An Important Covid Update
Dear Members and Friends,
As you may know, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently updated their risk guidance with a new Green-Yellow-Red rating by county. For counties in Green or Yellow, the CDC is not recommending that masks are needed indoors. The Bishop recently sent a letter to the entire Diocese in light of the new guidelines. She asks us in each parish to consider if and how we might relax some of our local Covid protocols, and concurs with the CDC that masks in general may be made optional at local discretion.
This is wonderful news! The CDC currently puts Passaic County at Green status. As a result, your Vestry has unanimously endorsed the CDC guidelines as the Covid protocols for Saint John's. You can check our Covid Protocols page for all the recent news and guidance.
What this means for you: Beginning Wednesday, March 16, the following Covid protocols are now effective at Saint John's:
Masks are optional at all services. You may wear one or not. No one should ask you about it one way or the other - all personal decisions will be respected.
As with the flu or a cold, if you are feeling unwell, do stay home. Otherwise, we need you - and you need us - in church, so do come!
The Holy Communion will be administered at the rail, but only the Host at this time. We are waiting for further guidance from the Bishop on resuming the use of the Cup.
We will continue to live-stream all services, but we encourage you to consider watching online as a substitute only for the fullness of your worship of God in Christ.
At this time, we are tentatively planning an Easter Reception on Easter Day, April 17. However, the kitchen needs some TLC beforehand, as it hasn't been used in a while. Please contact Ms. Shirley Signorat at 551-206-4905 if you can help.
We're so grateful to God that the Covid pandemic seems to be passing. It's been a long time. Now, more than ever, it's time to resume your active participation in our common life at Saint John's, to the fullest degree you feel safe.
Please do contact us if you have any questions or concerns. My direct number is 973-826-2175.
Lenten blessings continue,
Fr. Bob+
PS: Join us for Stations of the Cross with Benediction on Wednesdays at 7:30 PM! And Sunday Mass at 8 AM (Low Mass) or 10:30 AM (Sung Mass).