We have re-opened!
Our church opened again on Sunday, September 13th!
There are Sunday services at 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., and on Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m.
Because of COVID-19, the church looks different inside and the service will be adjusted to comply with diocesan rules.
Livestream and watch from home
The 11:00 a.m. Sunday service will be livestreamed for those not able to attend in person. The livestreams will be archived and can be viewed at any time after the service from the same link.
Please pre-register…
There is a limit of 50 people who may be inside the church at any one time. Because of physical distancing requirements, there are only places in the pews for 26 individuals or groups of up to five in the same family or “bubble” at each service, in addition to clergy, volunteers, and others participating in the service.
Registration is required for all services. Pre-registration through Eventbrite is required for the Sunday 11:00 a.m. service. To pre-register, please use the button below or phone the church at 416-767-7491 and leave a voice message in mailbox 3. Those who do not pre-register may not get into the service, although a limited number of spots will be reserved for newcomers. Registration for all services will occur on arrival.
When you arrive…
- Attendees should arrive 10 to 20 minutes early. They will be met by a greeter who will let them know about the COVID-19 precautions.
- Masks will be required for everyone entering the church. Please bring your own mask, but if you don’t have one you will be provided with one.
- Upon entering the church, there will be a registration table to record your contact information. You will be asked health-related questions, use hand sanitizer and pick up a bulletin.
- Please keep your coat or jacket with you, as there will be no coat racks. The windows in the church will be open into the early fall to maintain good ventilation.
- A sidesperson will lead you or your group into the church. A collection box will be on a table at the back of the church.
- A sidesperson will operate the elevator for those with mobility issues and provide hearing assist headphones for those who require them.
- The sidesperson will seat attendees in the designated pews with appropriate distancing. There are markers placed on the floor to indicate the six-foot social distancing gaps that must be kept, and direction arrows. The centre aisle is for walking toward the altar, and the north aisle is for walking from the altar.
- There will be no hymn books or prayer books available. All parts of the service will be in the bulletins.
- Pews are colour-coded. Please see the sign as you enter to find out what colour service you are attending. This is to minimize the amount of cleaning required between services.
During the service…..
- A new, smaller altar has been built, and placed at the top of the chancel steps to minimize the degree of moving around, and to provide better light for the livestreaming.
- There will be no choral or congregational singing at the 11 a.m. service. Jack Hattey will be playing the organ or piano, and there may be soloists assisting at the service. All will wear masks, including the soloists and the presiding clergy member. Readers will walk up the centre aisle to a standing microphone and will return via the north aisle.
- During the service, attendees must always wear a mask. There will be no movement during the Peace as physical distancing must be maintained.
- People wishing to receive communion will move forward from the back as directed by the sidesperson. They will receive only bread without kneeling. It will be distributed without any physical contact. Recipients will move to the left to a designated spot, adjust the mask to consume the host, replace the mask, sanitize their hands, and then return to their seats.
- There will be no Church school during the 11:00 a.m. service. Children will sit with their parents or caregivers throughout the service. There will be no toys for children to play with, but craft bags will be given out to older children to use during the service or take home.
- Washrooms in the church hall will be available but should only be used on an emergency basis.
After church…..
- After the service ends, the sidespeople will direct people out the main exit starting from the back. Groups must remain socially distanced while leaving the church.
- Fr. Philip or the celebrating priest will be outside to greet those leaving. You may wish to visit in the garden for a short time, but please keep your masks on and maintain social distancing. No food or beverages will be served.
- There will be a Zoom coffee hour at 1:00 p.m. every Sunday in which any parishioner may participate. Fr. Philip will email invitations to these Zoom coffee gatherings to the parish email list, but if you are not on this list and want to be invited, you need to send Fr. Philip your email address (phobson@nullstmartininthefields.ca).