Good News! Re-Opening for Worship on Sunday August 16th
Dear Friends in Christ,
As this difficult time of epidemic continues, we move forward in our wilderness journey. We are pilgrims. God uses the wilderness experience to shape and form our beloved community to be Holy as God is Holy – and to bear the glory and love of God to our neighbors. Let us continue to experience the real presence of Christ in Word, Sacrament, and fellowship with one another with safe physical distancing.
We are now at an exciting juncture in our journey as we plan to resume limited face-to-face worship at St. John’s-Grace on Sunday, August 16th at 8:30 and 10:30 in the morning.
We will continue to live stream all services and social hour online. Go to our Worship Page for information.
We glorify God’s name and share the love of Christ with one another and our neighbors. Therefore, we strive to gather in safety, preventing the spread of the Covid-19 virus because Jesus the Healer tells us that our health and every life is precious.
Please read the following information carefully and comply with the State and Diocesan Requirements and Recommendations for religious services. You must read and be willing to comply with the following requirements before attending face-to-face worship at St. John’s-Grace. Please feel free to submit questions or suggestions to any member of the Re-opening Committee.
Yours in Christ, The Re-opening Committee:
The Pertinent Information for On-Site Sunday Services
1. Face-to-Face worship will resume at St. John’s-Grace on Sunday, August 16th at 8:30 and 10:30 in the morning. There will be no on-site social/coffee hour.
2. DO NOT ATTEND if you have any COVID 19 Symptoms identified by the CDC:
Fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea
3. People 65 and older and those with underlying health conditions are advised by State and Diocesan authorities NOT to attend on-site worship.
4. Worship and Social Hour will be live streamed for those who cannot attend in person. Please contact the church office at stjohnsgracesecretary@yahoo.com or (716)885-1112 if you need technical assistance.
5. Minors may attend the service but must remain in their assigned pew with parent/caretaker. Children’s Ministry is not yet available. Children 2 and under are not required to wear masks.
6. On-site worship is limited to 12 people per service during our initial re-opening in August. We hope to eventually expand this number to 25.
7. If you wish to attend an on-site service, please reserve by the preceding Wednesday by contacting the Parish Administrator, Colleen Morrissey. Please plan to attend after your reservation has been confirmed by phone or e-mail. Please advise of any accessibility/special needs you may have. Make a reservation by:
a) online form at: https://www.stjohnsgrace.org/reservations-for-onsite-services
b) e-mail at: stjohnsgracesecretary@yahoo.com or
c) phone at: (716) 885-1112
8. If reservations are full one week, you will be given preference if you call or e-mail to reserve for the following Sunday.
9. When reserving, you must provide your name and phone number to comply with state tracking requirements.
When You Arrive at St. John’s-Grace
1. Come when the doors open at 8:15 for the 8:30 service or 10:15 for the 10:30 service.
2. Enter the church using the main doors on Colonial Circle. The side door on Lafayette Ave will be closed. Before You Enter the Church
3. Face masks must be worn always covering nose and mouth. Please bring your own mask. If you forget a mask, we can provide one.
4. Sanitize your hands with the provided hand sanitizer.
5. Check in with the ushers to confirm your assigned, numbered pew. One person/family per designated pew.
6. Practice safe physical distancing of six feet while outdoors both before and after the service.
When You Enter the Church and During the Service
1. Please sit in your assigned pew; one person/family per pew.
2. Use the Bulletin/s provided in your pew.
3. Please practice safe physical distancing of a minimum of six feet during the service. At the sign of Peace and during Healing Prayers simply make a gesture while maintaining a safe physical distance. We will continue to practice Spiritual Holy Communion; the elements will not be distributed physically.
4. Masks may be removed ONLY by assigned lectors, intercessor, and the celebrant while speaking softly using a microphone.
5. Music will be limited to recordings, organ, or string instruments; no singing, woodwind, and brass instruments.
6. Please place offerings on the collection plate in the aisle while entering or leaving the sanctuary.
7. Restrooms will be available during the service. One person at a time. Follow ushers’ directions.
When You Leave the Church
1. Leave immediately after the service. This will give our Sextons time to properly clean the church before the next service/event.
2. Please follow the ushers’ directions and exit the church in the order requested. Exit using the main doors on Colonial Circle. The Lafayette Ave door will be closed.
3. Please take home your bulletin and mask. DO NOT leave masks and bulletins in the church.
4. Please sanitize your hands when you leave the church.
5. Please do not congregate outdoors after the service. Continue to wear masks and practice safe, social distancing. The area must be clear for members of the next service/event to enter safely.
Please Be Assured
1. Sextons will sanitize air surfaces before and after each service.
2. All pew books, cards, pencils have been removed. We will provide single-use Bulletins which we ask you to take home.
3. It is difficult to sanitize the pew cushions. They have been removed. Please bring your own seat cushion if you need one.
4. Church windows and doors will be open during services. The CDC advises that fresh air reduces the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Worship at St. john’s-Grace