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Hello and welcome to COVID Communiqué 42.

We are at a strange point in our COVID journey, between hope (as vaccinations begin for the broader community) and fear (as more dangerous variants spread rapidly in Ontario and across the country). The unknowns — how and when vaccinations will roll out, and how fast COVID will spread — dictate that we must proceed carefully and potentially be prepared for an even more careful approach to in-person worship than when we were last open. What follows are some important points for you to remember as we head toward Holy Week: 

  • Because of the difficulty of maintaining proper social distance and the risk of spreading COVID-19, Palm Sunday processions (indoors or out) cannot be allowed this year.
  • It is as difficult to be told not to sing Easter hymns as Christmas carols, but neither a choir nor congregational singing are permitted in Amber (indoors or out). You are permitted a cantor or soloist. See paragraph 57 in the diocesan pandemic plan, In This Together, for more information.
  • Please note that your church may be able to include more musicians, but you need to apply for permission — even if you had permission for a larger ensemble in the fall, you must re-apply through C19helpdesk@ottawa.anglican.ca.
  • The washing of feet on Maundy Thursday is not permitted.
  • On a positive note, you may return to using prayer books. Almost a year into this pandemic, the World Health Organization has found no evidence of transmission of COVID-19 through particles left on surfaces. You might want to continue to upload the service to your website, so people with concerns can follow it on an electronic device or print it out at home and you might even have some printed copies available for those who don’t use a computer. However, there is no known health reason to keep doing all those photocopies every week. (Don’t put the hymn books back yet, however — they could tempt people to sing).

A couple of other important points, not related to Holy Week:

  • We encourage you to open your church hall for vaccinations or testing if your local health unit requests it. You may also host polling stations for an election if the need arises. In either case, please let us know via C19helpdesk@ottawa.anglican.ca.  
  • If you wish to open again for rentals when we move into Amber, you must first get permission (also through the Helpdesk), even if you had permission in the fall.

If you have any questions about preparing for Holy Week, or other issues, please contact the COVID-19 help desk at C19helpdesk@ottawa.anglican.ca.

COVID Communiqué is produced by our senior staff:
Shane Parker, Bishop
Beth Bretzlaff, Dean
Linda Hill, Executive Archdeacon
Sanjay Grover, Director of Financial Ministry
Peter John Hobbs, Director of Community Ministries
Jane Scanlon, Director of Communications & Stewardship Development
Carol Sinclair, Director of Human Resources
Michael Garner, Public Health Advisor