As we move through these next weeks and months of the pandemic, we will be constantly evaluating and refining our Sunday worship practices. We find ourselves in an ever-changing state, as, on the one hand, more people are getting vaccinated, and, on the other hand, more people are getting sick. Infection rates in Palm Beach County and across the country are on the rise again, going up to alarming levels, but we seem to have an extraordinarily large proportion of our parishioners vaccinated—and that is good news. As we make plans, however, our faith calls us to pay attention to and care for the most vulnerable.
We will continue to require everyone coming to worship to wear a proper mask fully covering the mouth and nose. We will refrain from shaking hands and other physical contact, and we will continue to use an online leaflet. For now, we will continue to offer outdoor services for those who are uncomfortable moving indoors with other people, and we will continue to offer online worship for those at home. The Centers for Disease Control’s current guidance states, “People age 2 and older should wear masks in public settings and when around people who don’t live in their household. Masks should completely cover the nose and mouth and fit snugly against the sides of face without gaps.” [1]
So, this Sunday, we are modifying our service schedule as follows:
8:00 a.m. Eucharist in the Garden Chapel (unchanged from recent weeks).
10:00 a.m. Eucharist in the Garden Chapel (with the same seating and precautions as the 8:00 service).
10:00 a.m. Eucharist in the Nave (seating every other pew, and only at the ends of the pews and by household). We will also provide overflow seating for this service in the Parish Hall.
11:00 a.m. Online worship at bbts.org
12:00 p.m. Online fellowship on Zoom
At both 10:00 a.m. services, choral ensembles will offer music.
This plan is, as always, subject to change if and when circumstances warrant. We are deeply aware of the range of feelings and opinions about our worship practices during this time. We ask that each of us come to worship with open hearts full of Easter joy, expecting a holy encounter with the Living God. In this way, we best make room for God to enter into our lives with the healing balm of grace, of hope, and of love.
Peace,
James
[1] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover-guidance.html