Meeting for Worship

Opening for Meeting for Worship Guidance Document Colchester QuakersNovember 2021

Premises committee, which has the brief to review the Covid risk assessment and guidance for hirers and ourselves met on November 3rd.Covidis still prevalent and infections are not under control.We suggest the following to try and keep each other safe. We will continue to keep this under review.Changes from September guidance are in red.

Safety- Please do not attend the meeting if you think you may have Covid or have been asked to self-isolate because you have been in contact with someone who has.

Hygiene- Please use the hand sanitiser provided at the entrance.

Face-coverings- It is suggested that Friends wear face coverings in the meeting house when moving around. You may wish to lower them when sitting, to minister, give notices etc.

Online Meetings- Will continue and blended meetings now take place on the first and third Sundays of the month.

Social Distancing- Chair placement in the meeting room has been returned to ‘normal’. Friends are advised to sit at a chair’s distance from people you do not live with.

Attendance- We are back to normal numbers. We ask that a record be kept of the contact details of new attendees.

Children- Children’s meetings have also been reintroduced. All age worship will take place on the first Sunday of January and then alternate months. Provision will be made for children’s activities after the first 10 minutes other than in the Meeting room. Children are welcomeprovided a parent is also present.

Car Parking- The car park is open only for those with mobility issues, there are 3 spaces. Please note the gate is closed by the caretaker when she goes off duty at 12 noon.

Smoking- Please do not smoke on meeting house premises including the grounds.

Reading Material- The library is open, please ask Melanie our librarian if you want to borrow something.

Ventilation- The MeetingRoom will be ventilated with only the upper windows in the cold weather. The sliding door to the Meeting Room will be closed.

Caretaking- The Meeting House and Room will be prepared in advance by the caretaker and closed following the meeting. If you wish to stay after 12 noon please exit by the emergency exit between the notice board and the meeting room and ensure the door is firmly closed.

Use of the kitchen. The kitchen is open for use provided no more than three people are in the room at any one time. We only allow one hirer at a time to use it, and this is working well. They book the use with Melanie when booking.

Attending the Meeting

 We will keep to the door keeping arrangements and we will be asking for names only in case anyone does become unwell, please let us know if this happens. Only leave your contact details if we do not already have them on record.

 Friends are asked not to chat in the Meeting Room prior to 10.30 to allow Friends to settle into the meeting. We request the use of face masks and the maintaining of safe distances where possible about the building before and after Meeting for Worship. We ask due regard to the settling meeting when arriving and greeting Friends beforehand in the foyer.

 Meeting will start at 10.30 as usual.

 Elders are endeavouring to always have at least one member of their present each Sunday. They are responsible for ending the meeting.News of friends and notices will then be undertaken by the Meeting Room door keeper.

 The role and seating of Elders in the meeting room for online for blended meetings has yet to be clarified.

 Premises committee are very happy for refreshments to be served at the end of Meeting provided as many precautions can be maintained as possible. Of course, facemasks must be removed to eat or drink, so just be as distanced as practical. Wipes are available for surfaces used after clearing up.

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