COVID-19 Gathering and Distancing Guidelines

O God, your unfailing providence sustains the world we live in and the life we live: Watch over those, both night and day, who work while others sleep, and grant that we may never forget that our common life depends upon each other’s toil; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

Mask Policy

When the CDC Community Level for Franklin County is low or medium, masks are optional.

When the CDC Community Level for Franklin County is high:

  • Masks will be required
  • Communion will be in one kind
  • No indoor events will offer food or beverages.

You can find the current CDC Community Level here.

Current Status for Saint Mark’s Weekly Gatherings

Time

Service

Indoors/Outdoors

Attendance

8 a.m.

The Holy Eucharist, Rite I

Indoors

In Person

10:30 a.m.

The Holy Eucharist, Rite II

Indoors

In Person and Livestream

To find In-Person Meetings for AA, Al Anon, and OA please see the Saint Mark’s Support Group Schedule.

Parish Life Activities that are conducted remotely are accessible through the Parish Calendar.

COVID-19 Protocol

Saint Mark’s is proud to be a community where “all are welcome – no exceptions” and we want to provide a safe environment that considers the health and well-being of our parishioners and guests.

Masking

  • Masking is optional indoors as long as Franklin County remains at low or medium levels of community spread of COVID.

Receiving Communion

  • Communion of both kinds.

Singing

  • Congregational singing is permitted regardless of vaccination status.

Social Distancing

  • The parish has returned to full capacity.

Offerings

  • Passing of the collection plate during the offertory is permitted.

Fellowship Hour, Large Gatherings and Special Events

  • These permitted indoors and outdoors as long as Franklin County remains at low to moderate levels.

As a parish family we will continue to support one another in times of trouble and in times of celebration. We encourage those who may be unable to attend in person to access worship services and Parish Life activities remotely. Links for Livestream and On Demand services and Zoom are available on the Parish Calendar.

The diocese continues to vigorously promote vaccination, as well as hand washing, good ventilation, and outdoor gathering as much as possible.

Guidance

In determining our gathering and distancing protocols, the clergy and wardens, with guidance from the Diocese and Saint Mark’s Open Hearts, Open Doors Task Force, make choices that consider both the physical and spiritual health of our Saint Mark’s family. We are not alone. Leaders in our world, our nation, and our city work to create policies that allow for gathering in community while  observing protocols that keep each other safe.

Determining Saint Mark’s Status for In-Person Gathering is an ongoing, deliberative process founded on guidance from the CDC, Ohio and Franklin County Departments of Health, the Diocese of Southern Ohio’s Updated Guidelines for Public Worship, as well as our own comfort level as good stewards of the health and well-being of our local parish membership and staff.

This page will be continually reviewed and updated as guidelines change and the pandemic evolves.

Open Hearts, Open Doors Task Force

Dot Yeager, Chair

Matt Bester, Worship, Music & Technology

Mark Drew, Technology & Microbiology

Anne Getz, (consulting), Lay Liturgical Participation

Phil Glandon, Treasurer

Jim Keyes, Communications & Technology

William Mayr, Communications and Campus Environment

George Reed, Technology

Bill Silliman, Worship & Lay Liturgical Participation

Laura Skoracki, Formation & Lay Liturgical Participation

Sam Slee, Worship & Technology

Gloria Wylie, Lay Liturgical Participation

Please feel free to contact any member with suggestions or concerns you may have, or to volunteer as we facilitate our new common environments.

Page Updated: 8/19/22