Parish News

“Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come…”

Revelation 1: 4a

Dear Friends,

I hope you are all well! There are several things I want to share with you this week. Especially, I want to tell you about our upcoming common worship, and the reasonable steps we will be taking for everyone’s health and well-being.

We expect that we will be worshipping in St. Brice’s Church building, beginning Sunday morning, September 6, at 9am and 11am. (There will be no joint services this fall, because that would likely mean too many people gathering together at one time.) These will be celebrations of the Holy Eucharist.

In case there are people who would like to gather, but are presently uncomfortable about attending a service of the Holy Eucharist, there will also be services of Evening Prayer on Sunday afternoons in September, beginning at 4pm. (Whether or not these services continue in October would depend on the degree of interest in September.)

I hope that we will be able to offer outdoor services for members of the congregation, weather permitting, at the end of August. If so, more information (including, what we do if it’s rainy) will be next week’s newsletter. I have submitted a proposal on behalf of the parish, but we need to hear back from deanery officials before we proceeding.

I have been asked to consider gathering for worship in the parish hall periodically this fall. I am certainly willing to consider this. We would need to consider what is the safest and most enjoyable arrangement. I intend to consult the Advisory Board about this proposal.

Sunday Worship: What Will Be Different?

Of course, due to the pandemic, there will be some changes in our worship, whether we are using the B.C.P., the B.A.S., or the Kenyan liturgy. A few points and some details need to be sorted out by the Board, but we know these changes will be included at St. Brice’s:

• There will be more signs posted to guide us
• There may be pre-registration at some services. We will be told about this in plenty of time. That is, to ensure that we don’t exceed the number of people permitted to gather at one time, we will be encouraged to indicate in advance when we plan to attend. If we don’t pre-register, we can show up, but we might be turned away if we have reached maximum capacity
• The protocols for cleaning will be of a very high standard (even higher than in the past; that reminds me, if you are willing to volunteer for one of the cleaning teams periodically, please relay this to the parish office)
• We will be strongly encouraged not to gather and chat in the narthex (entrance), but to come to one of the seats which are marked for us to sit in

• We are being asked not to attend if we are feeling ill with common COVID-19 symptoms, if we have been in close contact recently with someone who has the virus, if we have recently travelled internationally, or otherwise are somewhat likely to be carriers of the virus
• We will be asked for our contact information, and our temperatures will be checked with a small machine which is pointed at our foreheads
• We are expected to wear masks, except of course right at the time we are receiving communion, if we choose to do so
• We are encouraged to use the washrooms of our own homes, but clean washrooms are available here
• We are encouraged to use hand sanitizers, which are available around the property
• We need to observe the physical distancing standards of 2M (6 feet), unless we are next to members of our families or people we live with
• We are encouraged to fill the Church building from front to back; we are asked not to go from person to person chatting or getting caught up on the news, before the worship service begins
• At least initially, we will not be handed service books. Congregational responses will either be displayed on a screen, or printed and handed out
• There will not be congregational singing. There might be instrumental or recorded music played
• If there is someone at the organ console, readings won’t be from the lectern
• When the Book of Common Prayer is not being used, there will not be the customary greetings during the “Exchange of the Peace”
• The money-offering will not be received in the usual manner. We will not be handing around bags or an offertory plate among members of the congregation. We are encouraged to use Pre-Authorized Remittance (for more information, or to apply, please contact the parish office)
• When it comes time to receive communion, one at a time, we need to give each other the 2M space; we will not be receiving from the common cup; when in the Church building, please do not return to your seat by going down the chancel; please go through the Altar Guild room to return to your seat
• We will not be having coffee and refreshments in the parish hall after the services. People near the door need to exit first. Please do not stay and chat by the coat racks.

Sunday Worship: What Will Not Be Different

The ministry of the Church continues unchanged. God’s Word continues to be proclaimed and sermons continue. We are continuing many of our ministries in the community. We continue with our devotions and our acts of ministry in the Church and in the world. We continue to offer the sacrament of communion. We continue to use our Anglican liturgies.

The core of what we do, and who we are as adopted sons and daughters of Jesus Christ, has not changed. How we do it, has changed.

Health Precautions, Risk & Anxiety

With regard to the pandemic, like everyone else in the North Bay, we are all on a spectrum. Some of us are very impatient to return to Sunday worship, and would be reasonably content with our lives being as they were before the pandemic, including hugging everyone we can, and sharing coffee and cookies in the hall.

On the other hand, some of us are quite anxious: “Is there a chance I could be an “asymptomatic carrier?” we might wonder. “I don’t want to become sick, or possibly make others sick, and so I intend to go out in the public as little as possible until I receive a vaccine.” For people who feel this way, they may be reluctant to come to worship at all, until they have a little more peace of mind.

Many of us are somewhere between the two ends of the spectrum.

Philosophically and medically, it is impossible reduce risk to absolute zero. But I and other leaders at St. Brice’s want to communicate that we are taking all the steps we reasonably can to reduce the risk to all individuals. We have exceeded the standards of the provincial government; we have met or even exceeded some of the stricter standards set out by the Diocese of Algoma. We are working hard to practice good health protocols, while at the same time joyfully living the Christian life together, as we are called to do.

Many of the changes for our common safety and well-being you will be able to see. Some, you won’t be able to see. We hope you will join us; but we understand if some parishioners hold back for a while.

The leadership can only do so much. We also depend on you to do your part: This means that everyone needs to practice good hygiene. If you are feeling ill, for heaven’s sake, please stay home, don’t come to St. Brice’s or elsewhere and risk spreading a disease. God has given you and me his Holy Spirit and reasoning minds. Part of loving our neighbour – one of the two Great Commandments quoted by Jesus, mind – is looking after our neighbour’s health as well as our own.

Pastoral Care

For those who are unwilling to come to the Church property at this time, Archbishop Anne asked me this past Thursday to ask you — How we can best meet your current pastoral needs? Do you want arrangements for communion to be brought to you at home for a time? Do you want to know the plans for Messy Church in the fall? Are you interested in Confirmation classes? Please don’t keep us guessing – keep in touch, and pass messages and requests on to the parish office.

On to a couple of other matters…

Garden & Reading

Along with having what I think is the best job in the whole world (really!), my study has large windows which overlook the back garden. While I was away last month, I know different parishioners mowed the lawn (thank you). As well, someone has been hard at work to make the garden beautiful. I think Anne and Eric Jarvi might be responsible, though I don’t know for sure. Anyway, thank you! I encourage parishioners to enjoy it.

As well, the Reading Room received a donation of books this past week, from Dave and Carol Dellandrea. Thank you! Summer time can be a great time to get some reading done. Please feel free to make use of our reading resources (bearing in mind COVID-19 precautions).

A book about the apostle Paul, Paul, by renowned Anglican scholar and bishop Tom Wright, was recommended highly to me. I bought it, but my wife began reading it first. I hear it’s a great book, and you might want to check it out.

Canon Law Review

For those who are interested in such things, we’ve been asked to support an initiative to assess canon law use among Anglicans, following the difficult General Synod of last year. If you want more information, etc., please go to https://youtu.be/jLvYYpEQkQ4 . (Full disclosure: I’m on the Board of Anglican Communion Alliance.)

Take care. I look forward to seeing you all soon.  In Christ,

Peter Armstrong