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.
As we are in transition in seeking a new rector, we pray: God of Love, You are with us in every transition and change. As we enter into this new era with excitement and even some anxiety, we recall your deep compassion, presence, and abounding love. We thank you for the gifts, talents and skills with which you have blessed us. We thank you for the experiences that have brought us to this moment. We thank you for the work of others that gives breadth and depth to our own work. Be with us as we move forward, rejoicing with you and supporting one another. We ask this in your Holy Name. - Joseph P. Shadle
O Faithful God, We ask you to guide us in our time of transition. We need your wisdom, that we might be receptive to change, conversion and growth. We need your grace to redirect our hearts so we may be willing to offer ourselves in joyful service. Do not allow fear, ignorance or pride to limit the work of your Spirit. Amen.
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.