Dear friends in Christ,

Beginning Sunday, June 20 in-person worship will resume outdoors in our parish! Everyone is invited to these parish-wide services.

We will have one service at 10:30am each Sunday that will rotate each week between the lawn at St Paul’s and Craighurst Park (located on Penetanguishene Road just north of Horseshoe Valley Road. The park itself is tucked away behind the large brick house immediately north of the train tracks. The entrance to the park is right beside the house where you will find ample parking).

Here is the full summer schedule:

This is a parish-wide service so whether you attend St John’s or St Paul’s you’re all invited. Please bring your own chairs and/or blankets to sit on as well as your own water bottle should you get thirsty.

Here is pretty much everything else you need to know.

Rain? If we need to cancel because of inclement weather a cancellation notice will be emailed and posted online by 9:00am on Sunday and the service that day will be live-streamed at 10:30am. In accordance with Provincial guidelines a limited number of you will still be able to join us in-person indoors but you will need to REGISTER IN ADVANCE HERE. If there are no spots available it means that the service is full. Please wear a mask for any indoor services. If you anticipate this being a problem for any reason please speak with me (Jonathan), Deacon Tom, or Liese.

Online option: Not able to join us in person yet? No worries. Our 10:30am services will be live-streamed on Facebook and shared on our website later that day.

What to bring: A chair or blanket to sit on and a water bottle in case you are thirsty.

Contact tracing log: When you arrive please see Liese at the entrance and she will take down your name and contact info. This will be kept securely for a period and will enable us to contact you in the event that a case of COVID is linked to the gathering.

Hand sanitizer: There will be three hand sanitizer stations set up for your use. One at the entrance and one at each of the communion stations. You may avail yourself of these at your convenience.

Masks: They are not required for outdoor worship provided physical distancing is observed, however, you may chose to wear one out of an abundance of caution. Masks will be provided for those that would like one but do not have their own. The celebrant will be masked during communion.

Physical distancing: Please observe a distance of six feet from people outside your bubble at all times and refrain from physical contact. There will be two lines painted on the grass to form a centre aisle. Please sit on either side of the aisle leaving a space of six feet around you.

Singing: Unfortunately the Diocesan guidelines do not permit congregational singing. However, our parish musicians will play a few hymns. The lyrics will be printed in the bulletin and you may hum along.

Children: There will be no Sunday School. Children should remain with their family. Toys and snacks should not be shared between families.

Passing of the peace: No physical contact. Limit physical movement. Share gestures and words with those around you.

Offering: If you would like your offering to be designated for either St John’s or St Paul’s specifically please clearly indicate this to us by using an envelop. Any “unidentifiable” offerings will go to the church that is hosting the service that week.

Communion: At the time of communion the priest will stand at the front. The sides team will assist those desiring to receive the sacrament (bread only) in forming an orderly, physically distanced line in the centre aisle. Communicants will stop at the front of the line, hear the words, “The Body of Christ given for you,” and respond with, “Amen.” The communicant will then come forward and the priest will drop a host into their hands without making physical contact. The communicant will then move to one of two stations on either the left or the right (marked by X), consume the host, sanitize their hands, and then follow the arrows back to their seat. Parents and grandparents, please assist your children. If you do not wish to receive the sacrament you may come forward for a blessing (no physical contact) or you may make an act of spiritual communion according to the prayer in the bulletin.

I know that is a lot to think about but fear not, the guidelines we have in place are thorough and will enable us to worship together in a manner that is safe for all. Should you have further questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact either myself, Deacon Tom, Liese, or your wardens.

Under the mercy.

Jonathan+