Covid-19 Update June 16th, 2022

Hello and greetings in the name of Christ.
After a long period of public health restrictions, the Kirk Session has decided to lift pandemic restrictions - masking, physical distancing, and proofs of vaccination - for all activities at St. Andrew's, effective immediately.
Further, restrictions concerning in-person group and committee meetings have been lifted. Groups and committees are reminded that it is imperative to book times and church spaces through the church office.
The Kirk Session continues to encourage masking.
Masks and hand sanitizers will remain in the building, available for those that wish to make use of them.
The Kirk Session's COVID Advisory Group will remain in place. Thus, in the event that the public health situation deteriorates, the Kirk Session will be in a position to act quickly and effectively.

Jide Afolabi

Covid 19 Update March 22nd 2022

Dear St. Andreans,

It is sometimes surreal to think that it has been more than two years that we have been living through a global pandemic, with various rounds of restrictions and many unknowns. It has been hard on all of us and called upon our faith in ways we may never have imagined we would have needed.

Today, while we are still living with COVID-19, we are experiencing, municipally and provincially, a shift towards removing many of the restrictions and mandates that we have been living with for the last two years. In many of the places we frequent in our daily lives the choice to adopt practices such as masking and maintaining personal distance has now become the personal choice of individuals as well as businesses. Each of us will have our own views and level of comfort when it comes to being close to others, being out in public and wearing a mask. At St. Andrew’s we believe we need to respect this and find ways forward that acknowledge, navigate and respect each others’ views, comforts and choices.

While the practices established for worship have not been changed they will be reviewed by the Kirk Session at its meeting on Tuesday April 5th. This means that the requirement to mask and maintain a physical distance of 6 feet between households is still in place for worship during March. We have dropped contact tracing simply because Ottawa Public Health does not do this anymore but we do ask that those attending worship be double vaccinated where possible.

A brief survey was sent out on March 22nd so that congregants could provide the COVID advisory committee of the Kirk Session some information with regards to how you are feeling with the changing restrictions and to take a current pulse of what St. Andreans are thinking at this moment in time when it comes to participating in in person worship. Responses will be kept confidential but will inform the KS and its committees in the decisions they make in the coming weeks.

The COVID advisor committee to the Kirk Session and its Commitees is made up of

Colleen Ferris

Heather Pilkey

Jeanie Hicks

Peter Lamont

Karen Dimock, Minister

Update from the Kirk Session March 6th

We are looking forward to the resumption of in-person services, beginning this Sunday, March 6th, which also happens to be Communion Sunday. The choir will be involved in the service and congregational singing is allowed. As previously, both choir members and congregants will keep their masks on while singing. Individual Communion kits will be handed out before the service, just as we did in December.

As Ontario moves into its next stage of re-opening, more Covid-19 restrictions are being lifted, including vaccination requirements and indoor capacity limits. This will bring relief to some, and anxiety to others.

Although the province is expanding its re-opening, the Kirk Session has decided to keep our existing protocols in place for the month of March. This means we still require vaccination to enter the building, and physical distancing in the sanctuary remains. This decision allows us to continue to care for each other in a meaningful way.

These protocols will be reviewed regularly by the Worship & Music Committee, and discussed at our next Kirk Session meeting, April 5th. We will communicate any changes again after that. In the meantime, committees continue to prepare for the time when we return to in-person activities, and there is much to look forward to.

As a congregation, we have met the challenges of the past two years with grace and compassion, so let us continue that way as we journey forward.

Christmas Services Update and Moving Worship Online

Dear St. Andreans,

As we watch the news and hear about the rise in Covid cases, both provincially and in Ottawa, the Kirk Session decided it was necessary to meet and discuss how this might impact our upcoming in-person worship services. From what we currently know, the new Omicron variant is highly transmissible, and we have been asked by federal and local public health officials to limit our in-person contacts in order to help slow its transmission. Understanding all this, the Kirk Session met Wednesday, December 22nd and made the decision that, effective immediately, St. Andrew’s will cease in person worship and continue to worship online only through the livestreamed services that are recorded and posted to youtube. There is currently no date in place for a return to in-person worship, but the situation will be monitored, and this decision will be revisited regularly, including at each upcoming Kirk Session meeting. You will find a summary below that clarifies what is happening day by day and service by service over the next few weeks.

