How We Are Worshiping Together In the Midst of a Pandemic

Our church community endeavors to accept and embrace all who enter here. We welcome individuals of every race, ethnicity, nationality,  gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, family structure, marital standing, socio-economic status, age, physical and mental ability to join us in the ministry of our church. All are invited to participate in worship, fellowship, and leadership
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**Update as of January 7th, 2022**
In response to the realities of the on-going pandemic in our state, here is how we plan to gather for worship through the February 6th, 2022: 

Beloveds in Christ, 

The church council had a special meeting last night to discuss two recommendations, one from the Maine Council of Church and one from the Maine Conference UCC, to consider worshiping remotely until the current Covid surge, fueled in part by holiday gatherings and the Omicron variant, eases back down. 

We decided to take the conservative step to worship digitally from this Sunday, January 9th, 2022, through February 6th. We'll reevaluate that decision at our February council meeting. We will continue to meet at 10 am.

Here is some of the information we are basing that decision on:
  • The Omicron variant passes from one person to another very quickly, quicker even than the Delta variant that has been the majority of our recent cases in Maine. The positive test rate for Kennebec county has gone from 5.5% as of our December council meeting to 12% as of yesterday's meeting. 
  • The majority of people who have been coming to worship in-person have the internet and can also worship through zoom.  
  • While we have a highly vaccinated and boosted congregation and require masks during indoor, in-person worship, we still don't have great ventilation in the sanctuary. That means that unvaccinated people in worship are still at high risk, even though this variant seems to not make people feel quite as bad as other ones did.  Other religious communities are making an ethical choice to continue to worship in their buildings, in part, because they have updated HVAC systems or have purchased air purifiers or are worshiping with open windows in winter so that the air can better circulate in their spaces. 
Though I hesitate to spell this out clearly (somebody knock on wood for me), I will say that I anticipate this period of on-line only worship to be short, particularly if other Mainers will also work to slow transmission in our state. If we can give our medical community a breather by working together to slow transmission, then necessary, but non-emergency, surgeries can resume, long waits for testing will ease off, and our emergency rooms will not be so full. When we talk about a Christian love of neighbor, this is what we mean: making some sacrifices to lighten the burden on people who are struggling a great deal. 

Continue to use the zoom link for worship that we send out in Newsy Notes. If you need it, please email me or call me at pastorchrissywcc@gmail.com or 207-358-9343. 

Pandemics do end. I promise. I'm grateful that we have some resources to continue to meet in remote ways in order to help our neighbors.

Pastor Chrissy*

*Here are the letters from the Maine Council of Churches and Maine Conference:
Looking for the Memorial Lights Form?  Memorial Tree Lights
 We are currently gathering for worship only through zoom (until Feb. 6th, 2022).
See you at 10 AM on Sunday mornings. Please contact the church office if you need the zoom link.
 ​We are an Open and Affirming Church.
What does that mean?

No matter who you are... No matter what your occupation...
No matter what your race or ethnicity... No matter what your age... No matter where you live... No matter what your sexuality or gender identity... 

No matter where you are on life's journey…
You are God's child and you are welcome here.   

When do we worship together?
We currently conduct Worship Services on ZOOM Sunday, 10:00 am

Where are we located?
10 Bowdoin Street, Winthrop, ME 04364
[on the corner of Main and Bowdoin streets]
Click here for map.

How can you reach us?
Tel: (207) 377-2063 or Leave a message at (207) 358-9343
E-mail: wccucc@fairpoint.net
Webpage: www.wccucc.org 
Church Office Hours
Tuesday & Thursday: 9 am - 1 pm

Mobility issues? Each floor of our church is accessible via elevator.

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Minister: Pastor Chrissy Cataldo ~ Office Administrator: Cyndi Hall
Our church is part of the United Church of Christ. For more information on The United Church of Christ (UCC), go to www.ucc.org. 

More information on the Maine Conference of the United Church of Christ can be found at www.maineucc.org.