Welcome Home Trinity
Steps to the Safe Reopening of the Church Building
Dear Trinity Family,
We miss you! Plans are in place for us to gather soon, we hope and pray that date will be Sunday, February 28th. We want you all to know that we care for you in all aspects and right now, especially your physical well-being. To that end, we are asking you all to take the needed precautions to keep yourselves and others safe. Showing love comes in the form of wearing a mask, keeping our distance, a little wave instead of a handshake and washing our hands. Things will be very different but we will continue to do our best to make our services prayerful, meaningful and sacred.
During this time, we will be implementing the below precautions to do our part to stop the spread of COVID-19. These guidelines represent best practices to minimize contact and the potential spread of the virus while being protective of our Trinity Family Members.
Implementation will be measured and cautious
These protocols lay out a progression of how services will reopen – starting with in-house worship at both the 8:30 and 10 am Sunday Services – communal worship & prayer without communal singing (we will have the live praise band) while maintaining safe distancing. Once we have several Sundays experience with these protocols, and the adjustments that may be needed, then other features such as Holy Communion and Sunday School can be added. There is no time frame for these next steps as other experiences in the back-to-school process and in the community as a whole could have an impact should virus transmission be seen to increase. We will not let fear drive our decisions but science.
Of course, during this time, on-line services will continue as they have to provide worship opportunities until individuals are comfortable in returning to the communal services.
Guiding principles of these protocols include:
If you would like to share your thoughts, concerns or questions and ideas with us as we navigate our response to this pandemic, we would love to hear from you. Your input and feedback are truly important to us.
We understand there is a lot to process and may be a little overwhelming but we can evolve with these changing times and become stronger together. Let us be an example, let us be the canvas that God can use to show his greatest works! We may not be able to sing right now, but we can worship, we can raise our hands and praise Our Lord, we can create an atmosphere of praise, allowing the Holy Spirit to fill our places of worship, listen to the music and reflect on God's never-ending grace and goodness.
This outbreak has caused a lot of uncertainty and anxiety. Yet we do remain certain of God’s steadfast presence and careful attention to what is going on. Please join us in our continued prayers for those affected by this virus, the caregivers, and those working around the clock to minimize the impact of this virus.
There are many scriptures to reflect on right now. Psalm 46, in this scripture we are reminded that God is our refuge and strength and our ever present help in trouble. Therefore, let us not fear, but with confidence use this opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus through prayer and our care for others.
This is just the beginning of a new wave of the church, there is strength in coming together, let us be stronger, let us be the light, let us be carriers of hope!
We cannot wait to see you all again!
Thank you Trinity, we will do what we can to keep our church as safe and as clean as possible. We sincerely appreciate your cooperation and commitment to help us do just that.
Warmest Regards,
Trinity Church
Steps to the Safe Reopening of the Church Building
Dear Trinity Family,
We miss you! Plans are in place for us to gather soon, we hope and pray that date will be Sunday, February 28th. We want you all to know that we care for you in all aspects and right now, especially your physical well-being. To that end, we are asking you all to take the needed precautions to keep yourselves and others safe. Showing love comes in the form of wearing a mask, keeping our distance, a little wave instead of a handshake and washing our hands. Things will be very different but we will continue to do our best to make our services prayerful, meaningful and sacred.
During this time, we will be implementing the below precautions to do our part to stop the spread of COVID-19. These guidelines represent best practices to minimize contact and the potential spread of the virus while being protective of our Trinity Family Members.
Implementation will be measured and cautious
These protocols lay out a progression of how services will reopen – starting with in-house worship at both the 8:30 and 10 am Sunday Services – communal worship & prayer without communal singing (we will have the live praise band) while maintaining safe distancing. Once we have several Sundays experience with these protocols, and the adjustments that may be needed, then other features such as Holy Communion and Sunday School can be added. There is no time frame for these next steps as other experiences in the back-to-school process and in the community as a whole could have an impact should virus transmission be seen to increase. We will not let fear drive our decisions but science.
Of course, during this time, on-line services will continue as they have to provide worship opportunities until individuals are comfortable in returning to the communal services.
