POLICIES
FOR RESUMING THE CELEBRATION OF THE EUCHARIST AT ST. STEPHEN’S
June 22, 2020
Beginning
on Sunday, July 12, after four months, we will finally (and tentatively) begin
public Celebration of the Eucharist in
our church building. However, there are several changes to how we worship that
we will be following. Here are the parameters for worship for the next few
months:
+
Following 6 foot spacing, we are able to use 6 pews. This would allow for 6
related units or 12 unrelated people or some combination thereof.
+ At this time, we need those who wish to come
to Mass to contact Senior Warden Jean Sando by the Thursday before the Mass (bachumom@gmail.com). We will allow for
the 12 people and they will be picked on a first-come basis. However, if people
have been to church twice in a month, others should be allowed to attend before
them to allow people to come for the following Sundays.
+
People wishing to attend Mass will be assigned a specific seat and the seating
chart will be printed each week and placed at the church.
+
All those attending Mass are expected to wear a face mask. Please bring your
own mask. You will be expected to wear your mask at all times during the Mass.
+ There will be hand sanitizer at the entrance
and in each open pew
+ There will be a
smaller altar party consisting of the Priest, Acolyte and either a Deacon or a
Worship Leader.
+
The Acolyte will sit to the far left of the acolyte pew.
+
The Acolyte will wear a mask at all times.
+
The Worship Leader will wear a mask except when leading the Prayers.
+
The Deacon will wear a mask except when reading the Gospel and leading the
Prayers.
+
The Priest will wear a mask on entering and leaving the nave and at the
distribution of Holy Communion. The Priest will not be wearing a mask during
the sermon or the celebration of the Mass.
+
The Lector will be allowed to take off their face mask while they are reading
the lessons.
+
Holy Communion will be served in one kind only (only the Host will be
distributed; the Cup will not be offered to the congregation at this time). The
Priest will use hand sanitizer before and after distribution. There will also
be an effort made not to touch hands when distributing the Host
+
There will be no kneeling at the altar rail for Holy Communion. People are
expected to stand in line maintaining a six foot distance from those around
them, and receive the Host from the priest at a single station before the altar
rail.
+
There will be no shaking of hands at the Exchange of the Peace. All are invited
to use a non-contact way of greeting.
+
There will be no congregational singing. All the music will be led by James,
and cantoring will be led by Michelle and/or James.
+ The entire liturgy will be printed in a
disposable booklet. The copies of the Book of Common Prayer in the pews will
not be used.
+
If you are sick, if you have any preexisting conditions that might be an issue
or if you have a fever or a cold, we ask that you not attend Mass.
+
Wednesday evening Mass will remain closed to public attendance, but will still
be livestreamed.
+
All our liturgies will continue to be livestreamed.
+
There will be no coffee hour at this time.
We
understand that some people may be upset or disappointed by these policies.
However, we are trying hard to make sure that we are fair to all people who
wish to attend Sunday
Mass while still keeping healthy standards in place.
Please
be aware that all these policies are in line with both CDC and Diocesan
standards for public worship.
If
you are concerned by any of these policies or if you are in any way
uncomfortable about attending public Mass at this time, please continue to join
us through our livestreamed Mass.
Fr. Jamie+ and the
Vestry of St. Stephen’s
