St. Stephen's will re-open to public worship on July 12

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