Fountain Inn Trinity

Facebook

YouTube

August 12, 2020

Dear Trinity Church Family,

Grace and peace to you and your households in the name of Jesus Christ. Our Reopening Team has set a reopen date for onsite worship for this Sunday, August 16, one service at 10 am. I am asking those that can worship online to continue doing so at least until August 30th. We have limited seating due to Social Distancing measures in place. We will reopen Worship only at this time. We will reopen other ministries and small groups on campus when it is safe to do so. We are also prepared to temporarily suspend onsite worship again if it becomes necessary due to: a Covid-19 exposure in our worship space or a surge in the infection rate on the recommendations of health officials and our Conference leadership. If you are an at-risk individual or would rather not return to onsite worship immediately, we encourage you to worship with us online.

In our Baptismal Covenant, you and I promise to “love and… nurture one another in the Christian faith and life and include these persons [each other]… in your care… in the way that leads to life.” In John’s Gospel, Jesus said “I give you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, so you also must love each other. This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other.” Out of love, and concern for each other, we are asking for you to faithfully covenant with us and follow the guidelines as we apply Phase 2 of our “Caring for Others Through Love, Return to in-Person Worship Plan.”

I will emphasize the main points of Phase 2 in this letter:

• Social Distancing: Be sure to stay a minimum of 6 feet apart (except for families who live in the same household). Enter and exit the Sanctuary through the front door as directed. Please follow directions of our ushers and signage for seating.
• Mask are Mandatory- Properly wear a mask at all times (in example: do not pull it down to speak): One out of three people infected with Covid 19 show no symptoms at all. Wearing a mask is for your safety and for the safety of the person(s) whom you may encounter on campus. We ask you to bring your own mask - masks will be provided if you don’t have one. For everyone’s safety/comfort, we are asking everyone to keep their mask on during your time in or on all church properties and buildings.
• No handshakes, fist bumps, or hugs. Greet one another from a distance with a smile, wave, or other appropriate gesture.
• Temperature Scanned as you enter the building. If your temperature checks over 100.4°F, go home immediately, including those that traveled with you. Do this without being asked to do so by a volunteer or staff. You will not be allowed to enter the sanctuary. Please be understanding.
• Health Screening Questions: You will be asked the following questions, if the answer is yes to any of these three questions do not come inside the building and go home:
  • 1. In the past 14 days have you knowingly been directly exposed or been around anyone who has been exposed to the coronavirus known as Covid-19?
  • 2. In the past 14 days have you or anyone in your household exhibited flu- like symptoms ( fever, cough, shortness of breath)?
  • 3. In the past 14 days, has anyone in your household been subject to quarantine by an employer or any other entity?
• Restricted seating: Sit in areas marked with green tape (please do not sit on the tape), follow directions of the ushers.
• Hand Sanitizer (you are encouraged to bring your own, or use one of our stations)
• Wash hands frequently.
• Stay Home: If you or a household member feels the slightest bit sick, please worship with us from home (this is for any day of the week). See Who should NOT attend in-person worship in our Return to Worship Plan
• Children will stay with parent or guardian at all times, the nursey will not be staffed and we will not have Children’s Church during this phase.
• No Congregational or Choir Singing, Soloists or instrumentalist will provide music or singing.
• Restrooms: Please use the restrooms located in the Office/Gym area if you are physically able and let those that are physically challenged to use the restrooms nearest our sanctuary. The intent is to keep from having a bottleneck of people waiting to use the restroom.
• Be Patient: Show love and grace to each other, we are all trying to do the best we can under these unprecedented circumstances.

Thank you for your faithfulness, prayers and support.

In Christ,

Rev. Murray Snow

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This letter is to inform you that we have a young member who has a life-threatening food allergy to peanuts. The food allergy is severe and exposure in any form (skin contact, ingestion, or exposure through airborne particles) to this substance could result in anaphylaxis, a potentially fatal condition that requires immediate medical attention. Two incidents of exposure recently happened on our campus or at a church sponsored activity.

As many as 15 million Americans have food allergies – 4% of adults in the US and 8% of children. Eight foods account for 90% of all food-allergic reactions: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (such as walnuts, almonds, cashews, pecans, and pistachios), wheat, soy, fish, and shellfish. Peanut and tree nut allergies comprise the largest percentage and present unique risk (as detailed below). For these reasons, as Pastor of Trinity UMC, I covenant to work with you and our church leadership to eliminate all peanuts/tree nuts from our campus, events and outings with the exception of the James Monroe Mission House.

For the safety of all, I am asking for each of you to covenant with me and with one another by immediately instituting a no peanut and no tree nut policy (or any food source containing these ingredients) on our campus and for any events or activities on or off campus. I am asking everyone, including parents/guardians to be conscientious in the selection of snacks that you or your child or youth brings to our campus or to activities in an attempt to limit the chances of this young member being exposed to peanuts in some form. Please verify that any purchased or prepared food brought in for meals or snacks are nut free. Please instruct others, including your child or youth to watch out for the safety of their peers by being aware of this policy.

We know that this may cause some inconvenience. However, Jesus said, “When you have done it to the least of these, you have done it to me.” He also said to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:25-26 “That there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.”

Thank you in advance for making our campus a safe and healthy place for everyone, especially our children and youth. By working together, we can make a difference. I commit to working with you, parents/guardians and church leadership to develop a formal policy in the coming weeks. In the meantime, I ask for your understanding and cooperation as we journey to keep our young ones safe. (Please see some important FAACTS below or on the back of this letter.)

God’s Peace and Love,

Rev. Murray Snow

February 1, 2020

Food Allergy Basics

• Food allergies affect as many as 32 million Americans, including 6 million children.
• A food allergy is an immune system response to a food the body mistakenly believes is harmful.
• When a person with food allergy eats the food, his or her immune system releases massive amounts of chemicals, including histamine, that trigger a cascade of symptoms that can affect the respiratory system, the gastrointestinal tract, the skin, and/or the cardiovascular system.
• There is no cure for food allergies.
• The prevalence of food allergies appears to be increasing among children under the age of 18, that is 2 students in every classroom.
• Although food allergy desensitizations are being studied, these are not yet proven treatments, so strict avoidance is the only way to prevent an allergic reaction.
• Managing a food allergy on a daily basis involves constant vigilance.
• Trace amounts of an allergen can trigger an allergic reaction in some individuals.
• Unfortunately, food allergy deaths do occur, even among persons with a history of mild reactions in the past.
• 9-1-1 must ALWAYS be called with every anaphylactic reaction.

For more info concerning food allergies:

https://www.foodallergyawareness.org/food-allergy-and-anaphylaxis/