We are sad about this. It was a difficult decision. Like many of you we had planned for a very different Christmas than what we are now experiencing. That said, we know we will get through this once more, and that the pandemic will end. Moreover, we are not unprepared for this. Everything we have been doing for the last 21 months prepares us. We know how to worship online and have developed the skills and ability to do it well. And we are encouraged by the care we have for each other at St. Andrew’s. We have in place a network of elders, pastoral supporters and various study and fellowship groups that keep in touch and connect. If you want more information about any of these let us know. We have a prayer group that receives confidential prayer requests and lifts them up to God daily on our behalf.

We are not alone in this and you are not alone. If you are feeling that way reach out to your elder or a friend, to Reverend Dimock or the person you know best at the church,

Kirk Session will continue to visit the question of a return to in person worship regularly and to provide regular updates to you all.

We pray for you all a safe, happy and healthy Merry Christmas.

Heather Pilkey Karen Dimock

Administrative Clerk of Session Minister

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Summary

December 24th: the Christmas Eve services will be live-streamed at 7 pm and 10 pm. They can be accessed through the church website www.standrewsottawa.ca or directly through the youtube channel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Gue26yyad0

December 25th: in order to give our technical team a much needed break, the service for Christmas day had not been planned to happen online. This means there will not be a Christmas Day Service, but we invite you to go to the website and enjoy one of our other services. Last year’s online Christmas pageant will be made available through the website for Christmas Day.

Sunday December 26th, Boxing Day: there will be a live-streamed 10 am service that you can access through the website.

Sunday January 2nd: there will be live-streamed 10 am service with Reverend Bob Hill as our guest preacher .

January 9th and beyond: there will be live-streamed 10 am service.

Christmas Services and Singing at St. Andrew's

Christmas Services and Singing at St. Andrew's

At the December meeting of Kirk Session, the decision was made to return the hymn books to the pews, so that those who would like to follow along when the choir is singing may do so.

While we have not yet returned to congregational singing during our Sunday worship services, masked singing will be allowed for anyone attending the Christmas Services (Christmas Eve and Christmas Day).

At the January 11th meeting of Kirk Session, the elders will consider the matter of allowing the congregation to sing while masked at all future services.

October 6th, 2021 Covid 19 Protocol Update

October 6th, 2021

  Dear fellow St. Andreans,

The Kirk Session met this past Monday night and, as we have done since the pandemic began, we continued our discussion regarding the return to our Kent Street building for worship and other activities. These conversations are always guided by Ottawa Public Health and the provincial health authorities and include what protocols and requirements we will put in place to keep our church family and community as safe and healthy as we can. On October 4th we adopted some new guidelines regarding vaccination and I am writing to share those with you now along with plans for Sunday morning worship and Church School this fall.

Vaccination

Kirk Session understands that it is a matter of Christian faith to promote and support vaccination as this is a very real way in which we look out for each other and in particular the more vulnerable members of our community. We recognize that some people are medically unable to be vaccinated, and we encourage the remainder to be vaccinated. The Presbyterian Church in Canada has not provided any mandates on vaccination and is instead looking to Kirk Sessions to make the choices best for their own congregations. At St. Andrew's we had previously required choir members to be fully vaccinated, as well as youth over the age of 12, and their leaders. Covid Screening/ Contact tracing along with masking, distancing, hand sanitization and vaccines are five measure we can take, which on their own are not perfect, but together are our best chance of controlling the pandemic and being able to engage in more of the activities we used to enjoy together (eg: (masked) singing).

To that end, the Kirk Session has made the decision that proof of full vaccination is now required for those eligible, along with the continued use of masks, distancing, sanitizing and covid screening and contact tracing. This means that, beginning this Sunday, you will need to provide proof (e.g. your vaccine receipt) that you have received two vaccine doses, with your last dose being at least two weeks ago.

