Guidelines & Protocols for In-Person Worship During COVID-19

• Always practice the Five Core Principles: Physical distancing of 6ft or more, face-covering (recommended), frequent hand-washing, disinfecting, and staying at home if you are sick.
• The back entrance into the welcome center will open at 10:20 am for those needing elevator access. All others are asked to enter through the 3rd Avenue doors. They will open at 10:30 am. We encourage those using the 3rd Avenue doors to park in the upper part of Morgan St. parking lot or on the street.
• Face coverings are recommended upon entry and throughout the duration of the service.
• In order to physically distance while seated, please sit ONLY in pews that have cushions. Sit with family or those you are in close contact with on a regular basic. Otherwise, keep a minimum of 6ft in between.
• Avoid physical contact such as handshaking, fists or elbow bumps or hugging.
• No offering plates will be passed during the service. However, we will place stations at entrances to the sanctuary in which you can place an offering.
• We encourage you not to linger inside the sanctuary. Please consider utilizing our outdoors space for socializing.

Organ

The architects designed Central UMC to accommodate a large pipe organ. The church began looking for an organ once the building was finished. In the meantime, a grand piano was used. Central did not obtain an organ until 1935 because of the financial difficulties of the new church. When the Riviera Theater removed its Wurlitzer pipe organ, a church member had it repaired and installed in the sanctuary. The current pipe organ at Central UMC arrived in 1958. M.P. Möller Company installed their Opus 9089. The instrument reflects organ building practices of this era, particularly the practices of M.P. Möller. The Möller installation was completed very professionally, and is still providing the church dependable service.

The organ consists of three manuals, 35 stops and 42 ranks spread over five divisions: great, swell, choir, pedal, and antiphonal. The organ is placed for speaking into the large sanctuary. The main organ speaks directly into the nave. The antiphonal organ speaks to the rear window and is more of an echo organ. The swell, choir, and antiphonal divisions are enclosed meaning the volume of these divisions is controlled by shutters opening and closing.