News & Events
Special Notice
St. Alban’s Church In-Person services on Sunday at 9:30am. Services will also continue to be held via Zoom and Facebook.
The St. Alban’s Reopening Task Force and the Vestry have begun to look at the guidelines sent out by the Diocesan Reopening Task Force regarding post-pandemic protocols. These will be coming out in stages and may continue to be modified.
As of June 6
● we will no longer ask people to sign covenants, pre-register for services, or sign in when entering the building.
● we will no longer follow disinfectant protocols for cleaning.
● prayer books have been returned to pews and may be used, as well as kneelers / cushions.
● we will allow Eucharistic visits in homes if all parties are vaccinated and agree to the visit.
The Vestry called a special meeting on June 13 to discuss 3 additional issues related to re-opening. We continue to monitor COVID information related to hospital admissions, deaths, and vaccination rates. We considered comments that you have shared with us as well as recommendations by the CDC and the state. We realize that our decisions today may change in the near future due to changing conditions. Thus we ask for your patience and your feedback as procedures continue to change and evolve. Our decisions are based on the needs and wants of our St. Alban’s family which may be different from those of other churches.
We will continue to offer on-line worship for those individuals who prefer that format or who are still not comfortable coming to church in person. For those individuals who have chosen or will choose to return to in person worship, we continue to move toward what was accepted as “normal.”
Social distancing -
Rationale: For those who are fully vaccinated, social distancing is no longer deemed critical.
Guidelines:
The front area of the nave from the breezeway doors forward, including all pews and 1 row of red chairs, is open with no restrictions regarding social distancing. You may sit wherever you choose, with whomever you choose. The back of the church, primarily with red chairs, will still have socially distanced seating. People are asked to wear masks in that section and not sing. People will self-select where they wish to sit and feel the most comfortable and safe.
Normal use of bathrooms will resume.
Masks –
Rationale: While masks are still considered effective and protect those who wear them and those with whom one comes in contact with, masks are now being recommended rather than being required. Individuals who have been vaccinated are at less risk and thus this restriction has been loosened. Masks continue to be required in certain stores, large group venues, airports and airplanes, and medical offices for example.
Guidelines:
Masks are no longer required in general in church or on church property. People are free to continue wearing them if they choose to, except in the back of the church where they will continue to be required to provide a safer environment in that section of the nave.
Singing –
Rationale: Singing was initially limited due to the increase in aerosols containing the virus when singing took place, particularly at full voice. Some research has shown that singing softly does not produce any larger quantity of aerosols than speaking. Since singing has been an integral part of our worship experience, it has been sorely missed by many.
Guidelines:
Beginning June 20, we will resume congregational and choral singing softly for vaccinated people. We will maintain the current limits of verses (2-3 verses per hymn) and add one piece of service music to the service. We wish to maintain an overall time limit of 70 minutes for the service. The choir will sing once per month through August, from their traditional seats in the chancel. The choir will be singing June 20, with future dates to be announced to the congregation for anyone who does not wish to be in church that day due to a possible increase in aerosols.
Again, we appreciate your patience as we continue to loosen the restrictions that were placed upon us. We will continue to review protocols on a regular basis. Please continue to contact any Vestry member with your questions and concerns.
June 22 release
At the regularly scheduled June meeting, the Vestry discussed additional issues related to re-opening which we would like to share with you. We continue to monitor COVID information related to hospital admissions, deaths and vaccination rates. We considered comments that you have shared with us as well as recommendations by the CDC and the state. We realize that our decisions today may change in the near future due to changing conditions. Thus we ask for your patience and your feedback as procedures continue to change and evolve. Our decisions are based on the needs and wants of our St. Alban’s family which may be different from those of other churches.
We will continue to offer on-line worship for those individuals who prefer that format or who are still not comfortable coming to church in person. For those individuals who have chosen or will choose to return to in person worship, we continue to move toward what was accepted as “normal.”
As we continue to re-examine procedures, the Vestry recommends at this time:
● The Nursery will remain closed until September. We still have some cleaning to do in that space and currently have no younger children regularly attending at this time.
● The water fountain will remain off until September. You are encouraged to bring water to church with you, if desired.
● Scheduled ushers, greeters, acolytes and crucifers will return in September. The VPOD (Vestry Person of the Day) and other Vestry members will continue to welcome you to services.
● Presentation of gifts will resume in September when we have ushers available.
● The red doors to the parish hall will be the main entrance on Sunday mornings. Bulletins will again be available as you enter the sanctuary or you may continue to bring a device on which to view the bulletin.
● The prayer request log and visitors’ log will be made available in the parish hall. If you have prayer requests, please complete the form with the necessary information and names will be read during the service. If you are zooming and have a name to add, please leave the information with Stephanie in the office by 10:00 a.m. each Thursday. If you are interacting with visitors, please invite them to sign the visitors’ log.
● Beginning July 25, flowers will again be permitted on the altar and in the church. Please sign the sheet in the parish hall if you would like to donate flowers.
Again, we appreciate your patience as we continue to loosen the restrictions that were placed upon us. We will continue to review protocols on a regular basis. Please continue to contact any Vestry member with your questions and concerns.