Updated Reopening Guidelines as of July 30, 2021

Pursuant to county and diocesan mandates, masks are required for all worshippers aged five and older (and are available at the Welcome Table). We look forward to returning to our policy of masks being “welcome but not required” when the current covid surge subsides. We will get through this pandemic, together!

Here are the highlights of worship changes being implemented as of June 27, 2021:

• Preregistering online or by phone to attend worship in person is discontinued. 
  Each household will “sign in” upon arrival on Sunday morning. If you do not feel well on a Sunday morning, please participate in worship from your home via livestream.  We will look forward to worshipping with you in person when you are well! 
  
  
• Masks are welcomed but not required in worship. 
  For everyone’s safety, in light of CDC guidance, St. Peter’s strongly encourages anyone who is not fully vaccinated, or for whom vaccination is not effective, to wear a mask. Adult and child surgical masks are available in the narthex. 
  
  
• Social distancing is welcomed but not required in worship. 
  For everyone’s safety, in light of CDC guidance, St. Peter’s strongly encourages anyone who is not fully vaccinated, or for whom vaccination is not effective, to socially distance.
  
  
•  Guaranteed availability of “safest” seating. While masks and social distancing are welcome everywhere in the church, pews at the front of the nave, as well as the pews in the balcony, are reserved for anyone who would like the guarantee of sitting with others who are wearing a mask and maintaining a distance of six feet.
  
  
• Undercroft serves as a “wiggly” toddler zone.     
  While childcare is not yet available, parents are invited to let their little ones exercise their wiggles in the undercroft. Seating is set up and the worship service will be streamed on one of the large screens so you can follow along until the wiggles are exhausted.
  
  
• Those serving in worship are not required to wear a mask, except at the altar and while administering Holy Communion. Social distancing will be observed as provided in the most recent edition of Diocesan guidelines.   
  
  
• Holy Communion will continue to be administered in the form of bread only, at the front of the nave instead of at the altar rail.
  
  
• Books of Common Prayer and Hymnals will remain stored until congregational singing resumes.  We will continue publishing the entirety of the worship service in the printed bulletin.
  
  
• “Normal” collection of the offering by the ushers will resume.
  
  
• Coffee hour will remain outside through August; ice will be available!
  
  
• The HVAC fan will run continuously, and we will keep internal doors open to encourage as much air flow as possible.  Weather permitting, outside doors into the narthex also will be kept open.  Humidity in the church will continue to be set at 45%.
  
  
•  Our sexton will clean the church with an electrostatic sprayer on a weekly basis.
  
  
•  Livestreaming of worship will continue. 

And there is more good news to share!  Look for these changes beginning July 18, 2021: 

• A cohort of fully vaccinated choir members will begin singing together at the 10:30   service, masked and socially distanced from non-singers consistent with the most recent edition of Diocesan guidelines. 
  
  
• The 8:00 a.m. service will return to its “pre-pandemic” liturgical tradition of alternating between Rite I and Rite II services of Holy Eucharist, without vocal music. 
  
  
• Livestreaming of the 8:00 a.m. service will be discontinued and livestreaming of the 10:30 a.m. service will begin.

Changes are also coming to the Church Office!  Effective July 6, 2021, the Church Office reopens to parishioners and visitors without appointment.  Look for more information in next week’s News from the Rock.

With thanks for your patience and excitement for the days ahead, I look forward to worshipping with you this summer.  If worshipping from home via our livestream continues to work best for you, let me know if you would like me or Shug to bring Holy Communion to you. We would love the chance to visit with you in person!

Yours in Christ,
Kelly+