As you are painfully aware, we have been unable to have everyone be able to attend services at St. Barnabas for the past several weeks. While the situation is not yet back to normal, we are coming to a place where we hope we will be able to begin the process of re-opening the Church.
Metropolitan JOSEPH has issued new guidelines and directives for the next few weeks, which we pray will enable a reasonably safe reopening of the church.First, because we need time to plan and organize our procedures, for this Sunday, May 10, we will continue as we have been, with only a 'skeleton crew' - priest, altar server, chanters, and videographer. The service will again be 'live-streamed' on the St. Barnabas Orthodox Church Facebook page.
Beginning next week, in keeping with both the state and federal guidelines for phase one re-opening, the Metropolitan is allowing up to 10 additional people to be present at the services (for a total of 14). We will most likely have a 'sign-up' process to allow everyone an opportunity to come to church as soon as possible.
We will communicate with the parish council and figure out how to do that over the next few days. Those who are sick, or who do not feel comfortable coming back just yet, are encouraged to stay home and participate in the streamed services. Those who are in 'high risk' groups - those over 65, those who have underlying health problems, etc., should use discretion and probably stay at home until the risk has diminished.
We will continue to livestream the services for the foreseeable future, to accommodate those who cannot attend.We will NOT be allowed, yet, to have coffee hour, face-to-face meetings (such as Myrrh-bearing Women), or Bible Studies face-to-face. We will discuss this next week using Zoom or some other online tool to hold meetings. We are using these formats at the College, and they work reasonably well. Other churches are using these formats, too, during this time to keep the community of the Church in touch with each other.
When we return to worship together in greater numbers, the Metropolitan is directing the following:1.The church must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected – especially chairs and other highly-touched surfaces and items – after each service. We will need supplies, especially Lysol and Chorox wipes, and personnel, to do this.2. Doors and windows should be opened during and after services, if possible, to allow fresh air into the building.3. Hand sanitizer must be available at the entrances for the faithful to use upon entering and leaving the church. If hand sanitizer is difficult to attain in large sizes, the faithful are encouraged to bring their own.4. T
he faithful are highly encouraged to wear face-coverings. 5. There should be empty rows of chairs between the faithful to allow appropriate social distancing between persons not living in the same household. The Metropolitan is also allowing priests to resume meeting the faithful for confession, pastoral conversation, and communion from the reserved sacrament, if desired, by appointment. We will have our scheduled Office Hours on Saturday, May 16. I will be available from 11:00 - 5:00 PM by appointment.
Please email me (fgrogers@aol.com) or call me or text me (803) 439-1909 for an appointment. We will still need to observe appropriate social distancing, and wearing a mask is encouraged.
We will be serving the following services at St Barnabas for the remainder of May, which will follow the new guidelines (allowing up to 14 people), until the Metropolitan directs otherwise.
Akathist: Saturday, May 16. 5:00 PM.
Sundays, May 17, 24, 31; As usual, Orthros/Matins will begin at 9:00 AM; Divine Liturgy will begin at 10:00 AM.Ascension Day Divine Liturgy - Wednesday, May 27, 6:45 PM
We love you all, and look forward to worshiping face-to-face with you again!
