Moving Forward with Sunday School and Childcare
Over the last few weeks the vestry has met several times to discuss whether to resume further in-person activities at St. Philip’s. After consultation with local physicians and in light of the steady decline of coronavirus cases locally and the distribution of vaccines, the vestry has agreed it is appropriate to do so.
The vestry remains committed to following the recommendations and guidelines of our Bishop and healthcare professionals. We will continue to monitor the situation and make further adjustments to either increase or decrease restrictions as the situation with the virus changes.
Masks and Distancing
Masks and social distancing are still required. This is in keeping with the recommendations from healthcare professionals and the directive from Bishop Reed.
Please continue wearing masks and maintaining social distance when you are at St. Philip’s. Masks are available in the narthex, office, and classrooms if you need one.
Childcare in the Nursery
Childcare will resume on Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021. The nursery will open that day at 9:45 a.m.
Beginning Sunday, April 11, 2020, the nursery will be available each Sunday from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
A temperature check and health questionnaire will be required each week.
The children will not be required to wear masks or maintain social distancing.
The nursery is available for children 5 years old and younger.
Please let us know if you plan to use the nursery on Easter Sunday. You may call LaSabra in the church office, (830) 278-5223, or respond online.
Children’s Sunday School
We are planning to resume Sunday School for children on Sunday, April 11, 2021, at 9:15 a.m. However, we need teachers and helpers committed to being present each week in order to resume classes for our children. We will not resume children’s Sunday School if we do not have the necessary teachers and helpers.
Each class session will need one teacher and one helper. If you would like to help with Sunday School please contact Laura Downing, Jennifer Williams, or respond online.
A temperature check and health questionnaire will be required each week. Masks will be required for the children, teacher, and helper. Please be aware that we will not try to keep distance between the children during Sunday School.
Sunday School is available for children 4 years old and older.
Adult Sunday School
Sunday School for adults will resume on Sunday, April 25, 2021, at 9:15 a.m. It will meet simultaneously in-person in Grace Hall and on Zoom.
If you attend in-person please wear a mask and maintain social distancing.
Thank You
Finally, thank your for your continued compliance with our health and safety guidelines. We have done well this past year. It has been a challenging year that has asked a lot of us but it has also been a year of learning new things and growing in new ways.
As Bishop Reed recently wrote, “The news regarding the pandemic is getting better, and there is light at the end of this long tunnel. But we are not there yet. Almost, but not yet.”
Sometimes it feels as if the restrictions, limitations, guidelines, and protocols have taken something from us. But what if they are asking for something from us? What if they are really about sacrificial love – the denying yourself and taking up your cross for the sake of another kind of love? Is that not who we claim to be? Is that not the way of Jesus?
I am grateful to follow this way of love with you. I am grateful for each of you; the wisdom, courage, and leadership of our vestry; and the privilege of serving as your priest. Thank you. As I said at our annual meeting in January, “There is no one I’d rather go through a pandemic with than you all.”
Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20,21
God’s peace be with you,
Mike+
