Good News! On-site Worship Resumes Sunday, May 9th at 8:30 and 10:30
Many of our members are now fully vaccinated and we plan to resume face-to-face worship with Holy Eucharist at St. John’s-Grace on Sunday, May 9th at 8:30 and 10:30 in the morning.
Please let us know if you plan to attend by completing this Online Form so we can reserve a pew and bulletin for you.
We will continue to livestream all services. Go to https://www.stjohnsgrace.org/ for information. The Holy Eucharist will be distributed outdoors in the Lafayette Ave. courtyard at 9:30 and 11:30 for those who do not attend services in the church.
Please read the following information carefully and comply with the State, CDC, and Diocesan Requirements and Recommendations for religious services.
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, May 9th, 2021 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. The Diocese strongly recommends that that those attending on-site services have been fully vaccinated for two weeks or longer.
4. Those who are not vaccinated and have underlying health conditions are advised by State and Diocesan authorities NOT to attend on-site worship.
5. Worship and Social Hour will be live streamed for those who do not attend in person. Please contact the church office at stjohnsgracesecretary@yahoo.com or
(716)885-1112 if you need technical assistance.
6. Minors may attend the service but should 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.
7. On-site worship is limited to 35 people per service during our initial re-opening in May. We hope to eventually expand this number.
8. If you wish to attend an on-site service, please reserve by the preceding Wednesday by contacting the Parish Administrator, Colleen Morrissey. Please advise of any accessibility/special needs you may have.
a) By online form at: https://www.stjohnsgrace.org/reservations-for-onsite-services
b) by e-mail at: stjohnsgracesecretary@yahoo.com or
c) by phone at: (716) 885-1112
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
1. Face masks must be worn covering nose and mouth. Please bring your own mask. If you forget a mask, we can provide one.
2. Sanitize your hands with the provided hand sanitizer.
3. Check in with the ushers to confirm your assigned, numbered pew. One person/family per designated pew.
4. 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.
4. The Holy Eucharist will be distributed in hygienic plastic sleeves. Please process to the front of the church maintaining safe physical distance. Return to your pew, lift your mask to consume the Host. Please take the plastic sleeve home with you.
5. Masks may be removed ONLY by assigned lectors, intercessor, and the celebrant while speaking softly using a microphone, and to consume the Host.
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, plastic sleeve from Communion, and mask. DO NOT leave items in the church.
4. Please sanitize your hands when you leave the church.
5. Continue to wear masks and practice safe, social distancing outdoors. The entrance area must be clear for members of the next service/event to enter safely.
Please Be Assured
1. Sextons will sanitize 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 may be open during services. Please dress accordingly. Air purifiers are used when windows are closed. The CDC advises that fresh air reduces the spread of the COVID-19 virus.