Dear Church Family,
I’m getting this letter out a little later than I hoped; dealing with some unexpected home repairs this week (new A/C and furnace!) that held me up. Shout out to Jon Crawford who helped craft much of the language in this letter it was a very present help to me in a time of need!
I thought I’d take the opportunity to share some guidelines we have around the safety of our children. Many of these are not new but I know many of us who attend the Table are new(er) and we could all use a refresh and to make some things explicit.
We share our building with many other organizations and have a door leading outside just a few steps away from the Chapel we meet in on Sundays for worship. In order to maintain responsible safety for our kiddos we ask that children 10 and under remain with their parents, guardians, or siblings 16+ at all times while on church premises. This includes before, during, and after services, as well as trips to the bathroom and any other activities within the building.
Our current building has numerous exits and many visitors, which can make it challenging to keep an eye on everyone. By having young kids stay close to their parents and caregivers we can ensure they are safe amidst the hustle and bustle.
After services, we have a couple of ideas to help everyone connect while keeping the kids secure:
- Parlor Gathering: You can head to the parlor with your kids to visit and fellowship with other parents.
- Outdoor Area: If the weather is nice, the fenced-in area right outside the door is perfect for kids to play while parents chat and keep an eye on them.
- Playground by parking lot: we have an after-church Table Group that meets outside (weather permitting) at the playground near the parking lot. You can join them for lunch and conversation if that appeals to you.
We’re still figuring out what our policies and procedures will look like in the new building once we move in October, so these guidelines will serve us for the next few months until we move. Additionally, we are working to get compliant with The Episcopal Safe Church, Safe Communities policy. You can follow the link to learn more about that, and check out our diocesan page on child safety, too.
We truly appreciate your partnership in making The Table a safe and loving place for our children and everyone who comes through our doors. If you have questions I’d love to hear them just shoot me an email or grab me on Sunday morning or next time you see me.
Grateful to serve as your Priest, for the sake of Christ and his Church,
Fr. Matt
