At St. John's we are constantly reviewing our on-going
response to COVID-19.
response to COVID-19.
As announced on June 26, and beginning on Sunday, July 3, the wearing of masks will become optional but encouraged inside our church building. It is important to reiterate at this stage that everyone's risk tolerance and comfort levels are different... and sometimes different even from week to week. That is normal and wholly acceptable and to be expected. No one will be judged or made to feel uncomfortable for their very personal discernment in this matter.
Please be gracious with one another, and respect where we each may be in our gradual return to a more normal way of living. As always, if you are currently feeling unwell or have been recently exposed to a suspected or confirmed case of COVID, please use this opportunity to stay home and visit our online worship experience on YouTube!
Note that at present, there is no change to the manner in which we celebrate the eucharist: the communion wafer will continue to be brought to you in the pews, and the cup will not be shared. Anglican theology has long held that to receive Christ in one kind only (i.e, bread or wine) is to receive the fullness of God’s presence. We recognise the widely different communion practices among our Christian siblings throughout the Diocese and indeed the world.
A goodly portion of the New Testament involves the Apostle Paul addressing the earliest followers of Jesus regarding their different understandings of and comfort with eating with one another. The principle he established then holds still: “Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them. Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand.” (Romans 14:3–4)
- If you are not yet ready to return in-person worship, that is ok and we welcome you to experience our recorded services posted each Sunday on our Youtube channel.
- If you are attending in person, but wish to keep your mask on the entire time, that is perfectly fine.
- And if you are ready to enter our building without a mask, that is great too.
Please be gracious with one another, and respect where we each may be in our gradual return to a more normal way of living. As always, if you are currently feeling unwell or have been recently exposed to a suspected or confirmed case of COVID, please use this opportunity to stay home and visit our online worship experience on YouTube!
Note that at present, there is no change to the manner in which we celebrate the eucharist: the communion wafer will continue to be brought to you in the pews, and the cup will not be shared. Anglican theology has long held that to receive Christ in one kind only (i.e, bread or wine) is to receive the fullness of God’s presence. We recognise the widely different communion practices among our Christian siblings throughout the Diocese and indeed the world.
A goodly portion of the New Testament involves the Apostle Paul addressing the earliest followers of Jesus regarding their different understandings of and comfort with eating with one another. The principle he established then holds still: “Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them. Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand.” (Romans 14:3–4)
