Important message from the KUUF Board of Trustees
Dear friends,
All worship services through the end of March have been canceled.
This decision was not made lightly. The Board has had to make some very critical decisions these past two weeks, very quickly. And we are grateful to you for your support and kindness as we navigate an uncertain time in the history of our fellowship and our country. We want to be sure that we are communicating openly with you the information behind the decisions we have made.
● The decision to cancel services through the end of March is based on the current public health advisories, and information re: the pandemic COVID-19 coronavirus. This information is being updated daily, and we—the Board and Rev Jessica—are being guided by our very wise and experienced Parish Nurse, Jennifer Ingalls, who is accessing the latest information from the CDC, Kitsap County, and Washington State Departments of Health. We are also closely watching what is happening in King County, the national epicenter of the pandemic. We know that what is happening in Seattle is just a ferry ride away, and that thousands of people make that voyage daily. Two of the most important facts, which have not changed, is that this virus has a higher fatality rate than influenza, and that the most vulnerable are those over 60. This includes a large portion of our beloved community. For that reason we want to take proactive measures. This includes the decision to not gather in a large group again until April.
● We know that one of the most effective things we can do to protect each other and to slow the spread of this illness is “social distancing”. As it would not be possible for us to gather as usual for a worship service and still maintain the recommended 5-6 feet apart from one another, we have elected to explore other, safer ways of being together.
● Rev. Jessica is working with the worship team to create online worship services.
● Rev. Jessica is also working with Chalice Circle leaders to continue to provide smaller group fellowship opportunities. For those in our community who are not currently in a Chalice Circle, she and the Caring Committee are creating “Circles of Care.” If you are one of our members not in a Chalice Circle, Rev. Jessica will be contacting you about joining one of these Circles of Care.
● We are looking at this current time as a new waypoint on our journey as a fellowship and as an opportunity to explore new ways to be together in relationship.
● We feel so very grateful for Rev. Jessica’s leadership during this complicated time. The fact that she has professional experience creating online worship (during her work with the Church of the Larger Fellowship) is just another of her gifts.
● We have decided, unanimously, to continue to pay our childcare workers and office staff as usual. We are also offering Tanesha the option of working from home, should she so choose.
● The Board has begun meeting via Zoom video conferencing, and we are encouraging other committees and groups to do likewise. It is actually easy and convenient. The fellowship is opening a Zoom account that will be available to any group. We are even encouraging those outside groups that use our buildings to utilize Zoom instead, in order to minimize gathering in groups larger than 10.
● It is very important that we are getting our information from reliable, fact-based sources. We are very fortunate to have our own Parish Nurse, Jennifer Ingalls, to provide us with current information, and to help us understand how it applies to us as individuals, and as members of this beloved community.
We are very aware of how difficult it is to be separated. And how isolating some of the current recommendations are. But if we are proactive, we can move through this uncertain time swiftly and in good health. And we can prevent any more drastic measures being taken in our County.
In the meantime, let’s stay connected and continue to support one another.
In loving care,
Terry Mallory ARNP(retired) KUUF board co-president & the KUUF Board of Trustees