In total, Faith City church service is about 75 minutes in length.

Services begin with the Faith City worship team leading the church in music.

• Song lyrics are projected onto the screens so you can sing along and/or engage with worship however, you feel most comfortable.
• We have people from all walks of life so we love people to raise their hands, sing along, clap and fully engage in worship!
• After the music portion of the service is complete, one of our elders will encourage us about generosity.
• One of our pastors will come out to share an encouraging and life-changing message about Jesus.

We live stream all of our services on our Facebook Page

Faith City Church East side.

GW Carver Cultural Center

871 E 7th St.

St. Paul, MN 55106

Guidelines regarding COVID-19 for FAITH CITY CHURCH (FCC) from the pastor and church board: 

Any time people gather together poses a risk for COVID-19 transmission. All groups that congregate at this location will follow this guidance to minimize the opportunity for COVID-19 transmission. The guidance below will help FCC reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the community. 

It is strongly recommended all who spend time at FCC become fully vaccinated.  For guidance on vaccinations, please refer to the following web pages:  https://www.stpaul.gov/departments/emergency-management/coronavirus-covid-19, https://www.ramseycounty.us/covid-19-info/covid-19-vaccine 

It is recommended that all people who are not fully vaccinated, should continue to wear a face covering and maintain social distancing in indoor public settings.

This guidance covers the following topics:

• Vaccination
• Social Distancing and Minimizing Exposure
• Vocalists, Musicians and Performers
• Face Coverings 
• Cleaning and Hygiene
• Monitoring for Symptoms
• Combatting Misinformation
• Ventilation Systems
• Additional Resources

Vaccination

This information is available to all staff, volunteers and attenders. 

It is strongly recommended at FCC: 

• All staff and volunteers be encouraged to get fully vaccinated.
• All staff and volunteers report their vaccination status to the board.
• Require staff who are unvaccinated, or do not disclose vaccine status, to participate in screening testing programs. 

Social Distancing and Minimizing Exposure

Social distancing is a key tool to decrease the spread of COVID-19. Social distancing (“physical 

distancing”) means keeping space between yourself and other people outside of your home. If you are not fully vaccinated (meaning 2 weeks after the last vaccine dose of a series), stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) from other people; do not gather in groups; stay out of crowded or poorly ventilated indoor places and avoid mass gatherings. 

FCC encourages all people who are not fully vaccinated to maintain social distance from others who are not in their household because it can be hard to know who is vaccinated and who is not. 

To the best of its’ ability, FCC will:

• Consider holding worship services outdoors when practical and virtually. 
• Space seating arrangements so there are 6 feet between groups who live in the same household, in both indoor and outdoor settings. 
• Encourage avoidance of physical contact among attendees as permissible within the community’s faith tradition, including hugging, kissing, shaking hands, etc.
• In indoor and outdoor areas where people gather, provide floor markings at six-foot intervals to encourage social distancing.
• Clearly mark designated entry and exit points; when FCC has only one entry/exit point, stagger entry and exit times if possible.
• Increase circulation of outdoor air as much as possible by opening windows and doors, using fans, or other methods. Do not open windows and doors if they pose a safety risk. 

Vocalists, Musicians and Performers

Indoor group singing and using of wind instruments can increase risk of transmission. Avoid risks by considering alternative options.

• Limit the number of performers or vocalists. Avoid group or congregational singing. 
• Use pre-recorded music (audio/ video) or use alternative musical instruments. 
• Performers must maintain at least six feet distance from any spectators or be separated by plexiglass or some other impermeable barrier. Clean and disinfect barriers after each use.
• All performers should stand at least six feet apart from other performers. 
• Length of instruments should be accounted for when determining physical distancing.

Face Coverings 

FCC provides the following guidance on face coverings: 

• All staff, volunteers, and attendees that are not fully vaccinated should wear a face covering when they are indoors and maintain physical distance from others, unless an exception applies.
• All staff, volunteers, and attendees, including those fully vaccinated, should wear a face covering when they are in indoors in counties of high or substantial levels of transmission as defined by the CDC or if mandated by the City of St. Paul, Ramsey County or State of MN.
• FCC will make face covers available to all those entering if they do not have their own.  
• FCC will post signage saying all staff, volunteers and attendees (all entering the facility) should wear a face covering according to the current church, city county or state requirements.   

