Worship in the time of Covid …
- 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*).
- New Covid practices, especially for young children: We will continue our comprehensive guidelines for the 8:30 service and education hour (everyone vaccinated and masked) but beginning April 3, families with young children will be welcomed at the 11:00 service. We assume that as soon as vaccinations are available to younger children, these children will also be vaccinated. Also, at the 11:00 service, children will be invited forwarded to sit on the carpet for the children’s moment. There will be special mats placed for the children that will help them stay a few feet apart.
- Beginning April 3, there will be more movement in the sanctuary. As mentioned, children will be invited forward for the children’s moment on the carpet. We will resume our verbal greetings during worship, but not hugs and handshakes yet. We ask people to be aware and respectful of one another’s social distancing needs. Those who wish can come forward to get communion but not intinction.
- Everyone will need to be masked while indoors, except for those leading worship. We have extra masks available. We will continue our practices of masking and vaccine checking for the foreseeable future.
- 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.
- 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 you can’t find your vaccination card, here are some ideas to get the info you need to show proof of vaccination.
- Download the new “Docket” app from the Minnesota Department of Health. You will be able to keep a portable copy of your vaccine record on your smartphone.
- 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.
