Slideshow image

Hello and welcome to COVID Communiqué 31. Just over two weeks to Christmas, and concerns about Christmas liturgies are being raised. None of us can predict Christmas attendance this year but it seems likely many parishes won’t be able to accommodate everyone who might want to come to church at Christmas, especially those of you offering fewer liturgies than usual. 

We’ve heard the reality of COVID Christmas — what fewer services with much less room that usual could mean — is just setting in with some people. If you’re not already fielding a lot of questions from parishioners, you probably will be soon. There isn’t much time to get the word out, so if you haven’t already got your plans in place, we recommend a meeting with wardens and perhaps your parish council. Nail down how many liturgies you’ll offer, how much time you should allow between them, and how you will handle the fact not everyone will be able to attend who would like to. 

Please remember that good ventilation is the critical safety issue. If your church doesn’t have big windows that open wide on both sides of the church (for cross ventilation) then you shouldn’t have two liturgies close together (4 pm and 7:30 pm, for instance, are probably too close together for a proper airing). Speaking of good ventilation, at least two churches have told us they’re having outdoor services. There’s a drive-in liturgy at St. Paul’s, Kanata and Christ Church Bells Corners is having two outdoor evening prayer services on Christmas Eve afternoon. Great ways to expand the number of people who can attend, but keep them in the best ventilated space of all — the outdoors. 

Some other options to take the strain off the church:·                     

  • Encourage early registration and have a no-walk-in policy.·                     
  • Suggest visitors not be brought along this year.·                     
  • Ask people to attend only one service.·                     
  • Add an online service.·                     
  • Have online-only liturgies. 

Next week, we’ll talk about ways to stop people singing even when they hear their favourite carols. And finally, our diocesan chancellor, Henry Schultz, sends word that information on how to hold online vestries will be available in January (watch this space!). As ever, send questions and comments 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