Forest Hills Guidelines for Meeting in Person Again for Worship 
in Phase Three of the Coronavirus Pandemic

It is impossible to guarantee safety during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, but as we plan to re-open in person worship at Forest Hills, we are working to make the experience as safe as possible. We expect to have to change practices as further guidelines are given and ask your patience and help in this endeavor...

As we gather again to worship in person, we will be following guidelines from the Commonwealth of Virginia for Phase Three of The Coronavirus Pandemic which include:

• the requirement of the wearing of masks by all in attendance,
• keeping a physical distance from others of six feet,
• suspending the use of choirs during worship,
• having shorter services than usual. 

             
To keep everyone as safe as possible, we will follow these additional best practices:

• We will be taking temperatures
• We will ask you to enter and exit by specific doors - the front door if you do not need the elevator and only one person at a time on the elevator (we will have an elevator operator for you). 

• We will have signage in the building of where to sit and where not to go so we can help keep everyone safe.
• We will only have Worship at this time in the building--no Sunday School, Nursery, etc.
• We will not sing as a congregation, since the experts in singing organizations tell us that it is not safe to sing at this time.
• We will repeat responses in the worship service quietly.
  

As you can tell, things will not be the same in the sanctuary as they were before the pandemic began, as we sit at a distance from each other, keep our masks on throughout the service, do not sing, and say responses quietly rather than speaking out. Following these guidelines however will help us to care for each other as we worship together.
     
We ask you to consider the answers to these questions before you come to worship. A positive answer to even one should compel you to stay home: 
 
a. Am I or anyone in my household vulnerable to Covid-19 because of age or a compromising medical condition? 
b. In the last 14 days have I experienced any of the following: fever,
      cough, shortness of breath, runny nose, difficulty breathing, experience a sudden loss of taste or smell?
c. Have I traveled by train, plane, or ship in the last 14 days? 
d. Have I been in contact with anyone diagnosed with Covid-19? Or worked in a facility with a diagnosed case of Covid-19? 
e. If I attend, can I resist normal contact with people, and can I comfortably follow safe practices while with others.

We can’t wait to see those of you who can come to worship and will continue filming and recording the service for those of you who still need to remain at home at this time. All of you are important, however you worship with us!     

All members and visitors are safe, secure, and welcome.
Our property is available and monitored by video surveillance and state of the art alarm systems 24x7.
Our doors are accessible and controlled.
Our hearts and our eyes are open as we reach out and welcome in.
Our hands and our minds are are used to protect and serve our people and our facilities.