Caribbean L 24 ife, March 20-26, 2020
GodSquad shares tips for church
gatherings amid coronavirus pandemic
By Nelson A. King
Although many churches and places of worship
have already closed their doors amid the coronavirus
(COVID-19) pandemic, the 67th Police Precinct
Clergy Council in Brooklyn, otherwise known as the
GodSquad, in collaboration with New York Disaster
Interfaith Services (NYDIS), has issued vital tips for
church gatherings.
“Science and our creator-given reason demand that
we employ every means available to protect ourselves
Pastor Gil Monrose. and the vulnerable against the spread of COVID-19
and all public health hazards, least our houses of worship
become points of transmission,” said Pastor Gil
Monrose, the St. Croix and St. Thomas-raised chair
of the GodSquad.
“Health officials are advising that the elderly and
those with chronic lung disease, heart disease, cancer,
diabetes, or a weakened immune system should
avoid unnecessary events and gatherings,” he noted.
“Additionally, those who feel ill or sick should not
attend worship/gatherings to avoid exposing people
to their illness.
“Post signs at all entrances and communicate that
people feeling ill should not attend worship/gatherings,”
Pastor Monrose added. “When possible, they
may participate by internet or livestream – develop
the capability if it doesn’t exist and post URLs.”
He said all houses of worship should provide hand
sanitizing stations in their entry or sanctuary and
that Christians should suspend the use of holy water
stations.
Pastor Monrose also urged that religious leaders
and the faithful refrain from hand shaking, touching,
embracing or “reverencing the hands/rings of clergy
or ritual objects.
“Liturgical greetings should be replaced by a reverent
bow,” he said. “Congregant families may sit
together, but distancing of 4-6 feet between worshippers
should be considered in an enclosed space.
“Consider removing shared books and encourage
congregants to bring their own, or replicate all songs
and prayers into photocopied bulletins that can be discarded
after one use,” Pastor Monrose advised.
“Christian congregations who take holy communion
from a common cup (Chalice) should refrain from
self-intinction (dipping),” he added. “Consider distributing
a dipped host/bread into their palm.”
After every liturgy, Pastor Monrose said all surfaces
and ritual objects should be disinfected carefully.
He said post-liturgy greeting lines should be moved
outside or suspended.
“If your congregation has not done so already, consider
equipping your worship space with livestream or
webcam capability to allow the ill, elderly or vulnerable
to participate – which will prove useful in case of
future quarantine,” Pastor Monrose said.
He said pastoral visits, too, can be conducted virtually
via laptops, desktops and cell phone, or at a
congregants’ home by asking him or her to “come
outside and take a walk, weather permitting, for private
conversations.”
Affordable Housing for Rent
Convivium Apartments
35 NEWLY CONSTRUCTED UNITS AT 515 East 86th Street, New York, NY 10028
Upper East Side
Amenities: Laundry center*, childrensʼ playroom*, media lounge*, pet spa*, lobby lounge, ground floor lounge,
outside terrace with grilling stations*, ground floor office carrels*, reading room/co-working space*, dog run*, roof
terrace*, central landscaped interior courtyard*, bike storage*, individual storage facilities*, fitness center*, yoga
studio*, Spectrum-managed WiFi & cable TV* (*additional fees apply)
Transit: Trains: 4, 5, 6, Q; Buses: M31, M15
No application fee • No brokerʼs fee • Smoke-free building
This building is being constructed through the Inclusionary Housing Program and is anticipated to receive a tax exemption through the
421a tax incentive program of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development.
Who Should
Apply?
Individuals or households who meet the income and
household size requirements listed in the table below
may apply. Qualified applicants will be required to
meet additional selection criteria. Applicants who live
in New York City receive a general preference for
apartments.
A percentage of units is set aside for:
o Mobility–disabled applicants (5%)
o Vision/Hearing–disabled applicants (2%).
Preference for a percentage of units goes to:
o Residents of Manhattan Community Board 8 (50%)
o Municipal employees (5%)
AVAILABLE UNITS AND INCOME REQUIREMENTS
Unit Size
40% AREA
MEDIAN INCOME
(AMI) UNITS
Monthly Rent1 Units
Available Household Size2
Annual Household Income3
Minimum – Maximum4
Studio $747 14
1 person $ 25,612 - $ 29,880
2 people $ 25,612 - $ 34,160
Studio
60% AREA MEDIAN INCOME (AMI)
UNITS
$1,002 1
1 person $ 34,355 - $ 44,820
2 people $ 34,355 - $ 51,240
Studio $1,120 7
1 person $ 38,400 - $ 44,820
2 people $ 38,400 - $ 51,240
1 bedroom $1,074 1
1 person $ 36,823 - $ 44,820
2 people $ 36,823 - $ 51,240
3 people $ 36,823 - $ 57,660
1 bedroom $1,200 5
1 person $ 41,143 - $ 44,820
2 people $ 41,143 - $ 51,240
3 people $ 41,143 - $ 57,660
2 bedroom
80% AREA
MEDIAN
INCOME (AMI)
UNITS
$1,718 3
2 people $ 58,903 - $ 68,320
3 people $ 58,903 - $ 76,880
4 people $ 58,903 - $ 85,360
5 people $ 58,903 - $ 92,240
2 bedroom
130% AREA
MEDIAN
INCOME
(AMI) UNITS
$3,123 4
2 people $ 107,075 - $ 111,020
3 people $ 107,075 - $ 124,930
4 people $ 107,075 - $ 138,710
5 people $ 107,075 - $ 149,890
1 Landlord is responsible for all utilities.
2 Household size includes everyone who will live with you, including parents and children. Subject to occupancy criteria.
3 Household earnings includes salary, hourly wages, tips, Social Security, child support, and other income. Income guidelines subject to change.
4 Minimum income listed may not apply to applicants with Section 8 or other qualifying rental subsidies. Asset limits also apply.
How Do You Apply?
Apply online or through mail. To apply online, please go to nyc.gov/housingconnect. To request an application by mail, send a self-addressed envelope to:
CONVIVIUM APARTMENTS c/o 253 West 35th St., 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10001. Only send one application per development. Do not submit duplicate
applications. Do not apply online and also send in a paper application. Applicants who submit more than one application may be disqualified.
When is the Deadline?
Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than May 18, 2020. Late applications will not be considered.
What Happens After You Submit an Application?
After the deadline, applications are selected for review through a lottery process. If yours is selected and you appear to qualify, you will be invited to an
appointment of eligibility to continue the process of determining your eligibility. Appointments are usually scheduled from 2 to 10 months after the application
deadline. You will be asked to bring documents that verify your household size, identity of members of your household, and your household income.
Español Presente una solicitud en línea en nyc.gov/housingconnect. Para recibir una traducción de español de este anuncio y la solicitud impresa,
envíe un sobre con la dirección a: CONVIVIUM APARTMENTS c/o 253 West 35th St., 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10001. En el reverso del
sobre, escriba en inglés la palabra “SPANISH.” Las solicitudes se deben enviar en línea o con sello postal antes de 18 de mayo 2020.
nyc.gov/housingconnect : CONVIVIUM APARTMENTS
c/o 253 West 35th St.,3rd Floor, New York, NY 10001. “CHINESE”
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