Reopening update: Zoom streams of sacrament meeting will end after this Sunday, 11 July 2021

This message was sent to all ward members via email, 9 July 2021.

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Dear brothers and sisters,

We have decided to change the date that Zoom streams of sacrament meeting will end. Sacrament meeting will no longer be streamed after church this Sunday, 11 July 2021.

We continue to post updates on the reopening page on our ward website.

Reminder of COVID-19 guidelines

As you return to in-person meetings, please follow these guidelines:

• Masks required: You must wear a mask over your nose and mouth at all times while in our church building whether you are vaccinated or not, unless you are speaking or praying at the pulpit or partaking of the sacrament. This includes wearing a mask while singing.
• Physical distancing: Maintain physical distancing of 6 feet (2 meters) from those not in your household. This includes sitting on alternating rows in the chapel as indicated.
• Follow signage: Follow instructions on signage throughout the building. All signage has been updated and out-of-date signage has been removed.
• If you have any symptoms of COVID-19, STAY HOME. Do not attend church meetings or other activities and put others at risk.
• Get vaccinated: Get vaccinated as soon as possible. The Jamaica 1st Ward will be hosting a vaccination clinic next Wednesday, 14 July 2021, 1.00–9.00pm.

Why are we making this change?

If you have joined us via Zoom in recent weeks — or tried to join us — you may have noticed the technical difficulties we have experienced. Dealing with the technology, especially when we have technical difficulties, has used up a significant amount of my time and energy that could be better spent on other work in the ward. Additionally, we have a very limited number of people in the ward with the experience needed to make the technology work well. We want to be careful not to be too much of a burden on them. Further, as members have returned to in-person meetings, the number participating via Zoom has dwindled. Very few members have participated via Zoom in recent weeks. The benefit of continuing to stream via Zoom does not seem to outweigh the difficulty of making it available.

Please know that we did not make such a decision lightly, and we don’t want to do anything that would cause members and visitors to feel more distant from the ward and the church, especially after such a difficult year. All members and friends are welcome to join us in person, and please know that we are doing everything we can to make our in-person church meetings and activities a safe and uplifting experience for everyone.

Sincerely,

Dustin Tyler Joyce
Bishop, Jamaica 1st Ward
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints