Welcome Home! We hope and pray that you continue to feel safe and secure as you worship with us in person. And we continue to be grateful to our faithful parishioners who find ways to pray the liturgy with us from the safety of their homes. We continue to monitor and implement the most current guidelines from state authorities, health officials and from the Archdiocese and Church leadership. If you have a positive experience worshipping with us, please tell your family and friends! And as always, use your discretion and follow the advice of your physician as you navigate the world during these difficult times.
Reservations are no longer requiredAs you begin to resume your "normal" weekly routines in these challenging times, we ask that you consult the guidelines listed below (subject to change) to help you prepare for what to expect during this "new abnormal" way of attending Church.
Parish Precautions
We continue to clean and disinfect the church between each service, require masks, temperature checks, hand washing, limited capacity and appropriate distancing.
In addition, an application of G200, a disinfecting solution approved by the CDC, is applied to all non-wood surfaces (doorknobs, handles, bathroom fixtures, etc) at the CDC recommended intervals. G200 continues to repel bacteria, including Coronavirus, for up to 30 days.
We have also upgraded the air filters in our HVAC system to those that filter even more fine particles as part of our overall risk mitigation approach.
Latest Guidelines for Attending Divine Worship
ON TIME ARRIVAL
Please arrive between 8:15-10:00am. Only the north entrances, near the handicapped parking, will be open. Allow extra time for social distancing protocol upon arrival. Please leave all nonessentials in your car.
MASKS REQUIRED
All attendees are required to put on protective face masks before exiting their vehicle. Exceptions are only permitted for those with valid medical reasons, special needs and children less than 2 years of age.
FOLLOW THE SIGNS
Please follow signs to posted entry points and maintain distancing via the ground markers. These have been prepared in advance to provide safe social distancing and need to be respected for everyone’s well-being.
UPON ENTRY
Be prepared for a touchless temperature reading of your forehead by an infrared thermometer and hand sanitizing. Temperature must not exceed 99.1 for admittance. Next, a member of Parish Council will hand you a candle to light. Please venerate Icons with a bow only. No touching or kissing.
SEATING
A member of Parish Council will escort you to your designated seat and record your name for our attendance recordkeeping. Seating has been designed to adhere to social distancing requirements. Only members of the same family may sit together without distancing between them. Please remain in your designated seat throughout the entire service, except for restroom needs. The restroom in the “crying room” is the only restroom open to attendees. A Parish Council member will open the room for one person at a time. Please use provided wipes to clean faucets and doorknob after use.
HOLY COMMUNION AND DISMISSAL
On Sundays, Holy Communion will be offered at the usual appointed time. Baptized or chrismated Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves are invited to receive communion keeping in mind the following:
- Parish Council members will guide attendees by row, adhering to distancing markers placed in the aisle.
- Remove mask before approaching the Holy Chalice.
- Please do not touch the Communion cloth or dab it on your lips. It will be held by altar servers to prevent spills.
- A separate metal spoon will be used for each communicant.
- Antidoron will be individually wrapped on tables in the Narthex.
- Continue walking to your car. No congregating inside please.
Kindly know that we are doing our best to "normalize" what is a challenging and strange time. Be assured that we are all an essential part of Christ's Body and the Theotokos and saints and ranks of angels and archangels rejoice with us when we invoke His Holy Name whether in the space of His Holy Church or in the sacredness of the "domestic church" of the home.
Join us. Pray with us. You are a vital member of the Body of Christ and of our Assumption Church family. We love you and we thank you for your support.
