AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM FR. JOSEPH ALSAY REGARDING PRECAUTIONS RELATED TO COVID-19

​Beloved People of St. Augustine, 
As we grapple with the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus and all that it entails, each of us will be called to make changes, adjustments, and perhaps difficult decisions in order to protect ourselves and others as best we can. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to enact the best practices we know as we move forward in the days, weeks, and months ahead. Many of the decisions will not be easy.  As your pastor, I am called to look out for the health, safety, and well-being of the people of St. Augustine of Canterbury, with particular concern for the most vulnerable.
In consultation with the Senior Warden, Vestry, Staff, and with recommendations from the Bishop, we are temporarily enacting the following changes in our schedule and practices, until further notice:

• Beginning today, all non-principle worship activities are canceled. This includes the Clue Mystery Social scheduled for this evening, Wednesday Noon Eucharist and Stations of the Cross/Fish Fridays. 
•  WWW for children and youth, and our Lenten study for adults (Wednesday and Sunday) will not meet until further notice. However, Confirmation Classes will be available to the confirmands via facetime.
• The 8:30 am and 10:45 am Sunday services will continue to be held, with the following modifications:

o   Distribution of communion will be made with wafers and host only.  Wine will be sipped only by the clergy symbolically on behalf of the congregation.
o   We will still have our Children’s Moment at the 10:45 service, after which the children will return to their parents/guardians for the remainder of the service.
o   Rather than pass around offering plates, an offering receptacle will be located near the entrance to the Nave for you to make contributions.
o   We ask you to refrain from physical contact before and after services as well as at the Peace.  A smile, wave or kind word can express our Christian love for one another.
o   Sunday Christian Education/Formation classes are canceled.
o   We will observe a “Lenten Fast” with our coffee hours, meals, etc. until the virus passes.
o   Greeters and Ushers will continue with their duties. They will receive special instructions regarding non-contact interaction with worshippers.
o   We will make every effort to continue to live stream and record the 10:45 services for those who cannot attend, assuming our trained video operators are able to attend.   

• The Praise Chorus and the Choir will still meet in preparation for our upcoming Holy Week and Easter celebrations. We will keep you informed as things progress.
•  Lay Eucharistic Visitors’ distribution to the sick and shut-ins will be canceled at this time. Please note: I will be making personal pastoral visits to those who wish to receive communion during this time.

For those who have signed up for coffee hour, volunteered to host the Wednesday evening meals, teach classes, serve in the children’s ministry or any other volunteer position that is being disrupted in the upcoming weeks, please know how much you are appreciated, but it is best for us not to put ourselves or others at risk.
We will seek to maintain contact with the congregation via the use of our social media outlets such as: email, our website (sac-okc.org), YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.
I ask for your prayers during this difficult time for those who are sick and shut-in and all who are suffering. I encourage you to remain calm, use your best judgement in making decisions for yourself, be vigilant in adhering to basic hygiene practices outlined by the CDC and do everything you can to foster a safe environment for those you love.
I also ask that you remember that your financial commitments are vitally important to the ongoing work of our congregation.  If you are not able to make your offerings in person, you can mail them in or give electronically using ourTithe.ly app.
Please know that as always, I am available via my cell phone: 405-365-3226 and will be responding to those who decide to stay at home and would like to receive a personal pastoral visit to celebrate communion. As we seek to maintain a semblance of normalcy during this period,
My prayer is that God’s blessings remain with you and yours during this Lenten Season.
Blessings,
Fr. Joseph +