8:00 a.m. Morning prayer, worship in person or by Zoom.
10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist 2x/month, otherwise, Morning Prayer, with music, in person, or join us live-streamed on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/messiahchester
Coffee hour follows the 10:00 a.m. service, now in person.
The vestry has agreed to implement these changes for us for our worship. However please note: WEALL ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR MASKS DURING OUR WORSHIP and only the preacher and readers are permitted to remove them for those ministries.
Singing: The congregation is invited to sing all the hymns and service music, masked.
HolyEucharist (Holy Communion): Offered when clergy are present. You will be able to receive the consecrated wine by intinction only, in addition to the consecrated bread (wafer). Following the Bishop’s instructions Clergy will offer the consecrated wine in this manner. They will sanitize their hands and the consecrate the bread and wine. As each of you comes forward to receive communion, they will ask you if you wish to have the bread dipped into the wine (what is called intinction.) If you agree they will dip the wafer for you and place it in your palm. If you do not wish to have it dipped in the wine, you can receive the bread alone just as you have been doing during this covid time. At present only wine is to be consecrated; those of you who were used to receiving consecrated juice should decline and only receive the bread.
For the 8 am congregation: As no one sings at this service, we will continue the practice of removing masks and sociallly distance, providing everyone wishes it. Each worshiper at 8am should bring a mask to wear for times when a visitor arrives for worship.
Because we want to ensure everyone’s safety, please follow these NJ &/OR Diocesan guidelines:
Come with a mask and wear it at all times except when eating during coffee hour.
Due to the risk assessment for our area the required wearing of masks indoors by all persons, regardless of vaccination status, is required.
The Episcopal Church’s policy is not to question anyone as to whether or not they have been vaccinated at least two weeks previously. Thus, in order to protect everyone and to avoid questioning anyone we ask all of us to wear masks while here.