[March 18 update: As per our Bishops, all in-person Sunday services and all activities are now suspended.]
Dear Redeemer Family,
As you are no doubt well aware we are experiencing a situation that effects our daily lives in a way it never has before. The World Health Organization has categorized the coronavirus (COVID-19) as a global pandemic. Our church council is monitoring recommendations from both our wider church leaders and health authorities.
At this time we will continue with Sunday morning worship [March 18 update: As per our Bishops, all in-person Sunday services are now suspended]. This is a time of anxiety and fear for many people and that makes it more important than ever to read scripture, pray, and worship together. For the time being we are suspending all other activity at Redeemer such as the Chess Club and our Truth and Reconciliation education sessions.
Please DO NOT attend if you:
On Sunday mornings we will follow the practices below as recommended by our bishops:
We will still continue using the silver communion cup with fortified wine. Communion servers will thoroughly wash their hands before communion and hand sanitizer will be provided for those who come forward to receive the elements. Individual cups will be spread out on the tray so they can be taken without contacting others around them. It is also perfectly acceptable to receive communion in one kind (only bread) if you decide to do so.
During the sharing of the peace we will not use hugs or handshakes and instead smile, nod or wave.
During coffee hour we will not share food items but coffee will continue for now.
We will practice ‘social distancing’ (ideally two arm lengths between others).
Coffee hosts and cleanup volunteers will follow the proper dish washing procedures (posted above the sink) and table and other high touch areas should be cleaned and disinfected more diligently.
For all of us in all aspects of our lives it is important to care for one another. Check in with elderly neighbours, relatives and friends. Offer to grab some groceries for them if you are able. Pray for those affected. Pray for health care workers. Pray and look for ways to care for those without social supports. Wash your hands often with warm water and soap, use alcohol based hand sanitizers, direct coughs and sneezes into tissues or your elbow, practice social distancing and avoid all unnecessary travel.
You can refer to the following sites for more up-to-date information.
The most relevant information comes from the City of Toronto:
https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/diseases-medications-vaccines/coronavirus/
Canada-wide information is available at:
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html
We will email and post further updates to our Facebook Page and to this website.
God’s love journeys with us, continue to share that love.
-- Pastor Steve
Dear Redeemer Family,
As you are no doubt well aware we are experiencing a situation that effects our daily lives in a way it never has before. The World Health Organization has categorized the coronavirus (COVID-19) as a global pandemic. Our church council is monitoring recommendations from both our wider church leaders and health authorities.
At this time we will continue with Sunday morning worship [March 18 update: As per our Bishops, all in-person Sunday services are now suspended]. This is a time of anxiety and fear for many people and that makes it more important than ever to read scripture, pray, and worship together. For the time being we are suspending all other activity at Redeemer such as the Chess Club and our Truth and Reconciliation education sessions.
Please DO NOT attend if you:
- are not feeling well including coughing, sneezing, fever
- if you have been travelling outside of Canada. As of Friday March 14, the Toronto Medical Officer of Health asks that anyone who has been outside of Canada, including the U.S., to self-isolate for 14 days
- if you have been in close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19
On Sunday mornings we will follow the practices below as recommended by our bishops:
We will still continue using the silver communion cup with fortified wine. Communion servers will thoroughly wash their hands before communion and hand sanitizer will be provided for those who come forward to receive the elements. Individual cups will be spread out on the tray so they can be taken without contacting others around them. It is also perfectly acceptable to receive communion in one kind (only bread) if you decide to do so.
During the sharing of the peace we will not use hugs or handshakes and instead smile, nod or wave.
During coffee hour we will not share food items but coffee will continue for now.
We will practice ‘social distancing’ (ideally two arm lengths between others).
Coffee hosts and cleanup volunteers will follow the proper dish washing procedures (posted above the sink) and table and other high touch areas should be cleaned and disinfected more diligently.
For all of us in all aspects of our lives it is important to care for one another. Check in with elderly neighbours, relatives and friends. Offer to grab some groceries for them if you are able. Pray for those affected. Pray for health care workers. Pray and look for ways to care for those without social supports. Wash your hands often with warm water and soap, use alcohol based hand sanitizers, direct coughs and sneezes into tissues or your elbow, practice social distancing and avoid all unnecessary travel.
You can refer to the following sites for more up-to-date information.
The most relevant information comes from the City of Toronto:
https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/diseases-medications-vaccines/coronavirus/
Canada-wide information is available at:
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html
We will email and post further updates to our Facebook Page and to this website.
God’s love journeys with us, continue to share that love.
-- Pastor Steve
