Dear People of St. Paul’s,
We are so excited to regather on June 20 for our first in-person service!
As previously mentioned, regathering will take place gradually over the course of three phases as we carefully abide by state, county, and Diocesan guidelines while keeping your health and best interests at heart. But, you might wonder, what exactly does this mean?
In a nutshell:
- New state guidelines will be announced on June 15, followed by amended county guidelines.
- Based on local conditions, county health authorities may adhere to stricter measures if they determine this is necessary.
- There may be a lag time between the lifting of state and county restrictions and the altering of diocesan guidance. As a result, this may take upward of two weeks or more since the Episcopal Diocese of California covers six deaneries (counties).
- Until we are advised otherwise, masks, signing in (for contact tracing), and social distancing will remain in place.
We also recognize that many parishioners may not be able to get the vaccine for a number of reasons, or perhaps they live out of the area, and for these reasons wish to continue with online services. For the summer, at least, we will continue with an online service at 11:00 am.
This is why the Vestry approved our tiered regathering plan, which will allow us to reopen gradually while addressing our own logistical challenges; these include an aging audio-visual system, technological gaps, and just one full-time clergy and one full-time staff member.
Regathering Committee
We have a dedicated Regathering Committee that is monitoring the many steps needed to stay abreast of evolving guidelines while keeping your health and safety in mind. Our team includes Jessica Beerbaum, Susan Burpee, Melanie Corry, Maureen Horton, Richard Kemink, and myself.
At a later date, you will have the opportunity to provide feedback and weigh in on proposed possibilities as we begin preparing for the “new normal.” We realize that it will be impossible to create a perfect solution for everyone and ask for your patience, prayers, and support as we explore different options and suggestions that will best serve our diverse community.
Whether you worship in person or continue enjoying our online service, we look forward to welcoming everyone!
Blessings,Rev. Krista Fregoso
