Dear St. Luke’s
I was able to speak with Bp. Scarfe last week to discuss St. Luke’s plan on reopening worship services. He was pleased with the plan we submitted and we will resume Sunday services on June 21st with the following guidelines to keep people as safe as possible.
I want to emphasis at the beginning that NO ONE is required to come to church if you do not feel comfortable yet being around others. If you are in the vulnerable category or are ill in any way, we ask you not to attend until you feel comfortable to do so or are healthy. We are also planning on live-streaming the 1000 service on YouTube so if you are not yet able to attend in person you can watch praying the spiritual communion sent out when this all began. We will send out a link to the YouTube channel in a later email.
In order to facilitate some physical distancing each service will be limited to 60 people for the time being. We have set up an online sign up process through Sign Up Genius where you can opt to attend either the 0800 or the 1000 service. There will be a link on the St. Luke’s website and we will send out the link in a later email. If you do not have computer access or are not able to sign on please call the church office and we will make sure you are counted.
When you come to the building, we will have hand sanitizer available and wipes in the restrooms to help keep things clean. Thankfully the CDC now states that the possibility of contacting COVID through surface contact is minimal however we have been doing extra cleaning in light of everything. The Bishop would like to see 80% of those attending wearing face masks though understands some will choose not to and that is okay. The ECW are making masks to have on hand for anyone who would like one.
We are asking that no more than two non-family members occupy a pew as well as not sitting directly behind or in front of another person. The balcony will be open and there will also be limited spots in front of the organ or in the choir area. The greeters will place two bulletins in each pew and we ask that if you use a bulletin do not leave it but take it with you as it will be replaced between services. We also ask if you use a pew BCP to place it in the pew and it will be wiped and replaced between services.
For the 1000 service; it is requested no congregational singing occur yet I have asked Stephanie to play hymns to facilitate our worship. Use the time to meditate on the amazing words found in our hymns and offer them as a prayer to our Lord. The service music will be spoken like it is at the 0800.
Communion will be offered yet no one should ever feel obligated to come forward. We will print the spiritual communion prayer in the bulletin so if you chose to remain in the pew you can pray those prayers. If you chose to come up, we ask you come up in a single file keeping a pew between you and the next person. At the rail we ask no more than 4 non-family members be present there at a time. I will wear a face shield for distribution and sanitize my hands before setting the table. No acolytes or Lay Eucharistic Ministers will be used around the table, only one Verger will assist and they will wear a mask as well as sanitize before the setting of the table.
As I said when this all began back in March, we entered an extended Lenten season which we are thankfully slowly coming out of; in light of that we will celebrate Palm Sunday on the 21st. The next week will be our Holy Week beginning with Maundy Thursday service on June 25th at 7pm. Good Friday June 26th we will have Stations of the Cross at 7am and 7pm as well as the Good Friday Liturgy at 1pm. We will not hold the Vigil this year on Saturday night and will celebrate Easter on June 28th. In light of some of the guidelines these services will be slightly muted yet will be a wonderful way to mark the beginning of a new season of worship and community.
Bible studies will not resume yet and I will let you know when they are able to begin. The choirs too will not resume nor will there be childcare available on Sundays. While we have tried our best to make a return to a gathered community safe there is no way we can 100% guarantee nothing will happen. Each of you must prayerfully consider your situation and whether it is time for you to return in person. Just know that whether you attend at church or at home Jesus is there upholding you and guiding you.
Please be in touch if you have any questions or concerns.
God Bless
Martha+
We are a mid-size church community that is focused on expanding the kingdom of God through a variety of ministries.
