Mass on the Lawn

2120 Lincoln Street,Evanston IL 60201

02 May, 2021

Description

Holy Eucharist on the Lawn, 8:30 Sunday mornings - Covid-19 rates allowing & weather-permitting - RSVPs, masks & social distancing required. Beginning on Earth Day Sunday - April 25, 2021 - St. Matthew's explores an incremental and safe return to in-person worship. Listening carefully to health authorities - and watching the weather forecast, we begin outdoors. First stop: the St. Matthew's lawn along Hartrey Avenue. We plan to offer a brief Eucharist with new safety protocols. Initially we restrict attendance to 25 persons. All attendees are required to RSVP so we can keep track of numbers and have information should we need to institute contact tracing. The service is weather-dependent; temperatures below 50 degrees, storms, or wet conditions will result in cancellation. In case of cancelation, emails will be sent to the St. Matthew's mailing list no later than 7:45am Sunday morning. We ask that everyone abide by the Covenant for Re-Gathering: In response to the current COVID-19 pandemic, I promise, with God’s help and to the best of my ability, to abide by the guidelines of the Diocese of Chicago for participation in the life of my congregation according to the regathering phase in which my congregation is authorized to carry out its mission and ministry. In fulfillment of the Baptismal Covenant (The Book of Common Prayer, pp. 304-305), I will strive to: Love my neighbor as myself, I will... • Wear a face covering over my nose and mouth at all times in church buildings, except momentarily to receive the sacrament and follow public health guidelines for hand sanitizing and disinfecting • Only attend worship and receive communion if I am healthy and non-symptomatic with COVID-19 or any other contagious disease that could compromise the health of another congregant and to my knowledge have not been in direct contact with anyone infected • Abstain from attending if doing so would put me at greater risk due to my own health status • Inform the rector and/or wardens as soon as possible if I am diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus Respect the dignity of every human being, I will... • Make no physical contact with people beyond the members of my own household while on church property • Ensure that children under my care remain with me at all times • Maintain a six foot or more distance from other members of the congregation • Respect any requests for distance, face covering, and cleaning, to ensure the safety and comfort level of others Seek and serve Christ in all people... • Trust and support the decisions of both my diocesan and congregational leaders • Stay connected with others in my community by telephone, text, email, video chat, or mail (or other means) Approved by the Vestry on August 18, 2020