Covid Protocols
October 2021
Pembina Parish and the New Public Health Orders
Even if your health has not been compromised by Covid 19, your life has been altered, whether as a student, in the workforce, or retired. After a year and a half, we are now in the ‘fourth wave,’ with a ‘wave’ being defined as a surge in Covid cases admitted to our hospitals.
During the first three waves Health Orders have limited capacity or mandated the closure of churches. The Pembina Parish Covid Response group has viewed 30% capacity as the threshold for the decision to suspend in-person services. The current Orders limit in-person service numbers to 33% of capacity with the noted exception of churches limiting their attendance to those fully immunised and children who are not yet eligible for vaccinations.
Our Covid Response Group has maintained that we want our church services to be welcoming for all and have encouraged diligence to our Covid safety protocols. After the new Health Orders were announced last Friday, our Group met to discuss the way forward. Given that most of the Covid hospital admissions are unvaccinated and all the transfers to ICU beds are unvaccinated we decided it is time to ask the question ‘Have you been vaccinated?’. We only came to this difficult decision after much discussion and the vote was unanimous. We feel that every effort needs to be taken now to protect the health of our community. The Southern Health district has the lowest vaccine protection and will experience the most harm from this current wave of the Covid virus.
Commencing on October 10th attendance at Pembina Parish services (St. Paul’s and Zion-Calvin) will require you to show proof of vaccination for all eligible for vaccines (children should be accompanied by a vaccinated adult). This is a temporary measure and will be reviewed by the Covid Group and Leadership team at the end of October. We will communicate any changes through News and Notes. Masking, distancing, and sanitizing will continue as per usual.
We understand that not all will agree with this decision. We also know that not taking this step would put everyone attending worship at greater risk, including those who cannot, or have chosen not to be vaccinated There was no easy answer. This disease divides us and so we encourage everyone to be vaccinated in order to bring an end to this pandemic.
We remain committed to being a caring community, so please join us for worship in-person (if vaccinated) or online as we seek to be shaped in the way of Christ. And please note the vaccination requirement does not apply to dropping by the church or receiving care from the minister. All are welcome. We will get through this.
Brian Saunderson
Chair of Leadership Team
Pembina Parish and the New Public Health Orders
Even if your health has not been compromised by Covid 19, your life has been altered, whether as a student, in the workforce, or retired. After a year and a half, we are now in the ‘fourth wave,’ with a ‘wave’ being defined as a surge in Covid cases admitted to our hospitals.
During the first three waves Health Orders have limited capacity or mandated the closure of churches. The Pembina Parish Covid Response group has viewed 30% capacity as the threshold for the decision to suspend in-person services. The current Orders limit in-person service numbers to 33% of capacity with the noted exception of churches limiting their attendance to those fully immunised and children who are not yet eligible for vaccinations.
Our Covid Response Group has maintained that we want our church services to be welcoming for all and have encouraged diligence to our Covid safety protocols. After the new Health Orders were announced last Friday, our Group met to discuss the way forward. Given that most of the Covid hospital admissions are unvaccinated and all the transfers to ICU beds are unvaccinated we decided it is time to ask the question ‘Have you been vaccinated?’. We only came to this difficult decision after much discussion and the vote was unanimous. We feel that every effort needs to be taken now to protect the health of our community. The Southern Health district has the lowest vaccine protection and will experience the most harm from this current wave of the Covid virus.
Commencing on October 10th attendance at Pembina Parish services (St. Paul’s and Zion-Calvin) will require you to show proof of vaccination for all eligible for vaccines (children should be accompanied by a vaccinated adult). This is a temporary measure and will be reviewed by the Covid Group and Leadership team at the end of October. We will communicate any changes through News and Notes. Masking, distancing, and sanitizing will continue as per usual.
We understand that not all will agree with this decision. We also know that not taking this step would put everyone attending worship at greater risk, including those who cannot, or have chosen not to be vaccinated There was no easy answer. This disease divides us and so we encourage everyone to be vaccinated in order to bring an end to this pandemic.
We remain committed to being a caring community, so please join us for worship in-person (if vaccinated) or online as we seek to be shaped in the way of Christ. And please note the vaccination requirement does not apply to dropping by the church or receiving care from the minister. All are welcome. We will get through this.
