2020 Volume 8

The Herald

September 2020

Great Ki l ls Moravian Church

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Letter to Parishioners and Friends of Great Kills Moravian Church – Pastor Tracy Pryor

Dear friends in the Lord,

On this beautiful day in September, I write to share some very good news concerning the way our Lord’s blessing has continued to be with us during this uncertain time. The virus will not defeat us. It may define our activity for a while, but it will not defeat us. During the pandemic we have celebrated the Resurrection of our Lord, provided over one-hundred hand-sewn masks, delivered prayer shawls of comfort, prayed for one another and all those in need, continued to meet together virtually or in-person for growth and learning in small groups, gathered weekly via Zoom to worship our Risen Lord, welcome a new member through Infant Baptism, remove a dying tree from the church lawn, install two new air conditioning units at the parsonage, provide new phone equipment in the offices, and upgrade computer technology we hope will improve the worship experience for all.

People have been asking when we will re-open for in-person worship and we appreciate the feedback we received from you via the survey. Our Joint Board has continued to meet monthly and I bring you good news from our August Joint Board meeting. Great Kills Moravian Church is planning to re-open our facility for in-person worship on Sunday, September 13th. This is the first time we will have the opportunity to worship together since March 15th.

Now that you know the tentative date for our re-opening, allow me to explain the details for this new adventure. As we gather to praise and worship our Lord God, our worship during the COVID 19 pandemic will look and feel different. We invite you to carefully review the many new additions and changes to how we plan to worship together in our sanctuary.

Our slogan for mask wearing is:

For the love of those in the building and the love of those who remain at home – wear your mask.

“We choose to wear a mask to show our love for one another.”

What changes WE made to the physical plant and procedures for this first day of public worship:

The back door facing Cleveland Ave will remain locked and passage through the lower floor discouraged with the exception of those needing elevette access. We ask ALL other worshippers to arrive through the front HILLSIDE TERRACE entrance. Those needing elevette service may call the number posted on the outside of the door and a masked greeter will meet you downstairs to receive your health questionnaire. Only one person is allowed in the elevette at a time and they will be expected to wipe down touch surfaces be-fore/after use. A sanitization station will be available upon entering/exiting the elevette. Upon arrival at the main HILLSIDE TERRACE door you will be met by a masked greeter who will receive your completed health questionnaire and invite you to sanitize your hands before entering the sanctuary.

We are required to wear a mask at all times in the building. If you have forgotten yours – we will provide you with one upon arrival.

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One bathroom on each level will be open (handicapped bathrooms only). Individuals are expected to maintain social distance of 6 ft while waiting in line, keep mask on, wash hands, and sanitize touch surfaces before/after each use. Wipes and sanitizer will be available.

We will NOT have a nursery open. (A changing table and courtesy screen for nursing will be available on the main sanctuary floor –please ask an usher/greeter). We are providing sanitizer stations in and around the narthex.

We are providing a “station” where you may put an offering in the plate and pick up a bulletin aid if you have chosen not to print out the one emailed or mailed to you. On Sundays when we celebrate communion an individualized “miracle meal” will also be available at this station. A separate “station” will be available in the overflow area.

At the door to the sanctuary a masked usher will greet you. We have roped off sections of the pews in the sanctuary where you can and cannot sit. An usher will meet worshipper(s) and walk them to a marked seating area. There is separate seating for families with children or larger households. We encourage people to sit by household. We also encourage social distancing.

Our ushers have been asked to seat persons by how they arrive and the number sitting together. You may be directed to sit in a different area than you are accustomed. We trust in your understanding and pa-tience as we strive to implement this new seating arrangement designed to ease our transitions in/out of the sanctuary. As able, and maintaining social distance, I will greet you in the sanctuary so as to minimize the need to “meet” me at the door upon exiting. At the end of the service we will use a “gradual dismissal” where I re-lease worshippers at a more gradual pace by area. The board members and staff are serving as in-person worship assistants for the first few weeks. Once we have this new routine down, our Head Usher will resume asking persons to serve as ushers/greeters. Our staff/volunteers will be asked to take temperature(s), fill out their health questionnaires at home, and arrive early in order to sign-in to assist with our contact tracing measures. All shared items have been removed: paper, tissues, pencils, Bibles, hymnals. Pew cushions will remain in place and will be spray sanitized weekly. The high-touch surfaces in sanctuary and re-opened areas will be cleaned weekly following worship.

