Plan & Guidelines for the Safe Re-Opening of St Mary of the Angels During the COVID-19 Pandemic

June 4, 2020
Thursday in Whitsun Week
Los Feliz, Hollywood, California

Greetings in the name of the Risen Christ!

As of Sunday, June 14, St Mary of the Angels is pleased to announce the re-opening of church and the resumption of services to once again provide the Sacraments to God’s faithful. This re-opening will require several changes and modifications to the way we gather and conduct services in order to keep everyone safe as well as to abide by the guidelines set forth by local authorities. The following list is extensive, but it is in your interest to read it in its entirety so that you are aware of what will be different, what is being done to protect you, and what you must do to help protect others.

All who attend services must adhere to the following:

If you are ill, think you may be ill, have a fever, have flu-like symptoms, or have had contact with anyone who is ill or with those symptoms (whether they are diagnosed or not), please remain at home and seek medical attention. Do NOT come to church!

• Worshipers must wear a mask or face covering the entire time (except as noted below) AND use hand sanitizer upon entering the church. A hand sanitizer station will be located in the Narthex, which will also include a small number of masks and gloves for those who require them.
  Supplies are greatly limited. Please bring your own mask, if possible.
  
• All those attending Mass must maintain a minimum distance of six (6) feet from other worshipers, both when entering and exiting the church, while seated in pews, and while in line to receive Holy Communion. We are limited in how many people may attend services so that everyone in attendance may be able to maintain the required social distance. Signs have been placed in pews to indicate which seats are available. While all are welcome, preference will be given to members of St Mary’s.
  
• Entrance to and egress from the Nave will be restricted. Please use the center gate and aisle to reach your pew.
  
• Sunday Masses will be limited to one Mass at 10 AM, with the 8 AM Lady Chapel Mass temporarily suspended. We have a limited staff to perform the necessary cleaning and disinfecting between services. We will reevaluate this monthly going forward and will consider expanding the number of Masses offered depending on various factors, including attendance and demand.

Receiving Holy Communion

• Holy Communion will be offered in one species only – the Host. The administration of the Chalice is suspended until further notice. Please return to your pew after you have received the Host.
  
• Worshipers receiving Holy Communion will form a single line while waiting in the aisle, remain six feet apart in that line, and kneel at the center of the altar rail only one at a time. (Those receiving Holy Communion may remove their masks and face coverings just long enough to receive the Host; please resume wearing your mask once you have received Holy Communion.)
  
• You may receive the Blessed Sacrament either in the hand or on the tongue. The priest will sanitize his fingers in a bowl of alcohol and dry them with a purificator following each and every person who receives the Sacrament.
  
• The reception of Holy Communion is optional. If you choose not to receive, please remain in your pew and pray. 

Precautions Taken

For the safety and peace of mind of our parishioners and visitors, and in compliance with mandated guidelines, please note the following precautions have been or will be taken in support of the parish’s reopening:

• Prior to and immediately following each scheduled service, all areas to be utilized will be thoroughly sanitized. The parish will undergo an extensive deep-cleaning prior to its reopening, with special attention paid to those items and areas most commonly touched by worshipers.
  
• The celebrant and all other assistants at the Mass will have their temperatures taken prior to the Mass.
  
• All Holy Water fonts will remain empty for the time being. Small bottles of Holy Water are available for parishioners to take home.
  
• The collection plate will not be passed during Mass. Instead, alms basins will be placed at the altar rail, where worshipers will be asked to place their offerings.
  
• Bibles, prayer books, and hymnals have been temporarily removed from pews. As usual, individual Mass booklets (bulletins) will be available to allow worshipers to follow the Mass. These booklets must be taken home following the service.
  
• The Social Hour (post-Mass refreshments in the Undercroft) is discontinued until further notice.

We ask your patience as we all learn to adapt to these temporary new requirements. If anyone has any questions or concerns regarding the parish’s plan for re-opening, they should feel free to email info@stmaryshollywood.org or call the church office at (323) 660-2700. We look forward to worshiping with you again shortly!

God bless you!

Fr. William Bower + 

The Reverend Canon William D. Bower, SSC

Priest-in-Charge

St Mary of the Angels Anglican Church

Hollywood, California