Join us at 10am each Sunday! Or check out our Facebook for a livestream service!
(In the event of technical difficulties, our service will be posted by noon)
We're so excited to be able to open our doors again, and we hope you will join us, when you're ready!
Before you join us, please read the guidelines below, and be sure to bring your mask. In the interest of contact tracing (in the event of an infection,)please use our weekly emails to register and reserve your seat.
In the months ahead, Mother Ann will preside at the eucharist on the second and fourth Sunday of each month. The first and third Sundays will be Morning Prayer
Worship Schedule
Sunday, September 20: Holy Eucharist with Mother Ann
Sunday, September 27: Liturgy of the Word with Deacon Magdalena (no communion)
We will offer Morning Prayer on the second and fourth Sunday of every month & Holy Eucharist Rite 2 on the first and third Sunday of every month. |
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What to Expect as we Reopen
We opened our doors on August 16! Our reopening plan follows the guidelines of our diocese, The Diocese of New Jersey. I encourage all of you to review see what the diocese has established for guidelines by viewing the summarized report or the COVID-19 diocesan website. We are also using Church Insurance's recommendations in our planning.
Since we are committed to safety, things will look different for awhile. Our commitment to safety will require all people (excluding toddlers and younger) to wear masks when in the building and to maintain social distancing at all time. If you are not able to come back to church yet, we will have streaming options available for you to view the service from wherever you are.
Prior to attending church, we are going to ask all members to register online or by phone. In the event that someone in our building learns they have contracted COVID-19, we want to be able to contact every other person who has been in the building within the last three weeks. Signing up ahead of time makes it easier for us to have your contact information. In addition, with our social distancing measures in place, we only have seating for 13 households: 9 households of 1-2 people, 2 households of 3 people, and 2 households of 4 people).
When you arrive at church, the sanctuary will look a bit different, too. Many chairs have been removed and there will be marks on the floor to remind you to maintain social distancing. An usher will check you in, hand you a bulletin, and help you find available seats. Please listen to the ushers and do not sit in any pews or end seats that are roped off.
When you arrive at your seats, you will notice that we have removed all books. You are welcome to bring your own prayer book, but everything you need will be in the bulletin.
During the service, our liturgy will remain the same, but unfortunately, our experience of music in worship will not yet be what we’re used to. Congregational singing is not permitted at this time; we are unsure if it is safe. We will not be able to sing together until the diocese is sure that it is safe. Another difference you will notice is how we move. During the peace, we will have no contact and will stay in our places. During the offertory, we will not pass a plate; offering plates will be located around the sanctuary for your convenience.
When it comes time for communion, we will only serve bread. I will distribute communion by bringing it to you. Please keep your mask on until you are about to receive, and then put your mask back on promptly.
At the end of the service, please return to your cars. We are not yet able to safely offer coffee hour and reopening guidelines for all churches require that we do not gather on the property.
I know these changes will take some getting used to. We all want to return to familiar comforts of pre-pandemic church. While these new guidelines may not be familiar, this way of worship will not last forever. This is how we love one another. These guidelines are designed to ensure the health and safety of everyone in our building until this season of pandemic is over.
I cannot wait to meet you all in person and worship together. Looking further ahead, I cannot wait to sing together and shake hands! Until then, my prayer is for the safety of every member of our Trinity community. In life, there will always be obstacles ahead of us, but in Christ, no obstacle is insurmountable!
Dear parishioners, I so look forward to all of us worshiping together in the same space again, but if you do not feel safe yet, know that we will continue to film our service and upload it shortly after. I know that these changes will be challenging, but everything that your vestry, the diocese, Deacon Magdalena, and I are doing is grounded in keeping you safe.
Peace of Christ,
Mother Ann
908-578-9098
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