News Updates
In-Person Service November 15 at 10AM
We are OPEN! But with caution……..
The Trustees have agreed that Bascomb UMC needs to reopen for the members who feel that in-person worship is an essential activity that does not pose too great a risk to their health. It has become clear that Cherokee County is not going to drop into the yellow or green level of infection
anytime soon. Many other churches, including United Methodist churches in our area, have now opened and we feel the need to provide in-person worship for those who intend to worship in-person somewhere. We have all come to understand this virus is going to be around well into the
new year, and we must learn to live with it as we adapt to these new ways of safely interacting:
masks, limited time inside, handwashing, distancing, avoiding group singing inside, air quality treatments, treated surfaces, and avoiding social interaction until you are outside in the fresh air.
Protocols for Bascomb in-person worship:
*Enter through the sanctuary ONLY using the propped doors to avoid touching handles.
*Masks are required – and wash and/or sanitize your hands (wipes are available) upon arrival and departure or when exiting the bathrooms (please use ONLY the bathrooms in the Narthex-Lobby).
*Every other row is blocked to maintain distance and space is provided between groups of seats to separate households. Please sit in household units ONLY – avoid sitting next to other households.
*Let the band and the choir sing for you – say the words in your heart as a prayer.
*Offering plates are available as you enter or depart the service.
*Please exit from back to front as the ushers direct – please do not gather until you are outside in the fresh air.
The Trustees understand that there are those AT RISK who should NOT consider being inside with groups (outside of their household) until a vaccine is widely distributed and our infection color is finally down into green. Online streaming will continue to be a priority; we will continue to broadcast on FM 95.3 in case you want to come sit in the parking lot and see folks as they leave. Numbers inside will be limited to under 100 in the sanctuary unless the state mandates a lower number. If that becomes an issue – we will attempt overflow in the fellowship hall.
Please see our Reopening Guidelines below.
Also, here is a link to the CDC Covid Information website.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Bascomb UMC – Reopen Plan
General Guidelines
Always apply during pandemic
These guidelines have been developed based on the guidance provided by Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson and the Cabinet of the North Georgia Conference.
Social Distancing rules apply.
- Maintain 6ft distance of all people.
- Masks are required inside the building.
- Fellowship Hall capacity will be reduced to 40 people.
- New Fellowship classroom capacity will be reduced to 10 people.
Bathroom Availability – Narthex only
Fellowship Hall entrance, Fellowship Hall Bathrooms, hall bathroom, kitchen, prayer room, library, chapel, upstairs (youth area), downstairs (see exceptions) are all closed.
No food allowed in the building.
Kitchen is not available.
All decisions will be made based on the Cherokee County color rating. This information can be found at https://globalepidemics.org/key-metrics-for-covid-suppression/
Filter Graph by Georgia / Cherokee County.
Reopening Stages
In-Person meetings are considered any meetings of 2 or more people that occur on the grounds of Bascomb United Methodist church, excluding Sunday Worship Services.
Red – Red – If the county is Red, the church is effectively closed.
| Church Building | Closed |
| In – Person Worship | None |
| Outside Meeting | None |
| In – Person Meetings | None |
| Staff | Remote |
Orange – Orange – If the county is Orange, the church is effectively closed.
| Church Building | Closed |
| In – Person Worship | None |
| Outside Meeting | Allowed if social distance guidelines are followed |
| In – Person Meetings | None |
| Staff | Remote |
Office activities will be managed by Tammy Smith, with an emphasis on working remotely.
Yellow – Yellow –
When the county moves to yellow, we will begin to allow additional groups to meet in the church. We will not begin right away. For In-Person meetings there must be two (2) consecutive weeks of yellow before we move to these lessened restrictions. In-Person worship may begin immediately upon movement to yellow.
| Church Building | Limited Open |
| In – Person Worship | Trustee Discretion |
| Outside Meeting | Allowed if social distance guidelines are followed |
| In – Person Meetings | Limited – See note below |
| Staff | In Building |
Available rooms for In – Person meetings: New Fellowship, Fellowship Hall
In – Person meetings will be available for groups that are comprised of entirely Bascomb UMC members.
