For our most up-to-date COVID policies: CLICK HERE
Church in the “New Normal”
We all know that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed many aspects of our shared life, professionally, publicly, and personally. The Church is no different. There will be many changes to how we gather as community and worship God under the circumstances of a global pandemic. Below you will find a guide to navigating this “new normal,” to help folks prepare and acclimate to what gathering together will look like. Thank you in advance for your flexibility, your grace, and your prayers as we enter into this uncharted territory together.
A QUICK Guide for Sundays! (More Info Below)
Services are offered in-person (REGISTER) and online (Facebook) (Zoom) at 8 AM & 10 AM
Masks are currently required for all indoor activites.
Singing is allowed!
Social distancing has been relaxed but is still required for all non-vaccinated persons (and for anyone who wishes to avail themselves of this offering).
Communion remains, for the time being, in one kind.
Fellowship may resume for all vaccinated persons, but unvaccinated persons in attendance must mask and social distance.
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Before Sunday
Before we gather, you will want to preregister to reserve a spot at worship. This helps with seating and contact tracing.
If you don’t have a computer, you can always email or call the church to preregister for services.
Remember: Masks are still the norm for all services at Holy Trinity!
If you are over 60 years of age or have a preexisting condition please consider joining us virtually instead of in-person. If you are feeling unwell, please do not attend the service. It is important that everyone make the best choice for themselves, their family, and the congregation. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Fr. Ben.
Gathering Together
Worship will continue to be live streamed via through Facebook, from the church website, and on Zoom:
Call-In Information (long distance rates may apply)
Dial: 301.715.8592 or 929.205.6099 or 312.626.6799
Enter the Room Number: 821 5762 8336 (followed by #)
Enter the Password: 593938 (followed by #)
Worship will take place in the church at 8 AM & 10 AM.
Before you enter the church or parking lot, you’ll stop by our welcome station:
Check-in with the usher; if you haven’t preregistered, leave your name and number
Seating is color coordinated to assist with seating for those who are choosing to social distance and/or who are unvaccinated:
Yellow for individuals
Green for couples
Red for families of 3 or more (limit of 7 people per pew)
Take a bulletin from the basket at the end of the table
Put your offering in the alms basin
Use hand sanitizer
Find a seat. Designated seating areas will be marked on the pews. If you need assistance or direction, please speak to one of our ushers.
On special occasions (holidays, baptisms, etc.), pews might be reserved for specific people, with bulletins labeled for your convenience.
Remember: Masks are required during the whole service.
IF YOU WISH TO FOREGO A MASK YOU MUST SHOW YOUR VACCINATION CARD TO THE PRIEST.
Take a seat, maintaining 6 ft. distance with folks with whom you do not live. Families are encouraged to sit closely together.
During Worship
The 8 AM service will be Holy Eucharist, Rite I with Communion; the 10 AM service will be Holy Eucharist, Rite II with Communion and music!
Full text bulletins will be available at the welcome station. If you would prefer to use the Book of Common Prayer, we ask that you bring one with you and refrain from sharing. If you need to borrow one, we’d gladly give you one to use.
Singing is allowed!
The Liturgy of the Word will work as it always does, but we will not use multiple lectors each Sunday. The lector will be read the Old Testament, Psalm, New Testament & Prayers of the People. If you’d like to help in this vital worship role, please let us know.
We will still observe the peace, but physical contact or greeting is prohibited. Please consider non-tactical means of welcome, including: a head nod, wave, solemn bow, thumbs us, or anything that works for you!
Bathrooms
Bathrooms will be available for use during the service.
By you using the bathrooms, you agree to follow all cleaning protocols after each use.
Some things to remember:
Masks must be worn at all times while inside the building & using the bathrooms
Please use hand sanitizer before & after using the bathrooms, and remember to wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds (or one “Lord’s Prayer”)
5 minutes must be left in-between each use of the bathroom. A white board will be setup with the time the bathroom was last used.
Cleaning products will be provided to assist you with cleaning the bathrooms after each use
The bathroom protocols can be found here.
At Communion
The risk of spreading COVID-19 is potentially increased through Communion if precautions are not taken. Please read this section very carefully to help us reduce the risk and share in the Lord’s Supper safely.
Before Communion, at the setting of the altar, the priest will use hand sanitizer. After the table is set the priest will was her her or his hands with soap and water and then use hand sanitizer again.
The priest will have a priest host for the consecration and a chalice, but only the priest will consume either of those elements.
Communion for the congregation will be in “one-kind” (bread only), and will be served by an accompanying ciborium (bread box) that will be covered and consecrated alongside the priest host.
The host wafers will be distributed by the using tongs to minimize contact.
At the distribution, folks will come forward to receive by family until. They will exit their rows, come forward, use hand sanitizer and then stand at the designated spot for distribution. The LEM will distribute the hosts and the step away from the family. The family is asked to take a step back from the altar, remove their masks, consume the host, put their masks back on, and return to their seats from the outside aisle. After this, the next family unit will come forward.
As this is a new and in-depth process, please be patient with us, as Communion will take longer than it has in the past.
Once everyone has received Communion, the altar will be cleared and the priest and LEM will again use the hand sanitizer. The service will continue with the post-Communion prayer.
After Worship
Following the service, attendees are encouraged to exit while maintaining 6 ft. distance from others. Please monitor how you are exiting as to not crowd others or create a bottleneck.
The most difficult part of services will be after the service, as it is our tradition and inclination to stay and chat/fellowship. Please do not linger after the service.
To encourage a quick and orderly exit, Fr. Ben will not form a receiving line after the service and will exit immediately. Should you have a pastoral concern or question, please call or email him so he can be in touch with you.
After the service, the priest and ushers will double-check the registration list, secure it in the church office, and save it for use should contact tracing be necessary.
If after the service, you discover that you have tested positive for or been exposed to COVID-19, PLEASE LET FR. BEN KNOW IMMEDIATELY. The registration lists will be used for contact tracing and the diocese requires notification ASAP.
We will still be offering virtual coffee hour. Click here to join!
If you are unable to join us for in-person services, but would still like to receive Communion, please contact the church to schedule a visit to receive the sacrament.
Baptisms, Funerals & Weddings
The Diocese of New Jersey has allowed for the re-institution of all sacraments and sacramental rites with accompanying guidelines. For more information, the guidelines can be found here.