As part of the Jesus Movement and the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, we pledge to love our neighbors and protect the most vulnerable among us, remembering our baptismal vows to “strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.” We live these pledges out by actively engaging in dismantling racism. For many of us, this will mean learning more about our racial identity, listening to those who have experienced racial prejudice, speaking out against racism, and showing up alongside those in our community working to change unjust systems in our society. We also live out this pledge at worship during this pandemic, by wearing face-coverings, respecting distancing guidelines, foregoing the common cup and refraining from congregational singing.

Updated Guidance on COVID19 Protocols (May 20, 2021)

• Masks are no longer required for outdoor worship.

• Congregational singing is now permitted for outdoor worship.

• Please note that at least 6-foot distancing is still required between family groups.

• Please ask people who are unvaccinated or immunocompromised to continue wearing masks; however, you are not required to verify vaccination status.

Guidance on COVID19 Protocols (May 12, 2021)

• We do not require that you take temperatures.

• We do not require contact tracing.

• Hand sanitizer should be placed at all entrances and available in various places throughout the church.

• We do not require that you clean all surfaces before and after services, but we ask that you continue to clean frequently touched areas like door handles.

• Prayer books, hymnals and bulletins can be left out and used at second services.

• Masks must be worn at all services; double masking is no longer required. However, we continue to encourage high-risk, unvaccinated individuals to wear double masks.

• Outdoor worship is still the preferred option.

• Microphones should be cleaned between speakers, or separate microphones provided for each speaker.

• Preachers may remove their masks if they are 12 feet away from other participants.

• Deacons may set the table, indoors or outdoors.

• Freshly baked communion bread is permitted.

• Clergy should continue to thoroughly wash their hands during the offertory, before setting the table for communion or praying the Great Thanksgiving.

• For communion, you may offer wine to congregants if: (1) it is in individual containers, or (2) the priest intincts all wafers and offers the intincted wafers to congregants, either by dropping them into their hands or placing them in individual containers to hand to people. The priest should NOT place wafers directly on people’s lips.

• Baptisms are permitted, as long as the priest approaches within 6 feet of the baptismal candidate only for pouring water and for chrismation. The priest should thoroughly wash or sanitize hands before doing a baptism. Small children should be held by family members rather than by the priest. Multiple baptisms should not use the same water, but have new water poured over each candidate.

• I am doing confirmations and will consult with you about them prior to my visitation.

• Spoken congregational responses are permitted if participants are masked.

• Choirs can practice indoors if all are vaccinated, but should maintain 6-foot distancing and limit time in one space to one hour maximum.

• Masked congregants may sing outdoors. Congregational singing indoors is still not permitted, but attendees may hum quietly behind their masks.

• Masked choir singers must be 6 feet apart outdoors and 12 feet apart indoors.

• You may fill up to 50% of the seating capacity of the church.

• Each household group should be spaced at least 6 feet from any other household group. Please note that the distancing requirements may mean that your attendance limitation is actually less than 50%.

• All participants must wear masks. Please have extra masks available for people who arrive without one. High-risk unvaccinated individuals are encouraged to double-mask.

•  Please provide the best ventilation possible for indoor worship.

• Please keep indoor worship services to 60 minutes or less.

• Anointing of the sick is permitted with handwashing or sanitizing before and after.

• Vaccinated eucharistic visitors may meet in small groups indoors without masks IF all the people they are visiting are vaccinated.

• If all people being visited are NOT vaccinated, a vaccinated eucharistic visitor may enter a house, do a brief traditional service while remaining masked and then depart.

• Unvaccinated eucharistic visitors are limited to delivering the communion bread outdoors with a very brief prayer and then departing.

• Small groups of church members can meet indoors. If everyone is vaccinated and all agree, masks may be removed, but a 6-foot distance should be maintained.

• AA and other external groups are allowed to meet if masking and 6-foot distancing is maintained.

• All children must wear masks.

• Children must use hand sanitizer at arrival and before returning to their families.

• 3 feet of spacing between participants is required.

• Individual supplies should be provided for participants.

• If food is part of the program, participants must be 6 feet apart and individually packaged food and drink must be provided. Masks may be removed only for eating and drinking.

• All children must wear masks.

• Hand sanitizer must be used at arrival and before children return to their families.

• 3 feet of spacing must be maintained between participants.

• Individual supplies should be provided for participants.

• NO food or drink as part of the program.

• Refreshments may be served outdoors only. Congregants may remove masks to consume food and drink, but should maintain 6-foot distancing between family groups.

• Refreshments should be served either (1) in individually wrapped portions, or (2) by a masked and gloved volunteer onto a disposable plate held by the congregant. Refreshments should NOT be served buffet-style with shared utensils.

• Drinks may be served in individual bottles (e.g., water bottles) or poured by a masked, gloved volunteer. Additions like sugar and cream should be supplied in individual packets or served by a masked, gloved volunteer.

• Offices may reopen when all staff members are fully vaccinated or have had the opportunity to be fully vaccinated, and two weeks have elapsed to gain full immunity.

• Masking and distancing should be maintained when visitors are present.

•  If two or more staff members are not vaccinated, please take precautions to protect them from each other.