St. Michael and All Angels
We seek to be a light of Christ in the community, where all are welcome to experience God's love and blessings.

COVID-19

(Last revised April 4, 2024 - revisions in bold italics)

This page will be continually reviewed and updated as guidelines change and the pandemic evolves.

We are proud to be a community where all are welcome, and we want to provide a safe environment for the health and well-being of our parishioners and guests. We ask you to please continue to use your own best judgment.

Masking

Indoors: Masking is optional for all participants. We strongly recommend, based upon CDC guidance, that those who are vaccinated wear masks to help curb the spread of the COVID variants. We do request that those individuals who have tested positive within the past 10 days wear a mask to reduce the risk for others.

Outdoors: Masking is optional for all individuals (vaccinated and unvaccinated) while outdoors.

Receiving Communion

Studies by the CDC and other medical authorities have concluded that “the risk for infectious disease transmission by a common communion cup is very low, and appropriate safeguards – that is, wiping the interior and exterior rim between communicants, use of care to rotate the cloth during use, and use of a clean cloth for each service – would further diminish this risk.” We incorporate those safeguards.

Those who nonetheless chose not to receive from the common cup can trust that Jesus’ offering of himself is complete in the bread. Ministers will not distribute Communion on the tongue because of the risk of contaminating the fingers of the minister.

In order to accommodate those who wish to remain physically distanced, we ask you to fill the altar rail from right to left as you approach. Do not crowd between parties who have distanced themselves from others; the ministers will make multiple trips around the altar rail as necessary. If you are unable to approach due to physical limitations, the ministers will approach you with communion after those at the altar rail have partaken.

Singing

Congregational singing is permitted. 

Physical Distancing

The parish has returned to full capacity. If you wish to attend indoor worship in person while remaining distanced, please notify an usher or vestry member when you arrive and you will be directed to alternate seating.

Passing of the Peace

Health care professionals suggest that COVID-19 is most effectively transmitted from people’s hands to their faces, so avoiding hand-to-hand contact is a likely strategy for inhibiting infection. Hand sanitizer is available if you wish to use it after the passing of the peace.

Offerings

Passing of the collection plate during the offertory is permitted. However, we are currently not passing the offering plates; please place your offering into the plate in front of the pews when you enter or when you come to receive communion.

Contact tracing

While the CDC no longer recommends contact tracing as an effective mitigation strategy, as an organization that is concerned about all of God's creation, we feel that we have an obligation to let you know if someone with whom you may have had contact tests positive. We ask all attendees to provide contact information for the party, consisting of a name and phone number, to the ushers at the rear of the church. We will reach out to you directly if there is a reported case of COVID when you are with us.

Gatherings and receptions

Large gatherings and special events are permitted with prior approval from clergy and wardens.

As a community, we will continue to support one another in times of trouble and in times of celebration. We encourage those who may be unable to attend in person to access our worship services remotely via our livestream on YouTube. We continue to promote vaccination, hand washing, good ventilation, and listening to our own bodies as the best way to see us out of the pandemic.