Changes We're Making in Worship
​                                        - updated March 14

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As long as we do not have a number of cases in our local community,  we will continue to gather for worship.  But we will also do our part to reduce the chances that virus can be spread through our practices.   Please exercise your own caution - if you have been exposed, please self-quarantine until you know you have not been infected.   If you are feeling at all sick, please stay home.  If your own underlying health issues make you at increased risk of being seriously affected by this respiratory virus, please consider staying home.
Here are some of the changes we are making to help protect our community.

Communion

One of the greatest gifts of worshiping together is in the reception of God's love through communion.   As long as  we can, we will continue to offer both bread and wine,although it has always been the teaching of the church that receiving in one kind (just bread, or just wine) is just as efficacious.  People will be asked to use hand sanitizer (available at church) before coming forward for communion.  The priest will wash her hands in the sacristy immediately before going to the communion table.  The bread (wafer) will be placed in the communicant's hand in such a way to avoid contact between the priest's and the communicant's hands.  If you wish to only receive the bread, please leave the communion rail after receiving it.  Wine will be consecrated in a "pouring chalice" and those wishing to receive the wine will be given a small individual cup which the chalice bearer will then pour the wine into.  Cups are to be disposed of in the trash receptacle in front of the pews.  There will be no option for intinction (dipping) of the bread.  

Social Distancing

 One of the important things to practice is "social distancing" - avoiding close contact with other people.  We will ask people to keep appropriate distance between themselves and others in the pews.  At the passing of the Peace, we ask people to remain in their pews, offering a gesture of peace from a distance to others.   As you come to the communion rail, we ask people to not line up closely in the aisle, nor kneel directly next to the person before you. 

Sanitation

Please wash your hands thoroughly before coming to church. When you enter St. James you will realize that we have removed the water from the baptismal font. Instead, in that location, you will find the offering plate, where you can leave your offering and not need to handle the plates during the service.  You will find a container of Clorox wipes near the back door.  Please feel free to take a wipe with you to your pew to wipe down the areas around where you sit - particularly the top and back of the pew in front of you (where someone may have knelt and leaned on during a previous service).  There is hand sanitizer available at all entrances and at the front of the aisle before you go up the stairs for communion.  The Altar Guild will wipe down the communion rail between each service.