sit to maintain a physical distance of six feet.

• Offering – two plates will be located on the back table by the sound system.  People will drop their envelopes into the plates when they enter the building.  We will continue to encourage people to sign up for PAR.
• Music – Jessica and Helen will work together to provide a combination of recorded and instrumental music.  There will be no congregational singing and no choir.

• No bulletins needed – one large placard with a generic order of service will be at the front.
  
• Scripture readers will be asked to bring their own Bible to read from.
  

• People will be asked to wear masks for the entirety of the service.
• A Plexiglas barrier will be constructed and installed around the pulpit.  This will enable those leading worship to safely remove their masks and to be heard more clearly.
  
• No time for young and young at heart and no Sunday School
• No coffee hour
  
• Note that the worship service will be shorter due to restrictions
• People are asked not to attend if they are ill and/or displaying any symptoms of COVID-19.

 
Office:

• John Street entrance door will remain locked at all times.
• A sign will be posted to indicate staff should be contacted by phone or email.
• Two portable Plexiglas barriers to be constructed for both the main office and Jessica’s office. 

 
Rental groups

• Non church groups will not be allowed to resume meeting or rent the facilities until at least January 1, 2021

 
Harriston Preschool

• Joy Murray has strict guidelines to follow to ensure safely of students.  She is under the guidance and oversight of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education.
  • All common areas (hallway, doorknobs, handrails, etc) will be cleaned by Joy twice a day on the days the Preschool operates
  • Joy will be responsible for the cleaning and sanitizing of the Preschool room
  • Washrooms will not be made available for parents – signs will be posted
  • Parents will drop off children at 9:00am following protocol
  • John St. entrance will be locked after all students arrive for the day

 
General:

• Signs to be posted at entrances with requirements (masks, sanitizing, etc)
• Church groups can begin to meet provided they follow all physical distancing requirements.