As long as we continue to have surges of Covid infection, we need to follow safety rules. However, now that a respectable percentage of the population in our area has been vaccinated, we can shift to less-stringent protocols. Our Diocese asks us to follow these general principles:
- Wearing masks is at our discretion unless Orange County’s health department mandates them during a surge. If that becomes the case, suitable masks should be worn inside during worship (except for preachers and readers, who may remove their masks during sermons and readings).
- Clergy, lay Eucharistic ministers, and choir members must be fully vaccinated.
- All clergy, lay ministers, and congregants should be encouraged to wash their hands frequently and use hand sanitizer.
- Social distancing should be observed at individuals’ discretion. Be careful of those who may be immunocompromised, including young children and the elderly.
- Masks need not be worn outside, though this also may be left to individual discretion.
- All who are vaccinated are welcome to sing in church. Bishop Taylor requests that all active choir members be fully vaccinated.
Practices for in-person Eucharist
Celebrant and eucharistic ministers should wash their hands or use hand sanitizer in sight of the congregation before beginning the prayer of consecration. Gloves are recommended. Masking is optional.
Bishop Taylor has approved receiving both the consecrated bread and wine. At St. Andrew’s, the celebrant will drop the wafer into the hand of the communicant, who then may choose one of these options:
1: Have the Lay Eucharistic Minister intinct the wafer and place it in the communicant’s hand.
2: Receive the wine directly from our non-porous common chalice. The Lay Eucharistic Minister will carefully wipe and turn the chalice between communicants.
NOTE: Intinction by the communicant in the common chalice is strongly discouraged. Public health guidelines indicate that it actually increases the risk for infection spread because fingertips (which could dip into the wine during the procedure) may be more contaminated than saliva and are more likely to harbor pathogens.
What if someone in our congregation is diagnosed with COVID-19?
- We will notify all who were potentially exposed.
- We will maintain confidentiality when communicating with others.
- We will provide information about current quarantine, symptom monitoring, and testing options. California’s state government has a website with extensive resources.
If you have not been vaccinated
and are looking for a vaccine site
near you, you may use this link
and simply type in your zip code:
https://www.vaccines.gov
For Irvine specifically, follow this link:
www.ciryofirvine.org/vaccine
If you have not been vaccinated
and are looking for a vaccine site
near you, you may use this link
and simply type in your zip code:
https://www.vaccines.gov
For Irvine specifically, follow this link:
www.ciryofirvine.org/vaccine