Dear Church Family,
On behalf of the Session of St. Mark’s, we are delighted to announce that we will resume having services in the church building on Sunday, September 13.
Because of the restrictions on numbers and the required social distancing protocols, we will be having two services:
First service 10:15 – 11:00 a.m.
Second service 11:15 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Sign Up for Services
Because we are limited to 45 people in the sanctuary, you will be required to sign up for a service time. To facilitate the process, there is an online registration form to complete. A link will be posted on the website and the church Facebook page each week that will take you to the registration form. You will have to reserve a space for each person from your household who is planning to attend. If you are unable to access the form, please call your Elder, or call Rev. Paula at the church office at 902-892-5255 to have someone sign you up. (Please leave a message if there is no one in the office when you call). If you change your mind and no longer plan to attend, please call the church office and notify us so that we can allow someone else to have the spot.
Safety Protocols
To ensure the safety of everyone, we will be limiting access to the church. Everyone will enter through the double doors and will exit the building through the side doors. A team of Elders will be at each service to direct you. You will be asked to keep your jackets/coats with you as there will be no access to the coat racks. This will also help us streamline traffic flow when the services end and people are leaving the building.
Seating – you will be ushered to your seat by an Elder. The pews have been cordoned off and marked for social distancing. Those from the same household will be able to sit together.
Hand gel will be available for you to use as you enter the building and all hard surfaces of the pews will be cleaned before each service.
We encourage everyone to use their washroom at home to limit the use of the washrooms in the church.
At the end of the worship service, the congregation will be asked to leave immediately and not stop to chat so that we can sanitize the pews and have those attending the second service access to the church. In accordance with current regulations, there will be no fellowship time after services.
Please note: From 11 – 11:15, we will be sanitizing the pews for the second service. Those attending the second service will be asked to remain in their cars until the Elders open the double doors to indicate the church has been sanitized.
Masks
We ask that you bring a mask to the service as current restrictions allow us to sing hymns together provided we are wearing masks. We ask that you wear a mask into the church until you are seated in the sanctuary and then also resume wearing the mask during the singing of hymns, and also as you leave the building.
Offering
Offering plates will be on tables at the doors for you to leave your offering envelopes, or you can continue to donate online through the secure link on the St. Mark’s website.
Video Services
We are videoing the the morning service and thanks to Susanna Hamilton, services are being posted on the church website and Facebook pages on Sunday afternoon for those who are unable to attend in person.
Sunday School
We are planning to re-open Sunday School on Sunday, October 4 at 10:15 a.m. Until such time as we are able to resume having just one morning service, Sunday School classes will be held only during the 10:15 a.m. service. (There will be no Sunday School at the 11:15 services.) Children attending Sunday School will proceed directly to the Hall upon arrival at the church and will remain in the Hall until the service in the sanctuary has ended.
Despite these safeguards, we recognize that not everyone will feel comfortable coming to services – please do what you feel comfortable doing. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact either your Elder or one of us.
We’re looking forward to seeing you!
Blessings,
Dr. Tom and Rev. Paula