Worship in the Time of Covid

Thank you for all who signed the voluntary vaccine registry. Because of the uncertainty with Delta, we are needing to go a step further. There’s no such thing as no risk, but we’re going for low risk. We will continue to adapt, and we hope and trust that things will get better as more of us get vaccinated. Here’s our low-risk plan:

  • In order to come into the building on Sunday, you will need to show proof of vaccination (see below if you’ve lost or misplaced your vaccination card*).
  • Classes for children not able to be vaccinated will be outside. There will be no childcare at this time. (It so pains us that there are people we can’t protect right now, like young children.)
  • Everyone will need to be masked while indoors, except for those leading worship. We have extra masks available.
  • Everyone will need to be assertive about social distancing. No Minnesota Nice… 😊
  • The sanctuary, which is very well ventilated, will be more sparsely furnished: pews spread out.
  • The hallways are less well ventilated, so we encourage people not to gather and linger in the narthex or the hallways.
  • One person in the bathroom at a time.
  • Dress appropriately as a lot of our activity, tabling etc., will be outdoors.
  • Make sure we have your current email address to email you any up to the minute news of our church in these Covid times. We need to stay well connected.
  • If you test positive for COVID and attended church while you were potentially contagious, please inform the leadership team immediately.
  • If we learn of a potential COVID exposure, we will not share your name, but we will inform the congregation of the via email and will try as best we can to individually notify anyone who was sitting near the infected person to recommend testing. If there is more than one isolated case, we may return to livestream for awhile.
  • And still, you should decide whether you are comfortable coming to church. Here are some questions you may wish to ask yourself.
    • Do you live/work/regularly get together with someone who’s health is compromised
    • What risk do you bring to the church community?
    • Do you work with unvaccinated people?
    • Have you had exposure to Covid?
    • Have you traveled recently?
    • Do you have upper respiratory symptoms? Feel ill?
    • Do you forget about social distancing when you haven’t seen someone? Does it just feel too unnatural and difficult not drawing close to another?

Still! We can do this thing Mayflower! Gradually come back into community in a low-risk way…

*If you can’t find your vaccination card, here are some ideas to get the info you need to show proof of vaccination.

  •  If you have electronic access such as MyChart, log in and check the Health Records/Immunizations tab. The information is often in that record even if you received the vaccine elsewhere. Take a screenshot and put it into your Photo Favorites or print the PDF and keep the paper copy.
  • Request a paper copy of your  vaccination record from the MN Dept of Health. The Minnesota Immunization Information Connection (MIIC) database includes all vaccinations you have received from any provider in Minnesota. Receiving a hard copy of your record may take at least 6 weeks.
  • Contact your physician by phone and ask them to check your immunization record or the state’s integrated vaccine database. Physicians cannot e-mail health records, so allow enough time for a letter to come through the mail.
  • Log into the webpage for the clinic site or pharmacy where you received the vaccine. For example, at Walgreen’s the vaccine documentation is under Prescription Records. (Take a screenshot and store the photo in your Photo Favorites).

Medical Exemption Process

We recognize that on rare occasions someone may have a valid medical reason and cannot be safely vaccinated. Those who wish to apply for a medical exemption must provide both:

  • A letter on letterhead from their doctor verifying that they have a valid medical reason not to be vaccinated, to be submitted to the Mayflower leadership team and our medical advisors, AND
  • A negative SARS-CoV-2 antigen test (aka rapid test) result from within the 72 hours prior to requested entry.

The leadership team and their medical advisors will review the doctor’s letter. If approved, the leadership team will issue a special card, which the applicant can present along with their current test results at the door when requesting entry. Please note that this approval process could take up to a week to complete, depending on the availability of the leadership team.

Mayflower Funeral Protocols in the time of Covid

Due to inconsistent COVID policies and practices in funeral homes, Mayflower Church staff (clergy, musicians and technicians) will no longer conduct services for our members/families away from our own sanctuary (e.g., funeral homes) until Leadership Team determines it is safe to do so for both staff and funeral attendees.

Services for Mayflower members/families will be conducted by Mayflower clergy and musicians in the Mayflower sanctuary following the same COVID practices as followed for 8:30 and 11:00 am Sunday worship services (required proof of vaccine at the door, masking and social distancing). Unvaccinated family members or other guests will be able to participate via livestream.

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