Resuming In-Person Worship Attendance
May 1, 2022

The church sanctuary is now open weekly on Sunday morning. In-person attendance is for the worship service only. An outdoor Coffee Hour on the church lawn will follow the service. You can read this post for more details on how to register in advance for the Sunday service and what Covid safety guidelines will be in place. Walk-ins are welcome on Sunday morning space permitting. Our capacity limit is now up to 50 people. The Worship & Hospitality Teams look forward to welcoming you to the sanctuary!

Currently the new ventilation system is expected to be installed in late May and we hope the building will be open and welcoming everyone back in mid-late June.  Read the latest updates on the AQP project here.

The Covid-Task Force has provided invaluable guidance during the Covid pandemic and the minutes for the past two years can be found here.

Watch for updates on the building reopening, committee meetings and other events happening in the building in the UCM Weekly Announcements.

Unitarian Church of Montpelier Covid Safety Policies
February 23, 2022

As we begin to re-open for services and other activities, we do so knowing that there are tools and strategies we can employ to reduce the risks associated with the Covid-19 pandemic and gather with relative safety. The UCM Executive Team has adopted a set of policies and guidelines upon the recommendations of the Covid-19 Response Task Force that allow us to gather in person even while some risk remains. The ET and Covid Task Force will regularly evaluate the necessity of these policies as circumstances change.

Please review the following policies and guidelines as you prepare to engage with in-person church activities. We understand that all church members and friends will need to make their own decisions about the level of engagement with in-person activities that is right for them. You may address any questions or concerns to the UCM Executive Team.

Covid Safety Policies as of 2-23-22_ET approved.

From May 31, 2021

The UCM COVID-19 Task Force, led by Chair, Scott Hess, continues to meet on a regular basis. We make recommendations to the Executive Team (ET) and Governing Board. Discussions relate to our building, as well as meeting and reopening protocols. We are guided by scientific fact, without the economic and political influences that our federal and state officials have to contend with. Please continue to visit our UCM website for updates and information, as it is regularly updated. Our group always welcomes and encourages your comments and feedback during this critical time. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or comments. See our Weekly e-News for details.

From May 9, 2021: 

Our UCM COVID-19 Task Force has been working together with the UCM Governing Board and Leadership to draft safe reopening guidelines and church policies to help us be in community together while staying safe. The guidelines were developed with our shared UU values in mind — balancing welcoming and inclusion with the safety of all, especially the most vulnerable among us. We encourage you to watch the video address (below) by UUA President Rev. Dr. Susan Frederick-Gray, as it has informed the work of those who are supporting the UCM reopening process.

Guidelines for Reopening

The recently finished Reopening Guidelines were vetted by the Executive Team (ET) and approved by the UCM Governing Board on May 4, 2021. These guidelines offer a two-phase reopening plan, based on state-wide health metrics, including new cases and vaccinations, Vermont and CDC guidelines, UUA recommendations, and the building air quality project.  

Until the metrics described in Phase 1 are met, here are a few things to know:

• Our building continues to be closed to the public, for rentals, and unfortunately to our UCM members and friends until further notice
• Staff and certain volunteers have access to the building and are expected to follow strict safety protocols upon entering the building
• Services will be conducted online through the end of the church year
• Internal and external community health metrics that guide our reopening are assessed regularly by the Covid-19 Task Force and the congregation will be notified when they meet the Phase 1 requirements
• CovidActNow, an independent nonprofit, tracks a variety of Vermont health metrics and daily information can be found here.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about reopening can be found here. We will be updating the information as it becomes available.

Upcoming Congregational Events to Learn More:

In the coming weeks, the UCM Governing Board, the Executive Team (ET) the Covid-19 Task Force, and the Property Committee will host a series of presentations and listening events to be in conversation with the congregation about the reopening guidelines and recommended air quality improvements. The Annual Meeting on May 16th, following worship, will include an important presentation regarding reopening that we hope you will attend. Please check back here and the E-News for the scheduled events as they take shape. If you have questions or feedback, you can email.

VIDEO: UUA President, Rev. Dr. Susan Frederick-Gray, on Covid-19, our Values, and Plans for Regathering

Watch the video by UUA President, Rev. Dr. Susan Frederick-Gray; read the transcript; and access additional resources here to learn more about Addressing Pandemics in Your Community, from the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), including the UUA’s Guidance on Gathering In-Person When COVID-19 Subsides.

Who has been/is currently part of this process?

UCM’s COVID-19 Task Force (2021-22): Elaine Ball, Claudia Clark, Barbara Conrey, Liza Earle-Centers, Scott Hess (Chair), Judith Hinds (Secretary), Rev. Joan Javier-Duval, Cassandra Maddison, Jennifer Matthews, Janet Poeton, Verdis LeVar Robinson, Noah Sexton

UCM’s Executive Team (2021-22): Rev. Joan Javier-Duval, Claudia Clark, Dawn Evans, and Leslie Parr

UCM’s Governing Board (2021-22): Denise Bailey (Member-at-large), Vic Guadagno (President), Ryan Kane (Vice President), Hugo Liepmann (Member-at-large), Ansel Ploog (Member-at-large), Charlotte Root (Financial Officer), Meredith Warner (Member-at-large)

UCM’s Property Committee (2021-22): Allen Clark, Abby Colihan, Beth Damon, Kris Hammer, Phil Morse, Mary Jane Ohlson, Paul Ohlson, Bill Pelton, Peter Thoms, Vicky Viens

UCM’s COVID-19 Task Force (2020-21): Elaine Ball, John Bond, Kathleen Bryant, Rhoda Chickering, Claudia Clark, Barbara Conrey, Liza Earle-Centers, Scott Hess (Chair), Judith Hinds (Secretary), Rev. Joan Javier-Duval, Tina Muncy, Janet Poeton, Noah Sexton

UCM’s Executive Team (2020-21): Rev. Joan Javier-Duval, Claudia Clark, Dawn Evans and Leslie Parr

UCM’s Governing Board (2020-21): Vic Guadagno (President), Paul Hartmann (Vice-President), Ryan Kayne (Secretary), Charlotte Root (Financial Officer), Sue Stukey (Member-at-Large), Hugo Liepmann (Member-at-Large), Meredith Warner (Member-at-Large)

Property Committee (2020-21): Allen Clark, Beth Damon, Phil Morse, Paul Ohlson (Chair), Bill Pelton, Peter Thoms