Hello everyone! 

This provides an update on the re-entry plans to provide in-person services in our building. 

Much work has been going on the last several weeks to ensure we develop and execute the appropriate plans for those parishioners wanting to get back to live services in the building. We also plan to continue to enhance our virtual offerings for those not yet ready to return, or should appropriately not yet return, to gather in groups until the pandemic situation improves even further.

Part of this work was to survey the parish to understand the current thinking of our members. We received over 115 responses to our online survey. It was encouraging to see that 80% of respondents have been viewing our online worship services during this time of social distancing. Also, most respondents have enjoyed receiving and reading the morning meditations that arrive by email each day. As for returning to our building, 27% said they would not be willing to return to in person services until there is a vaccine available, or if there is little risk of contracting the virus. 57% said they were unsure when they would be ready to return. The 33 comments added by respondents ranged from "Please keep doing the online services," to "Please don't rush back to in person services," to "No singing!" to "When we can satisfy the CDC guidelines," to "I am ready to come to in person worship now." Thank you for your participation in the survey as your input has helped to shape our overall plans.

On Monday, the Vestry authorized the Strategic Planning and Organizational Development team to begin to deploy our building re-entry plan. On Tuesday, we learned that the Diocese had relaxed their rules on the numbers of people able to gather. We are excited to get back!

It's important to understand that our primary goal is to make in-person worship as safe and healthy as possible for those who decide to attend. As such, services initially will be a little different:
  • We'll start by offering one service using the Morning Prayer format.
  • To reduce the touching and sharing of items, there will be no hymnals or prayer books. 
  • People will be encouraged to print out bulletins and bring from them from home or pull them up on their smart devices during worship.
  • Masks will be required.
  • Unfortunately, but appropriately, there will be no singing, except for a cantor.
  • To maintain appropriate social distancing, initial attendance will be limited to ~50 people. Advance reservations will be required through the church website. Details to follow.
  • Passing of the peace will be done socially distanced with friendly eyes and caring waves and nods. 
  • There will be no passing of the plate, but we will continue to offer many ways both on-line and at church to fulfill your pledges. 😊 
  • There will be no in person coffee hour or Sunday school or nursery. Godly Play will continue through Zoom.
  • As our learning to execute these services and demand grows, we'll look to add a second service if it makes sense. 
  • We will have a health and safety team review every element of our plan to make sure we follow CDC guidelines, common sense, and best practices.

Based upon the survey results, many will choose to continue online worship for now, and that’s okay. In fact, if you consider yourself to be part of an at-risk population, we encourage you to continue to worship via our online services which will continue. We also plan to maintain our Sunday morning Zoom coffee hours. 

As of now, the Diocesan guidelines tell us that returning to normal worship without restrictions will happen only when a vaccine is widely available. Until then, we are determined to execute a modified service for those who want to worship at our facility. At the same time, we will also continue to enhance our online delivery of services and opportunities to connect virtually.

Currently, our plan is to begin these services sometime in July assuming no significant changes in the pandemic situation. The specific date and detailed instructions will be provided by the end of June.

One last thought. While we are excited that we are able to re-open our building for services in a limited fashion, Church has never closed. We have continued to be a community of encouragement and support, both for our parishioners and those in our communities in need. Across the board, our ministries have creatively adjusted to ensure we are doing our best to stay engaged and connected. We continue to worship. We continue to learn. We continue to care for each other. As blessed as we are to have the building we do, St. Barnabas is not contained by those walls. Thank you for your on-going support, engagement, and caring for each other.


Pastor Nancy+
John Davies, Senior Warden