OUR RETURN TO IN-PERSON WORSHIP
Dear All Saints’ Family:
I write with an update on the resumption of in-person worship at All Saints’. Current local COVID-19 conditions indicate that we are ready for the next step in our parish re-opening process. To that end, we will return to in-person worship on October 18th for the 10:30 AM service. For the time being, our sole weekly liturgy in the church building will be Sunday Morning Holy Eucharist at 10:30 AM. This service will be live-streamed online. Daily Morning Prayer and Compline will continue online as well, viewable on our Facebook page.
Please remember that this is not a return to “normal” worship. Our congregation now includes in-person and online members. We will continue to focus on the entire community in worship. As well, please remember that in-person services will follow the Diocesan guidelines for reopening and the guidance of national, state and local health officials. New procedures and practices are in place to guard the health and shared life of our community.
The Apostle Paul wrote “Even though I can do it, maybe I shouldn’t do it.” (My paraphrase of I Corinthians 6:12 and 10:23.) While we are returning to in-person worship, I urge you to please consider carefully whether your in-person presence is appropriate. My priority, and that of the vestry, remains the health and safety of this community. COVID-19 presents a serious threat to personal and public health and the cautions with which we are familiar remain. If you have any underlying health conditions, have been sick recently, may have been exposed to COVID-19, are in fragile health in any way, or live with/care for someone in these situations, I urge you to please wait, for the time-being, until you return to church.
The 10:30 AM Sunday Service will continue to live-streamed utilizing our growing digital ministry capacity. Our new website features the service live-streamed right on our homepage. On top of that, our Facebook and YouTube live-streams will continue. Digital ministry is now, and will be, an integral part of our shared life at All Saints’. If you need any assistance accessing the online worship services, or any of the digital offerings of the church, please contact me or Janine Canady at the church offices as soon as possible. We have volunteers ready to help you get connected!
However you come to church, online or in-person, our bonds remain strong. We are held together by the broad arms of God’s Love, united in our call to be a diverse, inclusive, and embracing fellowship of prayer and action. We are a community seeking to move into this new life in grace and with peace. Thank you for taking your part in this unfolding journey.
This comes with my love, my prayers, and my gratitude.
In Christ,
Fr. Jonathan
FAQs
Please note: These guidelines are for our return to Sunday Service Worship ONLY.
At this time, the church will be unable to provide childcare during worship times, our formation classes will continue to be held online, and — for all intents and purposes — our church office and building remain closed to the public at this phase our reopening process.
1. What will be different about the service?
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You will need to bring your own prayer book and hymnal or use a personal electronic device — no worship bulletins will be distributed.
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The clergy will be using the physical space differently and the streaming equipment will be up and running in the space.
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We will have music; however, there will be no congregational singing.
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We may pass the peace verbally and visually to our neighbors, but we will not move from our seats or engage in any other physical contact with one another.
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Rather than passing an offertory plate, we will have an offertory plate in the Narthex to receive any donations. Place your donation in the plate either before or after the service.
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We will only provide Eucharist in the form of bread.
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Once service concludes, we ask that you wait for the cue from the Usher to leave.
2. How do we enter the church?
You will enter the church through the red doors ONLY. We will have greeters to guide you. The elevator will be available, as well as the staircase to access the Nave. As you enter the church, please note that traffic on the staircase will only be moving upwards. Ushers will be on hand to guide you to and from your seat.
3. What are the mask requirements?
All are required to wear masks during the entire service. With the exception of consuming the Eucharistic bread, your mask should never be removed.
4. Are reservations required?
At this moment, reservations are not required. However, in order to abide by the social distancing guidelines, our seating is limited.
5. What are the sanitation measures being taken?
The entire building is being scrupulously sanitized before and after service according to the DWTX guidelines.
6. What about Coffee Hour?
We will not be hosting a coffee hour before or after the service. All are invited to exit following the service and not congregate for visits inside of the building.
7. What if I don't feel comfortable attending in-person services?
Our online service will continue at the same time and is now available for live-stream right from our website's homepage.