Brian Saunderson
Chair of Leadership Team
September 2021
Dear Pembina Parish Families,
It has been so long since we have gathered as a community of faith. The decision to close our churches back in March 2020 was such a difficult one - but necessary, given the unknown threat of covid-19. As the pandemic continues, many of us have come to accept a new normal at home, at work, and in the community. For the last month the Leadership Team has been hard at work discerning what the new normal will be for in-person worship and we are pleased to announce that Pembina Parish is ready to re-open our churches and welcome you to back to worship this Sunday, September 12.
As we will be doing things a little differently, please try to be patient and considerate as we navigate new ways of worshipping together.
• To protect others, please do not attend if you have any covid-like symptoms or are feeling unwell.
• Masks are mandatory for all indoor gatherings in public places. All attendees are asked to use hand sanitizer and sign-in upon entry.
• Ushers will be present to seat you in the sanctuary. As you wait your turn to sign in or be seated please remain 2M apart from other parishioners not in your family cohort.
• Responsive reading is invited as well as non-vocal participation in music (aside from our soloists).
• Seating will be arranged in pews or chairs with social distancing being observed. Ushers will assist you with seating upon arrival to and exiting from the service.
We regret that there will be no Sunday school at this time. Our hope is to resume Sunday school programming in October. On Sundays without Sunday school, the minister will pay special attention to making services accessible for our younger members. If bringing young children to services, please monitor your children to ensure that safe physical distancing requirements continue to be met throughout the service.
We will continue to record our services and upload to YouTube making it possible for you to participate in services from the safety of your home if you feel more comfortable and safer doing so.
Seating for individuals and cohort groups
According to Manitoba Health guidelines we are able to have 50% of our seating capacity for worship services, which at St Pauls’ equates to 200 people within the sanctuary and 100 people in the CEU and at Zion Calvin equates to 50 people.
At St. Paul’s rows of chairs will be placed 6 feet apart and at Zion-Calvin folks will be seated in every other row. 6 feet (or 3 chairs) should be respected between household groups.
Ushers will be happy to assist you with seating.
Offering During Worship Service
Offering will not be collected during the service at this time. The offering plates will be placed at the entrance to the sanctuary. You may give your offering when entering or exiting the sanctuary. We will also continue to accept donations by mailing in a cheque, dropping donations at the East door drop box (St. Paul’s), using the Canada Helps button on the Pembina Parish website, e-transfer, or by PAR. Email Laurie if you need assistance at office@pembinaparish.com
Coffee
We are currently unable to provide coffee/tea as we have in the past. You are welcome to bring your own coffee/tea/water in a sealed cup, travel mug, or water bottle.
Parish Meetings/Gatherings/Funerals/Weddings
Indoor Gatherings and organized events such as weddings, funerals, banquets, receptions and self-help groups
Weddings and Funerals:
• Indoor weddings and funerals remain limited to 50 people, or 50 per cent capacity whichever is greater. Effective September 7, proof of vaccination will be required for weddings held in indoor licensed facilities.
• Outdoor weddings and funerals are limited to 500 people, or if an outdoor venue has a capacity limit, the allowed capacity is 50 per cent or 150 people, whichever is greater.
• At this time we will NOT be serving lunches post funerals
Small Group Meetings (Interest Groups) have several options when meeting:
• Continue to meet virtually
• Meet outdoors physically distant
• If all are fully vaccinated and there is consensus, meet in person. Participants would still be physically distant and/or masked if physical distance of 2 meters cannot be maintained
Other Important Notes:
• Everyone will be notified by the usher when they are able to leave their seats in an orderly fashion and maintain social distancing measures.
• Two metres of physical distancing is strongly recommended for all activities except for brief exchanges where masks are used, or if non-permeable barriers (e.g., Plexiglas) are in place. Mask use is required in indoor public places. House Group Volunteers Needed In order to help us implement the protocols we currently need to follow, we require a few volunteers from House Groups each Sunday. We will need:
• 2 greeters (to sign in attendees and ensure use of hand sanitizer)
• 2 ushers to seat people and control traffic flow
• 1 volunteer to monitor bathroom lineups and assist where needed
**All volunteers are required to wear masks. If you are willing to be a volunteer, please contact your House Group Leader or the church office.
Thank you for your kindness and respectful understanding as we all adjust to these new changes and move forward. We look forward to connecting with you!
