Beloved in Christ,
Our parish has since her inception remained ever committed to worship, to study, to fellowship and to service. We, “…worship Him in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). We, “…grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). We fellowship, ever-mindful that “…truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1-3). We serve one another, “…as good stewards of the manifold grace of God (1 Peter 4:10). We do all of this, heeding the admonition of our Lord to: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Matthew 5:16).
The recent COVID-19 pandemic has certainly tried our parish, as well as the world around us too. Thankfully, though there has been uncertainty, isolation, illness and in some cases death, these things have been countered by steadfastness, prayerful petitions, consolation, and hope in the Resurrection. These affects and responses though aren’t unique to a pandemic; they are simply the realities of a fallen world in which Christians, who navigated the days of the Great Fast, commemorated the Passion, celebrated the Resurrection, and anticipate the sending of the Holy Spirit, live in.
As clergy then, we have deliberately attempted to define this season not as pandemic in nature, but rather as a season unto salvation. Yes, it was and it remains an adjustment, but nonetheless we have adjusted. Services were broadcast so that we could worship; study classes were put online so that we could study; young and old alike were invited into fellowship or contacted to inquire about their wellness; and the means by which we could not only support our ministries, but also serve those in and beyond our parish were identified. Thanks be to God for all things!
Throughout this season, we have prayed in each and every service for our civic leaders, as well as our researchers and our medical personnel. We have also remained both thankful for and obedient to the directives of our Holy Metropolis and Archdiocese. Now, we take an intentional, thoughtful and prayerful step together, Church and State, towards the welcoming back of our faithful to their spiritual home.
Therefore, in accordance with the ongoing and diligent efforts being put forth by the Metropolis of San Francisco, as well as with the direction of Placer County, we are putting forth the following instructions:
We will continue to live broadcast our services for those who are unable or uncomfortable in coming back to the Parish at this present time.
Our worship spaces, the narthex and the bathrooms will be sanitized prior to and after services.
We will limit the number of parishioners attending services. Parishioners will be asked to sign-up for services at https://saintanna.churchcenter.com/home or on the Church Center App by clicking on “Events” (please register each individual in your immediate family who will be attending). We will be pleased to assist you with downloading this software.
Once we reach our occupancy limit, some parishioners might be turned away from services. Therefore, if you are registered to attend, but your plans change, please contact the Church Office so that we can adjust our list accordingly.
We encourage you to download the “Digital Chant Stand” App on your phone/tablet for the hymnography of Vespers and Orthros as liturgical books will not be available. We will be pleased to assist you with downloading this software if need be.
Two Liturgies will be prayed on Sunday to accommodate more of our faithful: the first Liturgy will begin at 8:30am, while the second liturgy will begin at 10:00am.
A Wednesday liturgy service will also be offered at 10:00am, for a limited number of parishioners who are considered to be higher risk:
People aged 65 years and older.
Those parishioners with Chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma, serious heart conditions, immunocompromised including cancer treatment, severe obesity, or other medical conditions such as diabetes, renal failure or liver disease.
Parishioners who are signed up for services are asked to arrive 15 minutes (at minimum) before service starts, so that they may go through screening process and be seated.
So that we may express our respect for the sanctity of the divine services being prayed in the church; whether Vespers, Orthros, or Divine Liturgy, once services have begun, parishioners who arrive late, will not be admitted.
We ask that you self-diagnose you / your family members health levels prior to coming to church.
There will be a designated tent set up outside the Narthex to receive our parishioners. A greeter will ask you to review a list of questions regarding your health and also take your temperature. If you have a fever (100.4 or above) when your temperature is taken or if you are symptomatic, we will ask that you not come into services. Instead we ask that you please follow-up with your health care provider.
Sanitizer for your hands will be available for you to use prior to entering the Church. You are encouraged to bring your own as well.
We strongly recommend that a mask be worn during worship. Masks will be made available for those who arrive at the parish without proper PPE.
Please have your offering in an envelope before you come to church and place it in the tray in the Narthex (there will be no passing of the tray in church). You may also wish to purchase candles and make your stewardship offering online via our Church Center App.
Veneration of icons and Holy Relics should be done by bowing before the Holy Icon or Holy Relics and making the sign of the Cross.
Physical distancing (6’ from people not in your immediate family) should be maintained while in the Church.
Parishioners from an immediate household (mother, father, and children only – people living in the same space and who arrived in the same vehicle) may sit together (parents, please keep your children with you during services). Please limit your movement in the Church.
Parishioners should refrain from singing since singing this aerosolizes the virus and accelerates its transmission by propelling it further than the 6-foot social distancing requirement.
We ask that if a parishioner needs to cough, he/she does so into their arm.
We ask that you refrain from all: handshaking, hugging, and/or having physical contact with your brothers and sisters in Christ.
Parishioners who are prepared to receive the Holy Eucharist are asked to:
Follow the instructions of our ushers.
Remain 6 feet away from the next person (not a part of your immediate family) as you come forward.
Not grab onto the Communion cloth. Instead, it will be held under for you, but not touching your chin as you offer your Baptismal or Chrismated name.
Lean your head back and open your mouth wide so that the priest may administer the Holy Eucharist.
The clergy will offer antidoron at the end of the Divine Liturgy (please do not reverence the hand of the clergy at this time). At the close of services, we ask that you depart Church grounds so that we may prepare the church for our next service. Coffee fellowship is postponed until further notice.
As our faithful prepare to return to the Parish for services, parishioners are also reminded to:
Practice good hygiene:
Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds;
Use hand sanitizers when soap and water are not readily available;
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or your cough/sneeze into your elbow;
Teach and reinforce health hygiene practices;
Ensure adequate supplies (e.g., soap, paper towels, hand sanitizer, within your home and work place) to support health hygiene practices.
Routinely (at least once per day, if possible) clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that are frequently touched within your household or workplace e.g., doorknobs, light switches, sink handles, countertops, etc.).
Once again, our Parish leadership is attentive to the spiritual and physical well-being of our parishioners. We will continue to respect the directives of His Eminence, Metropolitan Gerasimos, as well as monitoring Placer County’s regulations and guidelines, so that we may effectively meet the needs of our Parish. We remain most confident and hopeful in our efforts knowing that “with God, all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).
We are ever grateful that we have had our Divine Services livestreaming via Facebook and we will continue to host opportunities for study and fellowship online via Zoom. We encourage you to reach out to your brothers and sisters in Christ, to help them to stay connected, whether it be on the phone, via a social-media platform or in person with the appropriate physical distancing. We ask also that you please continue your financial support of our ministries, philanthropy and our Building Program (an update is coming shortly).
As we continue to pray for you, we ask that you please pray for us as well. May God’s Grace continue to be sufficient for us, through the intercessions of Saint Anna. Welcome back to your spiritual home!
Most Resp.,
Rev. Dr. Christopher Flesoras
Rev. Fr. Seraphim Ivey
Rev. Dn. Joseph Ruocco Brown
