Friends in Christ,
Building a Healthy and Loving Community
This week, Bishop John Taylor announced that parishes in the Diocese of Los Angeles may now follow the CDC Guidelines. Under CDC guidelines, fully vaccinated people can resume most of their ordinary activities, including virtually all those associated with worship, fellowship, meetings, teaching, and service at church.
Your Clergy and Vestry discussed and adopted the bishop’s guidance this week for St. Francis. Therefore, effective immediately, fully vaccinated persons may stop wearing masks and social distancing at church if they so wish.
However, some in our church have not been vaccinated, either by choice or circumstances. Young children cannot be vaccinated. Therefore, if you cannot or choose not to be vaccinated, we ask you to scrupulously follow the CDC requirement for non-vaccinated people and continue to wear masks and socially distance or, if you prefer, to worship remotely. If you are feeling unwell, please stay home and be part of our online community.
Some who are fully vaccinated may decide to continue wearing masks and socially distancing. You are free to make the choices that are most comfortable for you. Whether vaccinated or not, we ask you to treat one another with dignity and respect, loving your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:31).
Here are some specific measures adopted by the Vestry:
- You no longer need to signup online to attend worship. Some areas of the church will remain taped off to allow social distancing for those who must or desire to do so.
- Fully vaccinated people may now sing in worship. If you have not been vaccinated, please refrain from singing. In honor of the exemplary work already completed by Mark, David, and our choir, we will continue to use the prerecorded hymns and anthems for the next few weeks.
- At the Peace you may exchange handshakes and hugs if you have been vaccinated, but please be aware of and honor spoken or visual cues as to physical distance for those around you.
- Since children under age 12 cannot yet be vaccinated, try to avoid all direct physical contact with young children. Parents should minimize their unvaccinated children's social time at church, such as playtime during coffee hour.
- We are returning the reception of Holy Communion to its normal place in the service. We will have stations at the front for distributing the bread for the time being and hope to return to kneeling or standing at the altar rail in the Fall. If you are unvaccinated, please wait to remove your mask to take the bread until you return to your seat. Per the National Church and Diocesan rules, we will not be using the chalice until further notice.
- Coffee Hour continues with servers giving you your treats – we await the Bishop’s permission to return to DIY buffet style refreshments.
- Some aspects of our life together will take some time to return, re-opening is a process and not an event. Sunday School, choir, acolytes, and the like should return in September. The summer months are a time for planning, organizing and preparing for Fall.
- Outside groups will be asked to follow CDC guidelines when using church facilities but will not be permitted to serve food or drink. The kitchen facilities remain closed at this time to all groups.
Above all, we want you to be free to worship in safety. Therefore, please follow these guidelines in a spirit of love and respect.
If you have questions and concerns about any of these guidelines, please reach out to Rev. Jerry or to Holly Henebry, Senior Warden.
Interim Priest
Holly Henebry
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8:00am Service Resumes - Sunday June 20, Chapel
Some things to know:
- This will be a “said” service. No music.
- You do not need to sign-up online to attend, but you will need to sign-in on arrival with name and contact information for contact tracing purposes.
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Livestreamed worship will continue - indefinitely - to take our mission out beyond our walls, and to those who cannot, or do not wish to attend in person. Our at-home congregation are loved and appreciated and not forgotten!
Please contact Kristina Pelá to arrange for a lay Eucharistic Minister to safely bring you communion. |
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A message from Jude+
Last Sunday at St. Francis - June 27
As the calendar winds down for me and I am experiencing moments of sadness, I get the usual email asking me to proof the bulletin, particularly the prayers for this Sunday’s Baptism. Almost at once, I find myself smiling and my mood lightens as I think of baby California, her parents and godparents, and I hear what will be the robust “We will” as all of you in the congregation agree to support this family with your prayers.
And then the phone rings, and I learn that a parishioner has died, and I pray with his wife on the phone.
God has privileged me with the tapestry of lives that is this community, reminding me again and again that we are one in Christ, that our lives are inextricably bound, and that we are all what L. William Countryman called a “priesthood of believers.” Each of us has a role in the work we do for God, none more important than the other. I have, over these nearly four years, watched and learned from your priestly work loving God, loving one another, and serving the world. Ordained priests are to proclaim the Gospel and administer the sacraments; all priests, the priesthood of believers, are to love and serve. Thank you for the privilege of being a priest among you.
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Not Quite Ready for Unmasking? You're Not Alone.
Maybe you're feeling a little anxious and uncertain - or maybe you're not, and you're baffled and irritated by those who are. 'Why would anyone not be thrilled at removing their face masks and getting back to hugging?"
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Come join us for Bible and Book Study
Tuesday, June 22, 7:00-8:30 pm via Zoom
Parable #3: The Laborers in the Vineyard
Matthew 20:1-16
Resource: AJ Levine’s Short Stories by Jesus
All are welcome at any time!
Email or text Jude+ for the link 310- 701-5966.
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Meanwhile, Rev. Jude, together with lay leaders, continues to offer opportunities for faith, connection and pastoral care, as below.
Please don't hesitate to contact her by email, phone, text 310-701-5966, or in person, with questions/prayers/requests/ideas for other groups or practices. We deeply want to continue to support all of our church family as we navigate these 'in-between' times with regard to the pandemic, and as we move forward into a new normal.
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Join Us...
...for the quiet, peaceful, 15-minute service of Compline.
Led by a group of lay leaders - and we have some new faces joining the team!
Watch and comment with others live, or watch later in the evening before you sleep.
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Thursday Morning Meditation and Bible Study
Every Thursday 9:30-10:30am - on Zoom
Contact Jude+ for the zoom link. Become part of an intimate group who spend a while in meditation together followed by a time of Bible Study and discussion. On zoom it's easy! No driving; bring your own coffee; come and go as you need.
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Do you need help of any kind?
Physical, Spiritual, Psychological, Material?
We are here to do our best to help you with whatever you may need. We know circumstances are difficult for many at this time. For help of any kind, or just for a Zoom or Facetime or phone call, please email or call Jerry+ or Jude+ at any time. You are not interrupting our work - you ARE our work!
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Watch Our Services Live via Facebook and Youtube
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Our Youtube Channel holds our Worship and Sermon videos, plus Virtual Choirs, and more! Hit Subscribe while you're there!!
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Compline - Live via our Facebook page
Prayer for the evening - Monday, Wednesday and Friday Evenings, 7:00 p.m.
Livestreams are also saved to our Facebook page, so you can watch again at any time if you miss one.
Other Offerings and Meetings
Zoom groups -
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Enews Submission Deadline - 3pm on the Wednesday before the Thursday when the enews is issued each week. Email Susan with your requests. |
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View or download our bulletins - bulletins will be posted in time for livestreaming.
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Contacts:
You are not interrupting our work - you ARE our work!
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