UPDATED Covid Protocols (as of April 1): A Return to "Normal"

April 1, 2022

Dear St. Stephen’s members and friends,

It is with great joy (and a bit of trepidation) that I can announce that as of April 1, and with the steady waning of the Covid pandemic, we will once again return fully to pre-pandemic standards at St. Stephen’s. As we approach the Easter season, it is time to celebrate the ending of this dark and terrible time in our common lives, give thanks to God for bringing us through and to come back together after two years of separation.

I, along with the Wardens and Vestry, am inviting and encouraging all parishioners to return to in-person worship if they are able.

Please be aware that as we come together again, there will be a few new ways of doing church that we will continue to follow:

MASKING:  Masks are no longer required for any liturgies, coffee hour or any other in-building gathering at this time, though anyone who needs to wear a mask should do so.

PASSING THE PEACE: We will continue to use touch-free greetings.

 OFFERING: We will continue to use the plates at the front of the church. There will be no more “passing of the plate” at the offering.  

 HANDOUTS: We will continue to use disposable booklets for all liturgies.

 FOOD:  Coffee Hour is re-instated as it was before the pandemic.

 ONLINE WORSHIP: Online worship through Livestream will continue ONLY for Sunday morning and Wednesday Masses. All other liturgies will be in-person only. We will soon be moving the camera and its computer out of the aisle and into a less visible space.

IN-PERSON WORSHIP: We encourage all parishioners who are able to begin attending our liturgies in person.

 VACCINATIONS:  If you have not been vaccinated and you are able, please get vaccinated very soon.

Please plan to join us once again in person at St. Stephen’s. There are familiar old faces as well as many new ones; there are beautiful new additions to the church building and new ways of worshipping (we are now using gender-neutral language for God in all of our liturgies at this time). Music continues to fill our space, even more so now with our new organ. It is an exciting and wonderful time here at St. Stephen’s as we begin this new, post-pandemic era, so please join us again as we start returning to this new “normal” way of living.   

                                                -Peace,

                                                Fr. Jamie

                                                The Wardens

                                                The Vestry

 

 

The week of March 28

 Wednesday, March 30

6:00 p.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant/ preacher

Deacon John, assisting

Incense is offered at this Mass

Supper afterward at a local restaurant

 

Friday, April 1

6:00 p.m. – Stations of the Cross

 

Sunday, April 3

11:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant/ preacher

James Mackay, organist

Monday, April 4

Fr. Jamie’s Day Off

 

Our Sunday and Wednesday Eucharist services are open to public worship. Masses will continue to be livestreamed. 

On-line worship:

Facebook: Our Sunday morning and Wednesday night masses are livestreamed on our Facebook group: https://facebook.com/groups/52039214842

YouTube: All our Masses can be found uploaded to our St. Stephen’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcdWKCnCHmviajkFX5p-xGg

Or search YouTube.com for “St. Stephen’s Fargo.”

St. Stephen’s Website: Each Mass is also uploaded later in the day to our website. So, if you miss a livestreamed Mass, be sure to check out the Mass later at: https://ststephensfargo.org

Upcoming Events: 

Holy Week

• Maundy Thursday, April 14
• Good Friday, April 15
• The Great Vigil of Easter, April 16
• Easter Day, April 17

Words of Wisdom:

Don’t be intimidated by Lent! Embrace this season. It’s a blessing to our souls, our homes, and our aching world.

Good To Know: 

The traditional three pillars of Lent are prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. In taking advantage of this season’s rich opportunities for service and growth, focus on these three things.

 

The week of March 21

 Wednesday, March 23

6:00 p.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant/ preacher

Deacon John, assisting

 

Incense is offered at this Mass

Supper afterward at a local restaurant

Friday, March 25

6:00 p.m. – Stations of the Cross

 

Sunday, March 27

11:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant/ preacher

Deacon John, assisting

James Mackay, organist

 

Monday, March 28

Fr. Jamie’s Day Off

 

Our Sunday and Wednesday Eucharist services are open to public worship. Masses will continue to be livestreamed. 

On-line worship:

Facebook: Our Sunday morning and Wednesday night masses are livestreamed on our Facebook group: https://facebook.com/groups/52039214842

YouTube: All our Masses can be found uploaded to our St. Stephen’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcdWKCnCHmviajkFX5p-xGg

Or search YouTube.com for “St. Stephen’s Fargo.”

St. Stephen’s Website: Each Mass is also uploaded later in the day to our website. So, if you miss a livestreamed Mass, be sure to check out the Mass later at:

https://ststephensfargo.org

 

Upcoming Events: 

Holy Week

• Maundy Thursday, April 14
• Good Friday, April 15
• The Great Vigil of Easter, April 16
• Easter Day, April 17

 

Words of Wisdom:

        Life is an echo

 

-      What you send out - comes back.