Guiding principles of these protocols include:
- Communication with our Trinity Family to set expectations for our safety plan and our return to services
- Protocols based on Diocesan and Public Health Guidelines, best practices and science
- Minimizing contact – distancing and masking
- Preventing airborne transmission
- Sanitizing surfaces, especially high touch areas
- Please stay at home if you or a family member is sick (Our online services will still be in place, please worship from home)
- Consider taking your temperature before attending a service, although not a perfect measure, not everyone with COVID-19 may have a fever but it is still one of the most common symptoms of the virus. A temperature above 100.4 degrees or 38c or greater, so if it is not normal for you to have a temperature over that, please consider remaining home and monitor how you are feeling and seek medical care if needed
- Wear a Mask – masks are mandatory for us, please wear a mask if you are able to. Some people are not able to wear a mask for relevant health concerns, if we ask you to wear a mask and you are not able to because of a health concern, just let us know. Be kind to those not wearing masks, for some this is not possible and we need to show them love and respect.
- Wash your hands often with hot water and for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the washroom, before eating and blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing
- Forgo shaking hands or hugging, send a little wave, a bow or nod to show others you care
- If you or someone you know tests positive for COVID-19, please let us know so we can pray, see if we can help, and take any necessary precautions at the church
- We will be sanitizing highly touched surfaces before and after every service, such as doors, handles, tables, check in stations and sinks, our cleaning crew will be researching a sanitizing fogging system for extra safety
- Our staff and volunteer teams will wash their hands frequently, stay home if unwell, take their temperature before the services
- Volunteers will receive training to ensure safety measures and requirements are being followed and maintained
- Hand sanitizer will be available at entrances and exits
- Masks will be available, we do encourage people to bring their own reusable masks but we will have masks available
- We will have signs around the building reminding one another to keep a safe distance, direct traffic, to wash their hands etc.
- We will open windows and doors when possible to allow for air flow
- Where possible, ‘traffic’ will flow in one direction to help minimize contact
- There will be capacity limits at our services, 30 people at the 8:30am service and 50 people allowed for the 10am service. This includes clergy, band/singers, greeters and technicians.
- Presently we ask you to reserve a spot by one of these options 1) BEST OPTION registering online visit https://rsvp.church/r/mmnRbtX1, calling the office (519-542-9261), or 3) by email – trinity@trinitysarnia.org this avoids being disappointed upon arrival and finding we have reached our maximum capacity. If you are registering by phone or email please do so BEFORE Thursday at Noon, please wait for a confirmation by phone or email to ensure we have a spot for you. Please Note: We MAY have to turn people away if they have not registered, or we may reach capacity before you can register. If we find enough people want to attend in person services we will be considering offering another service to be able to provide safely distanced services to all that would like to attend. We do not want to have to turn anyone away but this may be a reality, we are sorry, this is not in our Christian nature at all, we want the church bursting at the seams but right now this is necessary and we must abide by the laws of our province to ensure everyone’s safety, thank you everyone for your patience and understanding with these many changes.
- If you arrive without pre-booking, please wait a few minutes before the service so we can check in those that have pre-booked, if there are remaining spaces we can allow you to come in. If you have pre-booked but cannot attend please email, myles@theinnsarnia.ca prior to the service so your space can be shared with someone that has not pre-booked. Please be aware if you have not arrived 5 minutes prior to the service we may have to give your spot to someone waiting for entry, again, not something we want to do but please try to arrive between 8:15-8:25am or 9:45-9:55am. If you are scheduled to serve at a service PLEASE DO NOT REGISTER (This includes greeters, musicians, lay readers, ushers etc.) these numbers have been deducted from our capacity. If you find the service is full you when you go to register online you can call the office to register for the following week as the web link to register will be on our website on a weekly basis.
- You will park as normal and use the fellowship hall entrance by the kitchen, keeping physical distance between people lining up to come in. Feel free to remain seated in your car until the line-up clears.
- We would kindly ask that if an elderly person or someone with mobility issues is in line, those around would allow them to move to the front of the line for entrance.
