March 12, 2020

Dear Beloved UUFRC Community,

With much sadness and regret, we write to inform you about our updated response to the threat of the COVID-19 virus. The UUFRC Board met last night to consider further how our fellowship can best respond to the threat of the spread of the virus. Our primary intentions are to keep our community and others safe and to make sure that we can continue to support one another during this uncertain and challenging time.  To that end, we made some important policy decisions that will affect all of us for at least the next three weeks.  But we also hope that this time of social distancing does not become one of social isolation and that we can all find creative ways to continue to experience fellowship–whether virtually or in small groups–as well as to care for our most vulnerable members.

The Board appreciates everyone’s cooperation in order to preserve public safety.  We acknowledge that these changes are sudden and will inconvenience people.  Please read the policies below carefully keeping in mind that they are temporary and will be reconsidered at the end of March.

Following CDC recommendations to cancel large gatherings, all meetings, activities and other uses of our UUFRC building by anyone, other than those needed for the business office and Gretchen’s counseling, are not permitted until March 31st.    We will reassess this policy at the end of that time.  If the CDC recommendations change before March 31st, we will reevaluate this decision.   

During this time, we encourage you to find ways to remain connected to one another by holding your usual committee meetings and activities virtually.   Consider trying out video or audio technology such as conference calls, Zoom, Google Hangout, or FaceTime.  We will also be trying out ways to post or stream Sunday sermons. If you have questions about how this will affect your committee meeting, event or function, please contact the event organizer who can then bring the question to the UUFRC Board for clarification. 

Open Gate Nursery School, which meets in our building during the day, is following Redwood City Public School policies on disinfection and has not cancelled classes for students at this time. It has cancelled all other meetings and adult classes. We are honoring Open Gate’s decisions about whether or not to restrict its activities.  

We are actively seeking volunteers to help the Connections Committee and the Caring Committee to assist people affected in order to maintain the physical and spiritual health of the congregation. This might be getting or delivering food or supplies or calling to check in with someone.  Danielle Stagner, Co-Chair of the Caring Committee, has agreed to be a contact person for those wishing to help. 

We do not take these decisions lightly and hope you will understand we are coming from a place of concern and love for our community in order to best protect our members through this uncertain time. 

Sincerely,

the UUFRC Board, Steve Hill, President; 

Suzanne Griffin, Beth Harrison, David Stoutamire, Chris Stovall, David Vallerga, Stephen Webster; and the Rev. Dr. Gretchen Woods, AIM