Cleaning and Hygiene 

Wash hands with soap for 20 seconds or using hand sanitizer with 60% or more alcohol content to reduces the spread of transmission. 

FCC will adhere to the following practices for cleaning and hygiene:

• Clean surfaces a minimum of once a day (on days of occupancy), prioritizing high-touch surfaces. If there has been a sick person or someone who tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 24 hours, clean and disinfect the space using an EPA approved disinfectant for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19).
• Systematically and frequently check and refill hand sanitizers and assure soap and hand drying materials are available at sinks.
• Provide alcohol-based hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol) at entrances and exits and near high-touch areas.
• Promote frequent use of hand washing and hand sanitizer for staff and attendees. Require handwashing of staff immediately upon reporting to work, after contact with individuals, after performing cleaning and disinfecting activities, and frequently throughout the day. 

Monitoring for Symptoms 

Staff, volunteers, attendees, and visitors are encouraged to self-monitor for symptoms such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath or recent loss of smell or taste. 

If staff or volunteers develop symptoms while at home, they should not come to church.  

If staff or volunteers develop symptoms while on site, they should notify their leader and return home.

Attendees or visitors with symptoms should be instructed to return home as well. More information on how to monitor for symptoms is available from the CDC.

FCC provides the following guidance on monitoring for symptoms:

• • Immediately separate visitors or attendees from others if symptoms develop and advise that they go home.  This should be done as politely as possible. 
  • Immediately remove staff or volunteers from activities if symptoms develop and advise that they go home.
  • Staff or volunteers who have symptoms when they arrive at church or become sick during the day should immediately be separated from other employees, volunteers, attendees, and/or visitors and sent home with a recommendation to get a clinical assessment
  • Signage will be posted at the main entrance requesting that people who have been symptomatic with fever and/or cough, not enter.

• The following is guidance for any staff or volunteer who has tested positive for COVID-19 or is presumed positive by a medical professional due to symptoms.  As of Dec. 27, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines state that following a positive COVID-19 test everyone, regardless of vaccination status, can leave isolation after five days if they have no symptoms or if their symptoms are resolving. If the isolating person has a fever after five days, they should continue to stay at home until their fever goes away. The five-day countdown starts after a positive test, even if symptoms manifest a few days later, a CDC spokesperson clarified.

• Additionally, anyone who has not received a booster vaccine or completed their regular vaccine doses within the last six months is recommended to quarantine for at least five days and wear a mask for an additional five days if exposed to someone with COVID-19. Those who have received a booster dose or have recently completed the full vaccine course don’t have to quarantine but are recommended to wear a mask around others at all times for 10 days. The CDC recommends that anyone exposed to COVID-19 be tested on the fifth day, if possible.

• Addendums will be added to the end of this document which update the guidance on testing positive or presumed positive based on symptoms.  The addendums will correspond to the latest updated information from the CDC, state or local agencies whichever has the highest jurisdiction.  

Combatting Misinformation

This FCC COVID 19 guidance document is referencing directly from reliable resources. These include:

1. CDC as of January 2022
2. North Carolina Dept. of Health and Human Services: Interim Guidance for Places of Worship and Religious Services (Aug. 30, 2021)
3. Toronto Public Health: COVID-19 Guidance for Places of Worship (Nov. 30, 2021)

FCC will make this document and information available to all staff, volunteers, and attendees by posting on the church website and upon request.   

Ventilation Systems

FCC will work with the landlord to ensure ventilation systems operate properly and increase circulation of outdoor air as much as possible by opening windows and doors, using fans, or other methods. 

Additional Resources

• CDC: FAQs for Administrators and Leaders at Community- and Faith-Based Organizations, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/community-faith-based/faq.html
• CDC: Interim Guidance for Administrators and Leaders of Community- and Faith-Based   Organizations to Plan, Prepare, and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/guidance-community-faith-organizations.html
• CDC: Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers   https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.html
• CDC: Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility   https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/disinfecting-building-facility.html
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2  https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Food Safety and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)   https://www.fda.gov/food/food-safety-during-emergencies/food-safety-and-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/Occupational Safety and Health Administration 

(OSHA): Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19  https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3990.pdf