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Hello and welcome to COVID Communiqué 27. Our brief return of summer is almost over, and it should soon be easier to get planning for Christmas underway. Of all the disruptions our traditions will suffer because of COVID, not being able to sing beloved carols may be the most painful for many. But there is an option for softening the blow: well-planned, carefully limited carolling. We’re optimistic churches in the Diocese of Ottawa can bring this special, joyful form of worship to life in a way that will work to keep us all safe as we sing. 

Happily, Christmas carolling has a long tradition of taking place outdoors (which approach was not, of course, developed in the Ottawa Valley, but cold-weather gear is better now than it was in England hundreds of years ago, so be brave). The bigger challenge, since singing is a high-risk activity, is to do it safely — that will mean, for instance, that groups of carollers must be kept small and all standard COVID safety measures must be observed. Please review the guidelines for carolling on our diocesan website. You’ll see all plans for group carolling must be approved by the diocese. We ask that you follow the guidelines to develop a carolling plan and submit it to the diocese at C19helpdesk@ottawa.anglican.ca no later than December 7th. 

As always, any questions or information you have for us should also be sent to C19helpdesk@ottawa.anglican.ca. 

COVID Communiqué is produced by our senior staff:
Shane Parker, Bishop
Beth Bretzlaff, Dean
Linda Hill, Executive Archdeacon
Sanjay Grover, Director of Financial Ministry
Peter John Hobbs, Director of Community Ministries
Jane Scanlon, Director of Stewardship Development
Carol Sinclair, Director of Human Resources