St. John’s Lutheran Church and School
Updated COVID Policy
June 16, 2021
Early in 2020, St. John’s rightly took the initiative to protect worshipers from the COVID-19 virus with a number of rules and restrictions. With what we know now, it is time to lift these initiatives and shift the responsibility for health safety from the church back to the individual. We want to do everything possible to accommodate all worshipers and return to a normal worship experience as soon as possible.
To that end, on June 15th the Church Council approved the following changes which will take place immediately:
St John’s will not ask the vaccination status of those who come to worship or to serve.
Online registration to attend church in person is no longer required. There are no capacity limits. For those attending online, registration is requested.
The main narthex doors will be reopened; temperature checks will be discontinued; hand sanitizers will continue to be available.
Bibles, hymnals, connection cards and pens will be returned to the pews.
Wearing of masks is optional. Children may or may not wear a mask – it is their parents’ decision.
A seating area [the leftmost pews as identified by a sign] will be reserved for those who prefer to social distance. Those sitting in this area are requested to wear a mask in consideration for others in that area.
In the near future:
Printing and distribution of paper service bulletins will resume on June 27th
We will still leave an offering plate in the back, but the ushers will resume passing the plates on June 27th
We will return to two Sunday services [8:00am and 10:45am] on August 22nd
For Sunday School and VBS - It is the individual teacher’s/helper’s decision whether or not to wear a mask. Children may or may not wear a mask – it is their parents’ decision.
Bible Class will resume in the Heritage room on July 4th with regular [not socially distant] seating
Elders will address changes to communion at their July meeting
In summary, St. John’s has returned responsibility to the individual for his or her health decisions and that of their household. Worship has essentially returned to normal with the addition of a reserved seating accommodation for those who wish to socially distance.
