COVID-19 Update as of November 29th
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Please take a moment to read the information below regarding our Phase 3 changes. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Pastor Marcus at marcus@revdrorange.com. You can click on the image to the left to download your own copy of the following information.
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Phase 3 Reopening - Begins December 6th
- In the sanctuary we will open up the back pew reserved for the ushers to be used. Ushers and tech can use the pew currently reserved for tech.
- The capacity for the sanctuary as a result will be increased to 50 people.
- We will be introducing our new bulletin handouts and they will be provided for both services. They will be half sheets of paper with sermon notes & info on one side and a limited number of announcements on the back. The ushers will hand these out with gloves on.
- We will have half sheets that have the order of service for the traditional service available for people to pick up. The ushers will hand these out with gloves on.
- We will put both handouts on the website for people to be able to view, save or print.
- Sunday school classes will continue to make choices as to what safety measures they utilize. We ask that they communicate these to the church office so we are able to answer questions. We also ask that Sunday school leaders book space with the church office for their classes and communicate when they are meeting so that we know.
- For the modern service, we will be moving to 5 feet between rows of seats instead of 6 feet and will increase the number of chairs.
Dear Families of St. Paul,
We wanted to provide you with an update regarding our second phase of reopening which begins on
September 20.
Many members of the worship committee took time to listen to solicited and un-solicited feedback,
questions, ideas and concerns, all of which were discussed and considered. As we met to discuss the
best way to proceed, there were three big things guiding our thinking:
• What do we believe is the right thing to do for the right reason and how do we do it the right way
to the best of our ability?
• What represents the best path for the church health both in the short and long-term?
Lastly and perhaps most importantly,
• What does love require of us?
Our plan is to:
• Move back to two worship services each Sunday beginning September 20
• 8:30am Traditional Service for Vulnerable Persons in the sanctuary
• 9:40-10:40 Sunday school
• 10:45am Contemporary Service
The details, procedures and precautions that we are taking for phase 2 are listed on the second page
of this document. We do ask that if you are sick, have any Covid-19 symptoms, a fever or are waiting
for Covid-19 test results that you not come to church. Keep in mind that this continues to be a fluid
situation and we want to make the best decisions for St. Paul using the three guiding questions
above while also utilizing the wisdom of the committee, other churches and their leaders as well as
health professionals. This, like most things in this season will be new to us all so we ask for your
patience and grace with our staff, volunteers and with one another. Should you have any questions
or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to Marcus at the church office or via email at
marcus@revdrorange.com. Do note that his sabbath day is Friday.
In Christ,
Rev. Dr. Marcus J. Carlson
Interim Senior Pastor
We wanted to provide you with an update regarding our second phase of reopening which begins on
September 20.
Many members of the worship committee took time to listen to solicited and un-solicited feedback,
questions, ideas and concerns, all of which were discussed and considered. As we met to discuss the
best way to proceed, there were three big things guiding our thinking:
• What do we believe is the right thing to do for the right reason and how do we do it the right way
to the best of our ability?
• What represents the best path for the church health both in the short and long-term?
Lastly and perhaps most importantly,
• What does love require of us?
Our plan is to:
• Move back to two worship services each Sunday beginning September 20
• 8:30am Traditional Service for Vulnerable Persons in the sanctuary
• 9:40-10:40 Sunday school
• 10:45am Contemporary Service
The details, procedures and precautions that we are taking for phase 2 are listed on the second page
of this document. We do ask that if you are sick, have any Covid-19 symptoms, a fever or are waiting
for Covid-19 test results that you not come to church. Keep in mind that this continues to be a fluid
situation and we want to make the best decisions for St. Paul using the three guiding questions
above while also utilizing the wisdom of the committee, other churches and their leaders as well as
health professionals. This, like most things in this season will be new to us all so we ask for your
patience and grace with our staff, volunteers and with one another. Should you have any questions
or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to Marcus at the church office or via email at
marcus@revdrorange.com. Do note that his sabbath day is Friday.
In Christ,
Rev. Dr. Marcus J. Carlson
Interim Senior Pastor
Reopening Phase 2 Plan (see phase 3 changes above)
8:30am Traditional Service for Vulnerable Persons
This service is specifically for those who are at risk and their families. The service will be held in the sanctuary.
The following measures will be taken:
• Every other pew will be roped off. The front pews will be roped off.
• One pew per family unit, unless the family unit is only 1 or 2 people. In that case one family unit
can be at each end of the pew.
• Masks are required by all at this service except those leading music, liturgy, sermon etc. while
leading.
• Reservations will be required at least until we know it is not necessary. The cap will be 45
people. You make reservations by contacting the church office no later than 10am on the Friday
before.
• If we are short on space due to visitors, we may ask some members to switch to the second
service, starting with staff and council.
• A table with hand sanitizer and masks will be provided in the narthex. Given the use of hymnals
etc, attendees are urged to use hand sanitizer at the very least at the start and completion of the
service.
10:45am Contemporary Service
• Masks are strongly encouraged.
• Only family units should sit together.
All services
• Communion will be offered using individual disposable cups/crackers.
• The pastor leading the liturgy will wear a mask while doing so if within 6 feet of the cups.
• All paid staff will be required to wear masks on Sunday mornings at all times except when they are
leading worship and/or more than 6 feet away from others.
• The staff hopes that council can join them in this as a shared sign of leadership & sacrifice.
• There needs to be at least a 24 hour window between usage of spaces for worship.
• Appropriate cleaning measures will continue to be taken during the week.
• We will not be printing bulletins for services.
• We will not be passing offering plates going forward. Instead we will utilize locked giving boxes in
the back of each worship space and encouraging automatic giving.
8:30am Traditional Service for Vulnerable Persons
This service is specifically for those who are at risk and their families. The service will be held in the sanctuary.
The following measures will be taken:
• Every other pew will be roped off. The front pews will be roped off.
• One pew per family unit, unless the family unit is only 1 or 2 people. In that case one family unit
can be at each end of the pew.
• Masks are required by all at this service except those leading music, liturgy, sermon etc. while
leading.
• Reservations will be required at least until we know it is not necessary. The cap will be 45
people. You make reservations by contacting the church office no later than 10am on the Friday
before.
• If we are short on space due to visitors, we may ask some members to switch to the second
service, starting with staff and council.
• A table with hand sanitizer and masks will be provided in the narthex. Given the use of hymnals
etc, attendees are urged to use hand sanitizer at the very least at the start and completion of the
service.
10:45am Contemporary Service
• Masks are strongly encouraged.
• Only family units should sit together.
All services
• Communion will be offered using individual disposable cups/crackers.
• The pastor leading the liturgy will wear a mask while doing so if within 6 feet of the cups.
• All paid staff will be required to wear masks on Sunday mornings at all times except when they are
leading worship and/or more than 6 feet away from others.
• The staff hopes that council can join them in this as a shared sign of leadership & sacrifice.
• There needs to be at least a 24 hour window between usage of spaces for worship.
• Appropriate cleaning measures will continue to be taken during the week.
• We will not be printing bulletins for services.
• We will not be passing offering plates going forward. Instead we will utilize locked giving boxes in
the back of each worship space and encouraging automatic giving.
