Blog Post

Attending a service during COVID-19

St Michael's Church • Aug 04, 2020

New guidelines for visiting our church building

It is good that we can gather in the presence of God and one another, and that we can offer opportunities for private prayer and limited public worship. Things will and have to be different, but those things that have always united us remain the same, and that is what we celebrate. Making these changes allows us to worship together and is our gift to one another.

Before you arrive

Do you have any symptoms?

Please consider your own risk of attending an indoor gathering. If you are unsure, there is NHS guidance.

We ask you NOT to attend a service if you have:

• A new cough

• A temperature

• Lost your sense of smell or taste

Seating is limited

In order to maintain social distancing and because the church is undergoing works which make some areas unusable, seats are limited and you may be asked to remain outside in the open air if numbers wishing to attend exceed the seating limits.

Track and Trace

Please bring with you a piece of paper with your name and telephone number on (in block capitals) and also the details of anyone else who is accompanying you and place in the box provided. These may be needed by NHS Track and Trace if someone from the service later develops coronavirus. The details will only be used for that purpose and will be securely held and disposed of after 21 days.

When you arrive

For those with mobility issues

Please note that as people will be gathering outside in socially distant groups or lines, it will not be possible to safely drive up to the main church door to allow those with limited mobility to access the church that way. Instead, we suggest you park nearby and use a wheelchair. If it is easier, you could temporarily park in the turning circle at the main gate and use a wheelchair but you would then need to go back and park the car in a designated parking place so as not to cause an obstruction in the turning circle.

Keep your distance

The doors will be open 15 minutes prior to the service starting. If you need to wait outside, please be sure to keep 2m distance between you/your bubble and others.

Sanitise your hands

You will be asked to sanitise your hands in the porch area, put on your mask and place your track and trace information in the box provided just inside church, on the Welcome Desk. Then go immediately to available seating which is arranged in ones, twos and threes – 2m apart.

Face coverings

In line with Government and Church of England guidelines, you are required to wear a face covering in church. They are not a replacement for good social distancing and hand hygiene (or self- isolating if you have symptoms) and we are reminded that we wear them to protect one another; so please bring your face covering with you and put it on before entering church. We acknowledge that, for medical reasons, there may be some who are unable to wear a face covering.

No wandering around the church

Please resist the temptation to go over and join friends you see at a distance. A joyful wave of greeting will suffice – we all wish it were different but the social distancing measure is a key strategy in limiting transmission of the virus. Weather permitting, doors will be left open to allow for improved air flow.

During the service

Orders of Service

The words for the service will be on a sheet of paper and this will be on the seat when you arrive. Please take this sheet away with you when you leave.

Singing

Due to the risk of droplet spread, there will be no congregational singing although there may be occasions where 1 person sings from a distance or there may be recorded music used during the service.

Holy Communion

There will be no communion services in the immediate future but this remains under review as we see how Covid-19 prevention measures generally are working.

When you leave

Please wait for the Steward to motion you to leave. People will be asked to leave one row at a time, exiting the building via the West door (double doors at the back of church) starting at the back row, thereby limiting the need for people to walk past one another in the aisle.

Thank you in advance for anything you can give financially at this time and thank you also to all those who continue to support us via the Parish Giving Scheme – this continues to be vital to enable us to plan for the future. At the back of church, there will be a collection plate for cash or cheques and also a contactless donation point.

Please take your Order of Service home with you.

Please do not stop and chat while leaving the building and do not obstruct the West door exit. Once you are out of the building you are, of course, welcome to talk in small groups but please remember to be ‘socially distant’ and abide by the prevailing Government guidance with regard to numbers and households.

If you subsequently test positive

If you test positive for the coronavirus up to three weeks after the service, please let us know by emailing admin.stmichael@gmail.com

We are not people of fear; we are people of courage. We are not people who protect our own safety; we are people who protect our neighbours’ safety. We are not people of greed; we are people of generosity. We are your people, God, giving and loving, wherever we are, whatever it costs, for as long as it takes, wherever you call us. Amen (Barbara Glasson, President of the Methodist Conference)

Published 4th August 2020 V1

< Older Post Newer Post >