-      What you sow – you reap.

-      What you give – you get.

-      What you see in others – exists in you.

-      Do not judge – so you will NOT be judged.

-      Radiate and give LOVE – and Love comes back to you.

The week of March 14

 Wednesday, March 16

6:00 p.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant/ preacher

Deacon John, assisting

Incense is offered at this Mass

Supper afterward at a local restaurant

 

Sunday, March 20

11:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant/ preacher

Deacon John, assisting

James Mackay, organist

Monday, March 21

Fr. Jamie’s Day Off

 

Our Sunday and Wednesday Eucharist services are open to public worship. Masses will continue to be livestreamed. 

On-line worship:

Facebook: Our Sunday morning and Wednesday night masses are livestreamed on our Facebook group: https://facebook.com/groups/52039214842

YouTube: All our Masses can be found uploaded to our St. Stephen’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcdWKCnCHmviajkFX5p-xGg

Or search YouTube.com for “St. Stephen’s Fargo.”

St. Stephen’s Website: Each Mass is also uploaded later in the day to our website. So, if you miss a livestreamed Mass, be sure to check out the Mass later at:

https://ststephensfargo.org

 

Upcoming Events: 

Holy Week

• Maundy Thursday, April 14
• Good Friday, April 15
• The Great Vigil of Easter, April 16
• Easter Day, April 17

 

Words of Wisdom:

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” Arthur Robert Ashe Jr.

 

 

 

Public Worship Protocol:

GATHERING:  Masks are recommended for all people, even fully vaccinated parishioners at this time.

SINGING: Congregational singing will continue.  

PASSING THE PEACE: Please continue to use touch-free greetings.

 

HOLY COMMUNION:  We will continue to kneel at the altar for Holy Communion.  

 

HANDOUTS: We will continue to use disposable booklets for all liturgies.

 

FOOD:  Coffee Hour was re-instated on Dedication Sunday September 12.

 

ONLINE WORSHIP: Online worship through Livestream will continue.

 

VACCINATIONS: I cannot stress the importance of vaccines. If you have not been vaccinated, please get vaccinated very soon.

The week of March 7

 Wednesday, March 9

6:00 p.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant/ preacher

Deacon John, assisting

 

Incense is offered at this Mass

Supper afterward at a local restaurant

 

Sunday, March 13

11:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant/ preacher

Deacon John, assisting

James Mackay, organist

 

Monday, March 14

Fr. Jamie’s Day Off

 

Our Sunday and Wednesday Eucharist services are open to public worship. Masses will continue to be livestreamed. 

On-line worship:

Facebook: Our Sunday morning and Wednesday night masses are livestreamed on our Facebook group: https://facebook.com/groups/52039214842

YouTube: All our Masses can be found uploaded to our St. Stephen’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcdWKCnCHmviajkFX5p-xGg

Or search YouTube.com for “St. Stephen’s Fargo.”

St. Stephen’s Website: Each Mass is also uploaded later in the day to our website. So, if you miss a livestreamed Mass, be sure to check out the Mass later at:

https://ststephensfargo.org

 

Upcoming Events: 

Holy Week

• Maundy Thursday, April 14
• Good Friday, April 15
• The Great Vigil of Easter, April 16
• Easter Day, April 17

 

Words of Wisdom:

So, in everything, do to others as you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. 

~Jesus Christ

 

Public Worship Protocol:

GATHERING:  Masks are recommended for all people, even fully vaccinated parishioners at this time.

SINGING: Congregational singing will continue.  

PASSING THE PEACE: Please continue to use touch-free greetings.

HOLY COMMUNION:  We will continue to kneel at the altar for Holy Communion.  

HANDOUTS: We will continue to use disposable booklets for all liturgies.

FOOD:  Coffee Hour was re-instated on Dedication Sunday September 12.

ONLINE WORSHIP: Online worship through Livestream will continue.

VACCINATIONS: I cannot stress the importance of vaccines. If you have not been vaccinated, please get vaccinated very soon.

 A big thank you to Deacon Suzanne MacEwen for serving as Deacon on 1 Lent this morning.

 Join us for Stations of the Cross this evening at 6:00 p.m.

Ash Wednesday tonight

 Be sure to join us for Ash Wednesday Mass/Imposition of Ashes tonight at 7:00 p.m.

Burning Palms

Burning the blessed palms from last year's Palm Sunday. The ashes from the fire will be the ashes for Ash Wednesday tomorrow night.