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Re-opening Safety Measures

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IN-PERSON GATHERINGS: SAFETY MEASURES

The safeguards in place for the health and safety of our community include:

Cleaning & Disinfecting

  • Our facilities team and Altar Guild will follow protocols for cleaning and protection as they prepare our worship spaces. 
  • Thorough cleaning and disinfecting will follow every in-person gathering.

Social Distancing

  • When you arrive, please check in with an usher. An usher will confirm your online registration for the service and assist you with seating. Sidewalks are marked to help with social distancing if a line forms before worship. In order to facilitate social distancing, we will limit the number of participants in each service.
  • We will limit the size of groups seated together in the congregation. By Diocesan guidelines, “Only persons who live in the same household will be permitted to sit together. Persons who do not live in the same household – even if they are related – must uphold social distancing guidelines.”
  • Our intention to be at peace with one another is a full expression of the peace. We ask that you pass the peace without physical contact.
  • Our services will not include congregational singing at this time. For many of us singing during worship is a spiritual exercise, and we know that many in our community will miss singing together during worship. Unfortunately, singing increases the chances of transmitting the coronavirus, and the Diocese of Texas requires that we not include congregational singing in our services. This decision requires a risk-benefit trade-off, and we understand that many will miss singing.
  • We will not physically pass an offering plate. All pledge payments and gifts should be made online.
  • We will not offer childcare/nursery during this time.
  • We ask that you not congregate after the service has concluded.

The Eucharist & Distributing Communion

  • An usher will direct each group of participants (seated together), one group at a time.
  • Markings on the floor indicate the appropriate distance from others as you approach to receive communion.
  • The presider will take care to avoid touching your hands when giving you the wafer. Our theology and the tradition of the church teach us that receiving the Eucharist in one kind (either bread or wine) is full reception of the Eucharist. We will not distribute the wine from the chalice during our services, but please be assured that you are fully receiving the sacrament by receiving in one kind.
  • If you prefer to receive a blessing instead of the sacrament, please indicate this by crossing your hands over your chest. The priest will offer a blessing without physical touch.

More Safeguards

  • All participants must wear masks to participate in person. Please bring a mask with you.
  • All participants should clean hands with sanitizer immediately prior to the service.
  • We discourage anyone in the CDC’s “Higher Risk” category from participating in person.
  • Anyone displaying key symptoms identified by the CDC must not participate in person.