Frequently Asked Questions
Will online gathering for worship go away?
Absolutely not! We are happy to keep offering online worship to meet the needs of the
many of our members who cannot or do not yet feel ready to gather in-person. We are
excited to have you as a part of our community, and you are welcome to participate with
us online for as long as you desire.
many of our members who cannot or do not yet feel ready to gather in-person. We are
excited to have you as a part of our community, and you are welcome to participate with
us online for as long as you desire.
Will this always be the way we worship?
No, we expect the way we worship to continue to change as our needs change. There
are many safeguards we have in place just for now as we begin that we expect not to
need over time. Let’s think of this as Phase I of getting back to things again. We will
continue to stay in communication about safeguards like masks and social distancing as
they change.
are many safeguards we have in place just for now as we begin that we expect not to
need over time. Let’s think of this as Phase I of getting back to things again. We will
continue to stay in communication about safeguards like masks and social distancing as
they change.
Is everyone welcome to come to church?
Yes, we welcome everyone who wants to join us. We respectfully ask that if you know
you are sick or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 you join us online
instead of in-person. We also ask you to prayerfully consider joining us online instead of
in-person if you are particularly at high-risk for serious complications or high-mortality
from COVID-19 (this includes people who are over 60, have compromised immune
systems, or pre-existing medical or respiratory illness. We will not turn anyone away,
but we care about you and want you to be safe.
you are sick or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 you join us online
instead of in-person. We also ask you to prayerfully consider joining us online instead of
in-person if you are particularly at high-risk for serious complications or high-mortality
from COVID-19 (this includes people who are over 60, have compromised immune
systems, or pre-existing medical or respiratory illness. We will not turn anyone away,
but we care about you and want you to be safe.
How many people will be allowed to attend?
For now we are limiting in-person worship to no more than 50 people. We do not expect
this to be a problem, because over 75% of our parishioners say they plan to keep
worshipping online even once we resume in-person. Someday we’ll start getting more
than 50 again, and we will have plans to accommodate more people before that comes.
this to be a problem, because over 75% of our parishioners say they plan to keep
worshipping online even once we resume in-person. Someday we’ll start getting more
than 50 again, and we will have plans to accommodate more people before that comes.
Will I be required to wear a mask and stay 6-feet away from others?
Yes, at least as we first resume gathering in-person, wearing a mask and remaining
6-feet away from people who are not living in your household will be required. This is to
keep everyone safe. It also honors and respects the wishes of those around us who
want to feel safe.
6-feet away from people who are not living in your household will be required. This is to
keep everyone safe. It also honors and respects the wishes of those around us who
want to feel safe.
Why can’t I skip the mask if I don’t think it is risky?
It is important to understand that wearing a mask and keeping 6-feet apart is not just
about your safety but about honoring and respecting others around us. We respect your
choice if you do not think masks are necessary, but we ask that while you are on the
grounds of St. Stephen’s you respect those who do believe it is necessary. Even if it
turns out to not be needed, it is a worthwhile gesture of love to help our friends and
neighbors feel safe in their church.
about your safety but about honoring and respecting others around us. We respect your
choice if you do not think masks are necessary, but we ask that while you are on the
grounds of St. Stephen’s you respect those who do believe it is necessary. Even if it
turns out to not be needed, it is a worthwhile gesture of love to help our friends and
neighbors feel safe in their church.
How else will you help keep everyone safe?
All worshippers will be greeted at the doors by a greeter, who will ask everyone before
entering if they have been sick, take temperatures, and collect contact info for everyone
in attendance (in case we need to reach out to people in case of exposure. Masks will
be required and, not to worry, we are happy to provide masks if you do not have one.
There are hand sanitizing stations at the entrances and restrooms. All doors will remain
open and the worship space will be well-ventilated throughout worship. The pews will be
marked where worshippers can sit to keep safe social distance. There is a separately
marked exit for at the end of the service.
Restrooms will have sanitization stations so that you can sanitize all surfaces for your
comfort. Please don’t forget to sanitize everything when you are finished as a courtesy
for the next person too! We will have signs to offer direction and all the sanitizing
equipment recommended by health officials as a best practice.
entering if they have been sick, take temperatures, and collect contact info for everyone
in attendance (in case we need to reach out to people in case of exposure. Masks will
be required and, not to worry, we are happy to provide masks if you do not have one.
