We will have an in-person Holy Eucharist at 8 AM: You can watch here.
We also have in-person Holy Eucharist at 10am. You can watch here.
As many of you know Governor Inslee and the County have lifted many of the restrictions related to Covid-19 this past week. Our Bishop on Friday July 2nd gave his opinion on lifting the restrictions for the Diocese. Here are the highlights of what this changes are:
- There are no longer capacity limitations
- No requirements of physical distancing
- Facial coverings are optional for those who have been fully vaccinated, in most circumstances.
In light of this, starting this Sunday at Emmanuel we are lifting several restrictions:
- No limitation on capacity in attendance to church
- No need for physical distancing
- Those who have been fully vaccinated can choose not to wear a face covering
- We will not yet be sharing the common cup; we will share communion only with the consecrated bread
- We will hold off on having coffee hour until we have created a list of volunteers to staff it. In the meantime we ask all who would like to share in preparing coffee hour to communicate this to the church office.
There are of course risks involved with the easing of restrictions. We know the Delta variant is more contagious, and probably other dangerous variants will emerge. So far, studies suggest that the current authorized vaccines are effective against the circulating variants (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta). This is what scientists know at this time, It is possible that with new information and facts, we might need to go back to restrictions.
The bottom line is that there are still risks to going outside of your home or removing your face masks. We appreciate those who do not wish to take those risks for whatever reason. Of course, if you are unable to be vaccinated or choose not to be vaccinated, the risks are even higher for you, and we hope that you will take measures to protect yourself and your loved ones. If you have un-vaccinated family members or friends you might consider keeping distance and face-covering for their safety. Let us be welcoming and understanding of those that choose to protect themselves or their loved ones.
We will continue offering online services and meetings for those who choose to remain home. We can also now bring you Communion to you at home. Just let Fr. Berto or Fr. Hugh know.
We hope and believe that many, many people in our parish family will be relieved that these restrictions have been lifted, and we look forward to being together with you again!