Pembina Parish Leadership Team
Dear Pembina Parish Families,
It has been so long since we have gathered as a community of faith. The decision to close our churches back in March 2020 was such a difficult one - but necessary, given the unknown threat of covid-19. As the pandemic continues, many of us have come to accept a new normal at home, at work, and in the community. For the last month the Leadership Team has been hard at work discerning what the new normal will be for in-person worship and we are pleased to announce that Pembina Parish is ready to re-open our churches and welcome you to back to worship this Sunday, September 12.
As we will be doing things a little differently, please try to be patient and considerate as we navigate new ways of worshipping together.
• To protect others, please do not attend if you have any covid-like symptoms or are feeling unwell.
• Masks are mandatory for all indoor gatherings in public places. All attendees are asked to use hand sanitizer and sign-in upon entry.
• Ushers will be present to seat you in the sanctuary. As you wait your turn to sign in or be seated please remain 2M apart from other parishioners not in your family cohort.
• Responsive reading is invited as well as non-vocal participation in music (aside from our soloists).
• Seating will be arranged in pews or chairs with social distancing being observed. Ushers will assist you with seating upon arrival to and exiting from the service.
We regret that there will be no Sunday school at this time. Our hope is to resume Sunday school programming in October. On Sundays without Sunday school, the minister will pay special attention to making services accessible for our younger members. If bringing young children to services, please monitor your children to ensure that safe physical distancing requirements continue to be met throughout the service.
We will continue to record our services and upload to YouTube making it possible for you to participate in services from the safety of your home if you feel more comfortable and safer doing so.
Seating for individuals and cohort groups
According to Manitoba Health guidelines we are able to have 50% of our seating capacity for worship services, which at St Pauls’ equates to 200 people within the sanctuary and 100 people in the CEU and at Zion Calvin equates to 50 people.
At St. Paul’s rows of chairs will be placed 6 feet apart and at Zion-Calvin folks will be seated in every other row. 6 feet (or 3 chairs) should be respected between household groups.
Ushers will be happy to assist you with seating.
Offering During Worship Service
Offering will not be collected during the service at this time. The offering plates will be placed at the entrance to the sanctuary. You may give your offering when entering or exiting the sanctuary. We will also continue to accept donations by mailing in a cheque, dropping donations at the East door drop box (St. Paul’s), using the Canada Helps button on the Pembina Parish website, e-transfer, or by PAR. Email Laurie if you need assistance at office@pembinaparish.com
Coffee
We are currently unable to provide coffee/tea as we have in the past. You are welcome to bring your own coffee/tea/water in a sealed cup, travel mug, or water bottle.
Parish Meetings/Gatherings/Funerals/Weddings
Indoor Gatherings and organized events such as weddings, funerals, banquets, receptions and self-help groups
Weddings and Funerals:
• Indoor weddings and funerals remain limited to 50 people, or 50 per cent capacity whichever is greater. Effective September 7, proof of vaccination will be required for weddings held in indoor licensed facilities.
• Outdoor weddings and funerals are limited to 500 people, or if an outdoor venue has a capacity limit, the allowed capacity is 50 per cent or 150 people, whichever is greater.
• At this time we will NOT be serving lunches post funerals
Small Group Meetings (Interest Groups) have several options when meeting:
• Continue to meet virtually
• Meet outdoors physically distant
• If all are fully vaccinated and there is consensus, meet in person. Participants would still be physically distant and/or masked if physical distance of 2 meters cannot be maintained
Other Important Notes:
• Everyone will be notified by the usher when they are able to leave their seats in an orderly fashion and maintain social distancing measures.
• Two metres of physical distancing is strongly recommended for all activities except for brief exchanges where masks are used, or if non-permeable barriers (e.g., Plexiglas) are in place. Mask use is required in indoor public places. House Group Volunteers Needed In order to help us implement the protocols we currently need to follow, we require a few volunteers from House Groups each Sunday. We will need:
• 2 greeters (to sign in attendees and ensure use of hand sanitizer)
• 2 ushers to seat people and control traffic flow
• 1 volunteer to monitor bathroom lineups and assist where needed
**All volunteers are required to wear masks. If you are willing to be a volunteer, please contact your House Group Leader or the church office.
Thank you for your kindness and respectful understanding as we all adjust to these new changes and move forward. We look forward to connecting with you!
Pembina Parish Leadership Team