Green – Green –
When the county moves to green, we will begin to allow additional groups to meet in the church. We will not begin right away. For In-Person meetings there must be two (2) consecutive weeks of green before we move to these lessened restrictions. In-Person worship may continue or begin immediately upon movement to green.
| Church Building | Open – See note below |
| In – Person Worship | Yes |
| Outside Meeting | Allowed |
| In – Person Meetings | Allowed – See note below |
| Staff | In Building |
Available rooms for In – Person meetings: New Fellowship, Fellowship Hall
In – Person Meetings will be available for groups that are comprised of entirely Bascomb UMC members or led by a Bascomb UMC member. Groups with no direct connection to Bascomb UMC will need approval from the Trustees.
General Exceptions
There are two groups who will be considered exceptions to this policy. The main factors driving these exceptions are the existence of a body of oversight and the ability to completely isolate to a distinct, unused portion of the church. All groups listed here will coordinate with the Trustee chair for any additional needs and report any Covid related incidents if they should occur.
Bascomb United Methodist Preschool and 3ECC
The preschool will have the space that they normally use available for exclusive use of the preschool. It is understood that they have additional requirements put in place for operation by the state and county for safe operation and these measures are considered additive to the above general requirements.
During the pandemic, BUMC Sunday school classes who normally meet downstairs will not utilize those classrooms.
During the pandemic, the preschool will not use any of the upstairs portions of the church. Any requests to use facilities outside of the downstairs preschool area will need to follow the guidelines for In-Person meetings.
Boy Scouts
The Boy Scouts will continue to have use of the Boy Scout hut. It is understood that they are following all guidelines set out by the Boy Scouts of America. These guidelines are considered additive to the general guidelines outlined above. The Boy Scouts are responsible for the cleaning of the Boy Scout hut.
During the pandemic, the Boy Scouts will not use any of the main church buildings. Any requests to use the church facilities outside of the Scout hut will need to follow the guidelines for In-Person meetings.
Online Worship Service
In order to continue providing our online worship services, the use of the sanctuary is needed by those groups that are key parts of the worship service. The A/V worship team, Praise Band, and Choir will have use of the sanctuary as needed to record and produce the online worship service. It is understood that these groups will maintain all social distancing guidelines and limit their use to the sanctuary only. The pastor shall coordinate the recording schedules to minimize the amount of people in the sanctuary at a given time.
It is recommended that the praise band meet once per week, and the choir meet once per month in order to capture the needed recordings. The A/V worship team will be in attendance for those recording sessions as well as the live broadcast on Sundays.
Additional recording times shall be allowed at the discretion of the pastor, who will notify the Trustee committee if the recommended schedules are exceeded.
Cleaning Requirements
When In-Person meetings are allowed, there will be cleaning requirements in order to use the rooms available. Cleaning supplies will be made available and located in the kitchen.
New Fellowship
- Wipe down all surfaces with bleach spray (diluted 2 oz per spray bottle).
- Sanitize all chairs with Odoban spray (diluted 2 oz per spray bottle). Spray fabric, does not need to be wiped off.
- Wipe light switches with bleach spray.
- Wipe down door and doorknob with bleach spray.
Fellowship Hall
- Wipe down all surfaces with bleach spray (diluted 2 oz per spray bottle).
- Sanitize all chairs with Odoban spray (diluted 2 oz per spray bottle). Spray fabric, does not need to be wiped off.
- Wipe light switches with bleach spray.
- Wipe down door and doorknob with bleach spray.
- Vacuum floor.
Bathrooms
- Wipe sink with bleach spray
- Wipe toilets with bleach spray
- Wipe stall doors and handles with bleach spray
- Wipe down door and doorknob with bleach spray.
- Empty Trash
- Replace paper towels and toilet paper if necessary. (Supplies available in the kitchen)
Narthex and Sanctuary (In Person Worship)
- Wipe down all surfaces with bleach spray (diluted 2 oz per spray bottle).
- Sanitize all chairs with Odoban spray (diluted 2 oz per spray bottle). Spray fabric, does not need to be wiped off.
- Wipe down end caps on rows of chairs with bleach spray.
- Wipe light switches with bleach spray.
- Wipe down all door and doorknobs with bleach spray.
- Vacuum floors.
- Mop front tile area by front doors.
- Windex main door windows.
- Wipe down front door handles and trim with bleach spray.