Current Covid-19 Guidelines
Dear people of St. Stephen’s,
Beginning March 13th, our church will remove our mask requirement for indoor worship and meetings. We still encourage anyone with underlying health conditions or any other concerns to wear a mask or attend worship via zoom. And we ask that anyone who is experiencing any symptoms that are potentially contagious, even if they know they do not have COVID, to do the same.
We have decided to make this change because of the guidelines of our state, county, and the CDC, as well as the decreasing case counts of COVID in our area. However, we are prepared to return to requiring masks or taking whatever precautions are needed, if those guidelines or other circumstances change.
As we transition to this new/old way of being, we ask that you be respectful of the various levels of comfort of the members of our community. Because we strive to be a welcoming place to all, we want people to feel comfortable wearing a mask if they want to, kneeling or standing to receive communion, or even having communion brought to them in the pew. We will set aside space in the chapel for those who still wish to have social distance to sit, and we ask that when you come forward to receive communion you continue to allow for a comfortable distance from one another.
During this season of Lent, we will continue to offer communion wine in single cup servings. It is my hope that at some point in the future we will have enough support to offer the option of a common cup to those who would prefer it, but for the time being we will continue to serve wine as we currently do.
If you have questions or concerns about these changes, or any other issues facing our church, please join us for that conversation or reach out to myself or one of the members of the vestry individually.
Many blessings in this holy season of Lent,
The Rev. Kate Bradsen
IN- Person worship protocols
reservations for worship
We no longer require reservations for in-person worship. We are still asking people to make reservations for drive through communion or in-home communion by a Eucharistic Visitor.
Masks & social distancing
The wearing of masks and social distancing is now your personal choice. We prefer and request that unvaccinated persons continue to wear a mask out of courtesy for our most compromised.
Worship leaders and the choir members who are vaccinated may unmask if they are comfortable doing so.
seat assignments
Seating is once again open and you may choose the seat of your choice. If your preference is still to mask and social distance, we offer seating in the Chapel, which is somewhat removed from the rest of the congregation.
Worship Practices
We are singing as a congregation with masks optional.
We are passing the offertory plate during worship again.
We have removed the tape from the kneelers.
coffee hour
We now offer coffee hour inside following the service. We are still asking our volunteers sponsoring coffee hour, to provide food choices that are individually packaged.
Zoom Worship, Communion, & meetings
ZOoM Worship
We will continue to offer worship via Zoom as well as in person.
Communion
Communion is currently being offered each Sunday during our Sunday in-person worship services. If you would like a Eucharistic Visitor come to your home, please contact the Rector to arrange this. Currently we have an active Lay Eucharistic Visitor ministry and welcome all requests for in home communion.
In-person worshippers will continue to receive communion either in the pews or standing at the Communion Rail using individual portions.
Zoom worshippers may receive drive-by Communion or make an appointment to receive Communion from a Eucharistic Visitor.
meetings at church
Some church groups have returned to meeting at the church, some still choose to meet via Zoom. We are slowly opening to outside groups at this time.
Outside with Zoom Option Preferred Church groups will meet outside when possible and continue to offer Zoom as an option for those who cannot meet in person.
Social Distancing and Masks Small groups may meet without social distancing or masks if the majority present are vaccinated and all present are comfortable removing those restrictions.
Basement Area has reopened. Some events are being held in the basement Parish Hall. Check with your group to see where you are scheduled to meet.