- Prior to entering the building, those attending will be required to answer a few screening questions about your general health
- It is suggested that you arrive 15 minutes before the service to allow time for the screening and admission process
- Contact information is required (for contact tracing) we will have a Parish List available to check your names off, but if no contact information is available we will need to collect this
- You will be required to wear a mask to enter the Church. If you don’t have one, one will be provided. If you have a health condition which precludes wearing a mask, we would ask you to be extra cautious and ensure you maintain 6 ft. distancing.
- Coat racks will not be available, please take your coat into the service with you and place on the back of your chair or on the pew, please keep all belongings with you to maintain the flow of traffic in one direction
- Books and bulletins will not be provided and we ask you to not bring bibles or prayer books. Readings will be provided on the screens, this includes the 8:30am service.
- Communal prayers will be said
- Enjoy the music played or the Praise singers and hum along or lip sync - Communal singing is not permitted
- Children are Welcome! For the time being, children will remain in the services –bring along their favourite toy, book or colouring pages and some snacks! We will also have some little packages prepared for Children, please take them home with you.
- A box will be provided for collection envelopes to be deposited, we encourage you to give online or by pre-authorized payments, please visit here to see the offering options http://www.trinitysarnia.org/online-giving.html
- For the time being, Holy Communion will not be offered, we will start offering this again soon.
- To start, our services will be shorter (approximately 45 minutes)
- Our prayer boxes will not be used right now, there are several ways you can make your prayer requests known Call the Office (519-542-9261) to speak to clergy or Rachel to let us know how we can pray for you. Online prayer form - Fill out a prayer form on our Website (www.trinitysarnia.org) If you would like the prayer to be said publically in the service, please specify this
- There will be no pens, papers, kleenex, please bring your own
- There will be no coffee hour at this time
- Once screening is completed at the main door, people will move to the chapel for the service
- Please note that, other than to use the washrooms, you cannot return to the hall or lobby area from the chapel – traffic is one way only – we ask you to use the two washrooms closest to the chapel NOT the family washroom
- Pews will be marked or roped off so that only every other pew will be used
- A pew will be for a family or 2 single people sitting at the ends, leaving space between
- At the end of the service, exit is through the Murphy St. door to the outside (Main Chapel Door)
- Once screening is completed at the main door, people will move to the worship centre for the service
- please note that, other than to use the washrooms, you cannot return to the lobby area from the main hall – traffic is one way only - we ask you to use the family washroom NOT the two other washrooms in the fellowship hall
- groupings of chairs will be established in the main hall - for singles, couples and families
- extra chairs will be available at the back of the hall if you need to add a chair(s) to accommodate your family size – if doing so, please ensure you maintain distancing from neighbouring family groups
- You may choose to sit with people within your social bubble.
- At the end of the service, exit is through the 3 exit doors leading directly to the outside (not going back into the lobby area) – use the door closest to you
- Entrance into the office area is only for clergy, staff or those assisting in that day’s service
If you would like to share your thoughts, concerns or questions and ideas with us as we navigate our response to this pandemic, we would love to hear from you. Your input and feedback are truly important to us.
We understand there is a lot to process and may be a little overwhelming but we can evolve with these changing times and become stronger together. Let us be an example, let us be the canvas that God can use to show his greatest works! We may not be able to sing right now, but we can worship, we can raise our hands and praise Our Lord, we can create an atmosphere of praise, allowing the Holy Spirit to fill our places of worship, listen to the music and reflect on God's never-ending grace and goodness.
This outbreak has caused a lot of uncertainty and anxiety. Yet we do remain certain of God’s steadfast presence and careful attention to what is going on. Please join us in our continued prayers for those affected by this virus, the caregivers, and those working around the clock to minimize the impact of this virus.
There are many scriptures to reflect on right now. Psalm 46, in this scripture we are reminded that God is our refuge and strength and our ever present help in trouble. Therefore, let us not fear, but with confidence use this opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus through prayer and our care for others.
This is just the beginning of a new wave of the church, there is strength in coming together, let us be stronger, let us be the light, let us be carriers of hope!
We cannot wait to see you all again!
Thank you Trinity, we will do what we can to keep our church as safe and as clean as possible. We sincerely appreciate your cooperation and commitment to help us do just that.
Warmest Regards,
Trinity Church