Attending a service in person – Registration Information
While the summer weather permits, we will gather outdoors for worship on Sundays at 10am, on the lawn between the church and the rectory. The service is a simple Service of the Word with sermon, no communion, lasting about 45 minutes.
Those who plan to attend are asked to register in advance. This is important because of the public health maximum of 50 people for any gathering. This means that person #51 turning up will not be able to stay for the service (and yes, that means not hovering just outside the designated area, too). If you have registered to attend and then are not able to, please phone Jez so that your reserved spot can be made available to someone else.
Registering ahead of time will also speed up information collection on arrival. We are required to collect contact details of every person attending on arrival, for public health contact tracing purposes. We will keep this information for 30 days and then destroy it.
Once inside the gathering area, walk on the arrowed lines to reach your ‘bubble’ (a circle painted on the grass), and then stay inside it. It is essential to stay at least 2 meters apart from anyone not in your household all the time, including outdoors. 2 meters is 6’8”, more than two yardsticks. Test the distance at home, so you know what 2m feels like. It feels much too far when greeting friends, but it's the single most important public health measure.
These measures are required by the diocesan and provincial public health guidelines. All churches are putting similar practices in place for gatherings outdoors and indoors, though many are not yet meeting in person. We are all adapting for features particular to our buildings and spaces; see for instance our neighbours at St George's Cadboro Bay, the Cathedral.The diocesan reopening plan is online in full here.
We have to be able to demonstrate good distancing in order to continue to meet safely. None of this feels natural, or how church normally is or should be. It is not something to 'just get used to'. But we do have to learn to do it, consistently and well. We depend on each other, especially in these strange times. Be kind, be calm, be safe!
Do you have any comments or questions? Please contact Jez: 236 464 2441 or email