We recognize that this may be short notice for some people, so if you are not able to have your receipt by this Sunday, please just confirm verbally with the Elder at the door that you are fully vaccinated, and then plan to bring your receipt the next time you attend worship. If you have your receipt available, you can send it electronically to our office administrator Vivian Leir when you pre-register for worship (office@standrewsottawa.ca), or if you prefer, you can show it to the elder at the door on Sunday morning. A note will be made that you have given proof, and then you will not need to show it again. If you send it electronically to Vivian, it will be destroyed once it is attested to. This information will not be shared and everyone’s confidentiality will be respected.

We understand that not everyone will be able to meet the new requirements, and the online worship service continues to be livestreamed at 10 am with a recording posted to youtube for those not worshipping in person. No matter where you are worshipping, online coffee hour continues Sundays at noon on zoom will remain for everyone, as a time to connect and share. Please contact Reverend Dimock for the link to join in (kd@standrewsottawa.ca).

The five protocols required for worship (vaccination, masks, distancing, hand sanitizing and covid screening/contact tracing) are also going to be extended to weddings and funerals, commencing October 22nd, as well as other indoor St Andrew's programs. Should you and your Elder wish to visit indoors, abiding by the protocols will be at the comfort levels of you and your Elder.

Kirk Session recognizes that outdoor activities have different requirements, so while vaccination is not compulsory for participation outdoor events, it is strongly recommended.

Choir participation

We are not yet back to congregational singing, but the Choir has begun practising and will be joining us in worship on October 17th, which also happens to be Anniversary Sunday! As there is not enough room to distance properly in the choir loft, the choir will be in the sanctuary, and arrangements are being made to the sanctuary seating layout to ensure proper distancing between choir members and worshippers. They will be masked as they sing.

The Handbell Choir has also begun rehearsals and we greatly look forward to them returning as well. It will be wonderful to be able to once again celebrate the glory of God through the ministries these choirs provide.

Church School

Church school will remain online for now, every Sunday at noon on zoom. Sydney, our CE co-ordinator continues to send out a weekly email that includes the zoom link. Please reach out to her if you wish to receive it (sj@standrewsottawa.ca).

In addition to the online Sunday School the Christian Education Team is planning to have an in person and out of doors gathering of the Sunday School during the worship service once a month. The first of these will be October 31st and held in the courtyard beside the church. We are hopefully planning for a weekly hybrid model of Sunday School (ie in person and online) for the New Year and will keep you updated as plans progress.

The youth group is also meeting regularly, out of doors and in person. Again please contact Sydney for information and to participate (sj@standrewsottawa.ca)

Forest Church is a once a month gathering for all ages on Sunday afternoons. In September we went Apple Picking. On October 24th from 2-3pm at Parc des Portageurs, Gatineau, QC and on Sunday, Nov 28th from 2-3pm at Rockcliffe Park, Rockcliffe Driveway, Ottawa. ON.

Covid-19 protocols will be in place for all events: hand sanitizing, covid screening/contact tracing, masking, distancing and vaccination for those eligible.

There is a lot to read and digest here, so if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Reverend Karen Dimock (kd@standrewsottwa.ca) or me (hp@standrewsottawa.ca).

Grace and Peace,

Heather Pilkey, Administrative Clerk of Session

In Person Worship Commencing August 8th, 2021

Reopening and Service Registration: The Power to Issue Committee approved the resumption of in person worship at St. Andrew’s commencing Sunday, August 8. We will be following the COVID protocol initiated last summer including mandatory mask wearing, physical distancing, screening, limited numbers and contact tracing. There will be music but no hymn singing. Doors open at 9:30am and be prepared to line up outside and physically distance while waiting for entry at the 82 Kent Street office entrance. An Usher will seat you.

Preregistration will be required and numbers limited. Registration opens each week for the Sunday service on Wednesday at 10:00am. It closes at noon on the Friday of the same week. Please email the office at office@standrewsottawa.ca or call 613 232-9042 and leave a message. A registration confirmation will be sent out.