The church is meant to be a sanctuary for believers to reflect on their faith and their lives. However, it’s important that churches provide a safe and sanitary environment for worshippers to convene and reflect. Whether it’s attending mass or a church function, it’s important to keep the grounds clean. Here are some suggestions to make sure that your parishioners are having their needs best met when it comes to cleanliness.
Checking the Thermostat
It’s important to maintain proper HVAC system maintenance to assure that church facilities aren’t freezing cold or piping hot, leading to discomfort for worshippers right in the middle of service. Be aware of issues that could cause inaccurate thermostat readings, triggering heat or air conditioner on unnecessarily, and sending energy bills soaring. For example, having a thermostat located in a spot where it is susceptible to direct sunlight can cause too high of a temperature reading, which may turn on the AC when it’s unnecessary. Be sure to have a new thermostat set up in an accessible spot away from windows and doors, as well as direct sunlight, to avoid false readings.
It’s important to keep your HVAC unit clean. This means regularly changing air filters to prevent the buildup of dust and other allergens. This includes regular cleaning of ductwork and air vents by a licensed HVAC technician to ensure better indoor air quality for your parishioners. Regular checks will make sure there are no cracks in the system, causing the leakage of refrigerant that could be preventing cooler airflow. This will also eliminate debris that could cause equipment to break down in an HVAC system.
COVID-19 Compliance
The COVID-19 pandemic has only furthered the importance of maintaining regular cleaning habits within church facilities. It’s important for churches to adhere to protocols set forth within their jurisdiction to determine how many worshippers can attend a service at a given time. This could be as simple as addressing common problems like mask requirements and social distancing. Allow for downtime between events to allow for proper cleaning of surfaces before welcoming in a new crop of believers, letting facilities air out to avoid a strong chemical odor.
COVID-19 protocols have also changed the approach to handling religious supplies. For example, chalices were set aside for fear of transmitting the virus to others. Companies specializing in church supplies have now offered individual serving sizes of communion wine to make sure the sacraments are carried out safely. This includes doing away with altar breads, in favor of distributing individual wafers at the end of mass. Holy water fonts were also considered a matter of concern, but proper sanitation procedures have been taken to allow parishioners access to holy water.
Volunteer Help
Just like you would in pre-COVID times, it’s important for churches to welcome the help and consideration of parishioners in keeping their facilities safely operational. A clean and safe environment is a common reason for worshippers to unite in their faith. It’s important to make sure that all hallways and areas of these facilities are properly cleaned before and after any events, from services to group meetings.
This can also delve into helping monitor proper social distancing, making sure that cleaning supplies are readily accessible in meeting settings, such as hand sanitizer. The distribution of individual prayer books allows for a personal touch, providing religious gifts that allow for a better understanding of the Good Book without having to share for the time being. Through these trying times, our faith has been a great beacon of light. It’s important to continue this good stewardship beyond what the pandemic had wrought.