What changes YOU can prepare for on this first day of public worship:

1. If you have a fever, cough, or congestion – if you do not feel 100% physically or just do not feel ready to return to the sanctuary for worship, STAY HOME. You may continue to join us online or by phone. Zoom will continue; however, we will discontinue recording our worship for later viewing. 2. To help get everyone in safely and efficiently we ask that you take your temperature (and those in your household) and fill out the Health Questionnaire attached to this newsletter AT HOME prior to arrival. You will need to hand the completed questionnaire to the greeter at the door. If you arrive without a Health Questionnaire for each person in your household you will be asked fill one out before entering the building (in case of inclement weather you may be asked to step to the side to fill out the form and/or wait until a space can be made available for you inside.) We may request to take touch-free temperatures of volunteers, staff, those displaying symptoms, and persons who have not filled out the form beforehand. Blank health questionnaires will be placed in the pews and you will need to take one with you for the following week or download and print one from our church website. 3. Wearing a mask for worship is required. If you cannot abide by that please stay home and worship with our congregation online. 4. We will not have in-person choral or congregational singing. Those participating on Zoom will continue to be able to sing and serve as assisting ministers. Musical leadership will continue to be provided virtually, pre-recorded, and/or occasionally live as available. 5. Social distancing will apply throughout the building and the sanctuary. This includes refraining from shak-ing hands, hugging, kiss of peace, fist bumps, or elbowing.

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Ministries and Events via ZOOM

Sunday School: Will resume virtually on September 20th, time TBD. Book Club and Aging Gracefully: Will resume in the fall. Gentle/Chair-supported Yoga with Pastor Tracy via Zoom Wednesdays 9:00am-10:00am. Pastor Tracy will lead a flowing yoga class to get the day started via Zoom. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/714272739?pwd=NFU1c2F3Z2dJSlFpUDVFTVVCVC8yZz09 Meeting ID: 714 272 739. Password: 893887 Dial in number +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)

6. Our downstairs nursery area is NOT open. Children ARE ALWAYS welcome but we will not provide the “quiet bags” with coloring pages/crayons/pencils. Please remember to bring your own “quiet bags” for now. A changing table and courtesy screen for nursing will be available on the main sanctuary floor – please ask ush-er/greeter. 7. Informational reminders will be posted throughout the facility encouraging us to: leave if we begin to feel symptomatic, maintain social distance, keep our masks on, wash hands, and sanitize.

What you will expect to experience for our first worship service together.

Prelude – via Zoom or pre-recorded

Welcome

Opening Prayer/Liturgy with music via Zoom or pre-recorded

Scripture Lessons

Message

Prayers of the People (updates or requests must be shared in advance of worship) Doxology – Prayer of Blessing

Lord’s Prayer Liturgy/Sending Music

News of the Church Alive (pre-printed or shared on-screen for now)

Closing Blessing

Postlude Music via Zoom or pre-recorded while Pastor dismisses by row

This worship may look and feel different but we planned our services with the idea of keeping everyone as safe as possible while continuing the engagement of those joining via Zoom. In order to accommodate some concerns about time indoors with masks we have eliminated fellowship before/after worship, congregational sharing of news/prayers during worship, additional service music, and children’s messages as we strive to re-open safely. We may need to make other changes as we go. After you ponder over these new changes and patterns for gathering together for worship, keep in mind, if you do not feel comfortable to abide by these changes or these new patterns, you may always continue to worship online.

If you have further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me by phone and I will do the best I can to help answer your questions and concerns.

I realize this is a lot of information for you to consider but I wanted to place this outline in your hands before our opening Sunday. These plans could change, of course, as we monitor the virus leading up to Sunday, September 13 and throughout the fall. These are straining days on us all but never forget all the verses of Psalm 136 and the opening line: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.”

We have endured many changes these past few months and some of these changes will continue long in-to the future. Thank you for your support and your reassurance for our ministry through your giving, words of grace, “never give up” attitude and more. We will get through this together. Let us “love the Lord and love one another” bearing witness to God’s love and serving one another in Christ’s name.

Looking forward to seeing you virtually or in-person very soon. In Christ, Pastor Tracy Pryor

62 Hillside Terrace

Staten Island, New York 10308

GREAT KILLS MORAVIAN

CHURCH

Phone: 718-317-7788 Fax: 718-356-2826 Email: pastor@greatkillsmoravian.org Email: office@greatkillsmoravian.org *Office: Mon- Thurs 9am - 1pm (*office hours subject to change)

"In essentials, unity;

in non-essentials, liberty;

in all things, love."

2020 VOLUME 8 THE HERALD PAGE 4

Website: www.greatkillsmoravian.org

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A Christian Church serving Staten Island since 1886

September Anniversaries

9/11 Evelyn & Jim Jimenez 9/16 Sonia & Al Schories 9/17 Nancy & Jim Doran 9/23 Enduela & Besnik Korbeci 9/26 Diane & Frank Gibbons 9/27 Susan & Benjamin Pulice

September

Birthdays 9/2 James Ruch, Jr. 9/6 Ellen Steele Sean Poole 9/7 Ryan Christie 9/14 Carmine Russo Brian Korbeci 9/17 Joan Cutting Sophia Scarpato Katie Rogers 9/18 Michael Crea, Jr. 9/20 Pastor Tracy Andrew Russo 9/27 Stephen Nasta 9/29 Allison Gibbons Tyler D’Avino

2020

Great Kills Moravian Church

We know that all things work to-gether for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Prayers for: Adam, Katie Burns-Amrheim, Baby Aria, Desmond Benimoff, Bilbao Family, Joseph Buffcusco, Scott and Marsha Carney, Meredith Cernek, Cascio Family, Rocky Chan, Pete Chiaracane, Christopher, Bob Cutting, Julianna Demaine, Joseph Desiderato and The Desiderato Family, Diane, Jessicia DiMartino, Valerie Ferguson, Anna Galicia, Matilde Gutierrez, Thomas Grykien, Janine Hergsell, Jason, Jen, Joe, Diane Gibbons, Bill & Sue Glynn, Henry, Jackie, Janice, Evelyn Justiniano, Robert Kalliffian, Kathy, Kelly, Linda, Giulianna LaHara, Juliana Walker-MacPhail, Mary Malandrucca, Susan Matthew, Donna Montanti, Claudia Morrison, Silvia Navarino, Peter, Mary Petrocelli, Barabara Pezzengrilli, Thomas Pezzengrilli, Karen Pisano, Tom Price, Susan Pulice, John Pumilia, Mike Raya, Rob, Rosanna, Sam and all Caretakers, Norma Smith. (Use the Praise & Prayer Request cards to add/remove names. A monthly

Joint Board News Joint Board met via Zoom on Tuesday, August 25 at 2pm. Next meeting is October 15, at 5pm.

Approved reopening plan and tech support for sanctuary. Approved replacement of two air condition-ing units for parsonage

Trustee/Bookkeeper Report for July Total Income: $4,922.44 (offerings, building usage, church events) Total Expenses: $20,350.57 Difference: -$15,428.13

From the Financial Secretary, please include your latest offering envelope or envelope number in memo of check when making a donation to the church. Questions about envelope number or online giving con-tact our Financial Sec Claudia McGloin.

Ministries and Events via ZOOM continued...

Bible Study continues to meet on Sundays 3:00pm-5:00pm via Zoom Grab your Bible or pull one up online at www.biblegatway.com or www.bible.oremus.org and join us for an online or call-in group study of the New Testament, contact Pastor Tracy for login information. All are wel-come! Join us in the Season of Pen-tecost for a study of the early church as we read the Acts of the Apostles and letters.

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Great Kills Moravian Church

62 Hillside Terrace

Staten Island, N Y 10308

Great Kills Moravian Church Worship in Place Weekly Scriptures If you miss our LIVE worship service you may join in the recorded services available on our church website 24/7.

September 6—Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost Ezekiel 33:7-11; Psalm 119:33-40; Romans 13:8-14; Matthew 18:15-20

September 13—Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost Genesis 50:15-21; Psalm 103:(1-7),8-13; Romans 14:1-12; Matthew 18:21-35

September 20—Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost Jonah 3:10-4:11; Psalm 145:1-8; Philippians 1:21-30; Matthew 20:1-16

September 27—Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost— If your birthday is in September, join us for a virtual birthday celebration following worship. Bring your own cupcake and candle. Ezekiel 18:1-4,25-32; Psalm 25:1-9; Philippians 2:1-13; Matthew 21:23-32

We encourage you to make use of the following for financial contributions:

https://paywithcardx.com/bpl/greatkill1,pt=default_invoice . Visit our website for a direct link or you may

send in a personal check with your offering envelope to our address: 62 Hillside Terrace Staten Island, NY 10308.