Significant APC Safety Protocol Changes

Dear APC Members and Friends –

I am thankful we were able to gather in-person for many of our planned events during Advent and through Christmas Eve. To our knowledge, the safety protocols we followed during that time enabled us to gather without these gatherings being events which spread illness. However, media accounts indicate that there are more new Covid cases in our country now than at any previous point in the pandemic. There are a fair number of church members who have tested positive in recent days and others who have Covid-like symptoms who have not yet gotten test results. To my knowledge, none of these recently infected folks to this point have needed to be hospitalized, for which I am thankful. This highly-communicable virus is prevalent throughout the community – please function in ways that take appropriate precautions.

Our APC Pandemic Work Team met on December 29, and has put in place what is at this point some short-term changes in our safety protocols as a congregation:

• For at least this Sunday, January 2, there will only be a virtual worship service at 10 a.m. available through our livestream player and our Youtube channel instead of our in-person worship services at 8 and 10 a.m.
• The Abington Presbyterian Nursery School, which was scheduled to be back in person next Monday, will be virtual rather than in person for at least the first week in January after a period when families had more contacts during the holidays.
• Councils, committees, music groups, and outside groups that meet in APC facilities are instructed to meet virtually instead of in-person at least through the first week of January. Staff who can work remotely are asked to do so during this same time period.

There are many factors the APC Pandemic Work Team has taken into consideration in setting these temporary safety protocols. The team will be closely monitoring the conditions and we hope we can move back toward in-person gatherings soon.

If you become aware of APC members who are Covid-positive, please let me know so we can seek to be of support to them and their family members. With prayers for all who are sick and for those who are taking care of them.

Kirby Lawrence Hill
Pastor, Abington Presbyterian Church
KLHill@apcusa.org