Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, God’s blessing be with you always!

Great news! We have now moved into Phase two of NYS Guidelines for re-opening our church. Details can be read on the NYS website. I received a blessing today from his Eminence Archbishop Michael to update our procedures for church attendance. We are allowed 30 people in church at every service. Those who are 65 years old and older are still being advised to practice special precautions. However, according to NYS Guidelines, and with the blessing of Archbishop Michael, I will be serving one Divine Liturgy every week only for those who are 65 years old or older so that those who are in this age group may attend church and receive Holy Communion. Therefore, I will continue, with God’s help, to serve Divine Liturgy every Saturday morning (9:10 Hours and Divine Liturgy) and every Sunday (9:10 Hours and Divine Liturgy). The Divine Liturgy on Saturday, as mentioned, will only be for those who are 65 years old or older. Only those who are under 65 years of age may attend Divine Liturgy on Sunday. Everyone must still be scheduled ahead of time if you plan on coming to church. From now on scheduling will be your responsibility. You will need to go on-line and schedule yourself for each service that you plan to attend, or call me if you do not have a computer or access to the link on the computer. All other procedures as already explained to you previously are still in effect. Nothing else has changed at this time. Since we can now accommodate 30 people per service, no one should ever be left out who wants to attend Divine Liturgy every week from now on. Confessions, as before, will only be heard by appointment and on an individual basis and cannot be heard on Saturday or Sunday mornings. Please call me whenever you would like to see me for Confession and we will set up a day and a time. For now, because of the logistics involved, weekday and evening services will still be off limits to parishioners. I apologize for that. Remember, if you are exhibiting any cold symptoms (COVID-19 related or not) you are asked to remain home. Children are welcome but must remain with their family in the pew and cannot walk around the church unattended.  Any child over two years of age is required to wear a face mask at all times.  There is still no kissing, touching or hugging of each other or of any of the sacred items in church. Face masks must still be worn at all times except when it is your turn to receive Holy Communion and to have zapivka. Social distancing (standing 6 feet apart) must be practiced when standing in line to receive Holy Communion. If you bring any prayerbooks or other literature with you into the church, you must take it home with you after the service. You will be asked to use hand sanitizer when you enter the church and the ushers (office duty workers) will record your presence and seat you. Social distancing (6 feet apart) must still be practiced. Those who live in the same household under the same roof may sit together and do not have to social distance from each other. Any other procedures not mentioned but delineated in my previous explanation of guidelines are still in effect. If you are medically compromised you are still advised not to come to church at this time. If, God forbid, any of you should contract the corona virus, you must inform me ASAP. Any one with a key to the church or the church center is not permitted to enter either of these buildings without my prior blessing and approval. For now I will continue to sanitize the Holy Communion spoon for each communicant. I hope to see many of you in church on a regular basis!

With love in Christ, Fr. Peter