Update on facility closures, worship, and small group gatherings: Atonement’s Church Council met on June 11th for their regularly scheduled meeting. Part of the agenda was to make decisions related to the current closure of the Atonement facility and grounds. The Atonement council will continue to focus on safety which includes following CDC, State, and Boulder County guidelines. We will also continue to focus on support for remote gatherings for Atonement’s ministries. In all of this, we are learning that the church isn’t just a building. We trust you will continue to join us as the Body of Christ from where you are at.
Worship via Zoom will continue Sundays at 9:30 am, followed by a fellowship hour, into the foreseeable future. The Atonement Zoom account is also available for small groups to connect.
The council has made the decision to keep the Atonement facility (indoors) closed for worship and general gatherings through August 31st. Groups of 10 or less will have access to the sanctuary for worship leadership, and the staff is able to work in the office during the week as needed. However, staff is not required to work in the office during this time and most are working remotely. Several building users also have limited access to the facility.
The decision was also made to offer Atonement’s outdoor spaces for groups of 10 or less. Groups will be required to follow specific guidelines including physical distancing of 6’, mask-wearing, and a signed or shared release form. A single restroom is also being made available to groups, per state guidelines. Necessary sanitization will also happen following gatherings, based on CDC recommendations. Attendance is voluntary at these gatherings for both Atonement members and staff.
All small group gatherings must be scheduled by contacting Luisa (luisa@atonementboulder.org). She will confirm the above procedures are communicated and will place gatherings on the Atonement calendar.
The council will continue monthly discussions around all of these decisions, and please note that the above decisions may change if at any time it is deemed unsafe.
Documents that have informed the council decision-making includes:
- https://covid19.colorado.gov/worship-guidance
- https://www.bluezones.com/2020/06/covid-19-straight-answers-from-top-epidemiologist-who-predicted-the-pandemic/
- https://www.rmselca.org/sites/rmselca.org/files/media/rms_in-person_gatherings_recommendations1.pdf
If you have questions or clarifications, you may email the church council at council@atonementboulder.org
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