There are hand sanitizing stations at the entrances and restrooms. All doors will remain
open and the worship space will be well-ventilated throughout worship. The pews will be
marked where worshippers can sit to keep safe social distance. There is a separately
marked exit for at the end of the service.
Restrooms will have sanitization stations so that you can sanitize all surfaces for your
comfort. Please don’t forget to sanitize everything when you are finished as a courtesy
for the next person too! We will have signs to offer direction and all the sanitizing
equipment recommended by health officials as a best practice.
Will we have communion?
At least for the first few Sundays we will continue Morning Prayer. We expect to start
offering communion bread after we have gotten used to being the space again. Sharing
the wine will come again someday as well, though that will be farther down the road.
offering communion bread after we have gotten used to being the space again. Sharing
the wine will come again someday as well, though that will be farther down the road.
How will we do the Peace?
In short, the same way we’ve been offering each other the peace of God. We will
genuinely offer it to one another and we all understand that the shaking of hands and
hugging will be something that has to come back at a later time. I look forward to
shaking hands again too, but even from 6-feet away people will know that you genuinely
offer them peace.
genuinely offer it to one another and we all understand that the shaking of hands and
hugging will be something that has to come back at a later time. I look forward to
shaking hands again too, but even from 6-feet away people will know that you genuinely
offer them peace.
What about music? Singing is hard in a mask!
At least for now we are asking worshippers to refrain from singing. It appears that
singing is one of the easiest ways to spread coronavirus quickly. I want to sing too, but
we’ll leave the singing to our soloists or professional singers until we get further
guidance on how to sing safely around each other again. For now we will still get to
enjoy the fine music tradition of our church and look forward to joining in ourselves
soon.
singing is one of the easiest ways to spread coronavirus quickly. I want to sing too, but
we’ll leave the singing to our soloists or professional singers until we get further
guidance on how to sing safely around each other again. For now we will still get to
enjoy the fine music tradition of our church and look forward to joining in ourselves
soon.
What if there is another surge of COVID-19, or worse, someone at St. Stephen’s has it?
We certainly hope that the virus subsides and we can start lifting restrictions, but we
also recognize that when we resume gathering in-person someone could get sick
instead. We promise to stay in close communication if we need to suspend in-person
services again or we receive advice from health authorities to suspend.
also recognize that when we resume gathering in-person someone could get sick
instead. We promise to stay in close communication if we need to suspend in-person
services again or we receive advice from health authorities to suspend.
How will you ensure safeguards are followed by worshipers?
First of all, I trust y’all. I know that, even if you disagree with some rule, you know these
safeguards are important to your fellow parishioners. This is an opportunity to put our
own desires aside and serve the needs of those around us, and I know you wouldn’t
have it any other way.
If someone does not feel that they can honor the safeguards now or as they evolve,
continuing to join us online remains a great way to participate until the safeguards
change (as they will, hopeful with fewer restrictions soon). For your peace of mind, I
assure you that, as the rector of the church, I will redirect anyone in attendance who will
not follow safeguards to please participate with us online instead.
safeguards are important to your fellow parishioners. This is an opportunity to put our
own desires aside and serve the needs of those around us, and I know you wouldn’t
have it any other way.
If someone does not feel that they can honor the safeguards now or as they evolve,
continuing to join us online remains a great way to participate until the safeguards
change (as they will, hopeful with fewer restrictions soon). For your peace of mind, I
assure you that, as the rector of the church, I will redirect anyone in attendance who will
not follow safeguards to please participate with us online instead.
So what does this mean for the future?
We may find we take a few steps forward, then a step back (or a step forward and a few
steps back!). The truth is we don’t know what things will look like ahead, but we promise
to remain in this together and keep working on being the close community of faith that
loves and supports each other.
steps back!). The truth is we don’t know what things will look like ahead, but we promise
to remain in this together and keep working on being the close community of faith that
loves and supports each other.
