We have been
working hard
since mid-June
to prepare
everything we
need so that
we can worship
safely in
person. We are
fol lowing all
the guidelines
of the Toronto
Public Health
Department and
the
Presbyterian
Church in
Canada. I just
want to give
you a brief
overview of
the conditions
for in-person
worship.
Our seating
capacity is
limited to 30%
of the floor
space. So if
you wish to
attend in
person, please
RSVP to Bob
Williams at
postmaster@tri-church.ca
or
416-494-2442
so that we
know how many
to expect.
Our service
will be at
11:00 am as
usual, but
everyone
entering the
building will
be screened
(temperature
taken, usual
questions,
etc.) before
coming in. So
I suggest you
come 15
minutes early
to allow this
extra time.
Seniors and
those with
other health
problems are
at higher
risk, but we
are doing our
best to ensure
everyone’s
safety.
People will
need to social
distance (6 ft
apart) while
waiting to
enter.
Everyone will
need to wear a
mask. Hand
sanitizer will
be on the
table at the
entrance and
masks will be
available if
you don’t have
your own.
Once you are
through the
screening
process, you
can proceed to
the worship
area where
chairs will be
spaced 6 feet
apart. If you
come with
other members
of your
household, you
can move
chairs
together, but
then the rest
of the chairs
in that row
will be
readjusted to
maintain the 6
feet distance.
There will be
a table at the
door to the
worship area
with an
offering plate
where people
can leave
their
offerings if
they wish.
If you use the
washroom, you
will need to
disinfect it
before leaving
the room.
Instructions
will be posted
there.
At the end of
the service,
we ask that
you please use
the hand
sanitizer and
social
distance as
you leave
(similar to
entering).
Volunteers
will complete
a thorough
cleaning and
disinfecting
protocol in
the worship
area and all
common-use
areas before
we leave the
building.
The service
will also be
available
online for
those who
prefer to
follow form
home.
This is
worship in the
COVID-19 era.
However we do
it, we are
grateful for
the
opportunity to
worship God
and celebrate
with our
church family.
Margaret Black
Tri-Churches
Parish
Nurse
_______________________
As
our Parish
Nursing office
is still closed
at this time,
please reach out
to us by phone
at (416)
494-5364
or contact any
of the agencies
below:
Toronto Mental
Health Support -
211
Seniors Help
Line - (416)
217-2077
Seniors Safety
Line - (416)
899-1011
Crisis Help -
crisisservicescanada.ca
_______________________
Happy
Thanksgiving
in the
COVID-19 Era
Health
Tip - Week of
October 11,
2020
With COVID
cases rising
and increasing
restrictions
added to our
lives,
with
people losing
jobs and small
businesses
fearing
permanent
closure
because of the
restrictions,
with racial
tensions on
the rise, how
can I talk
about being
“Happy” on
this
Thanksgiving?
It will be
like no other
we have
experienced.
We are being
told to limit
our
celebrations
to only those
who live with
us in the same
house. What
about all the
family members
we usually
have over who
can’t come?
It’s hard to
feel like
celebrating in
this
atmosphere of
gloom &
doom. But
that’s only
because we
can’t see all
the amazing
things around
us.
When we are
focused on
fear,
loneliness,
the things we
can’t have, we
become blind
to all the
things we do
have. A roof
over our
heads,
abundant food
in our
refrigerators,
clean water at
the touch of a
tap,
technology
that allows us
to keep in
touch with our
friends and
family even at
a distance.
For a HUGE
proportion of
the world’s
people, these
are blessings
beyond their
wildest
dreams! Even
here we have
people on the
streets, no
shelter, no
food, no
meaning or
purpose in
their lives
beyond staying
alive for
another day.
But we have so
much more than
these things
that we take
for granted. I
sat on my back
patio in the
sunshine with
my dog this
afternoon for
a little
while, started
a new book,
and enjoyed
the peace and
beauty around
me. My house
is at the top
of a hill so I
am looking out
not only at my
roses but also
at the top of
my neighbours’
trees. Driving
the car, I’m
continually
distracted by
the glorious
fall colours
of the leaves.
I have a
wonderful
family and
friends,
belong to a
caring church
community at
Tri-Church, a
return to good
health, and a
life filled
with meaning
and
purpose.
I have even
been part of a
few incredible
healing and
abundant life
miracles (a
friend dying
of cancer is
now healed,
has married
the love of
his life, and
has a
beautiful
healthy
daughter and
granddaughter;
another is
working his
way out of a
crippling load
of debt and
has a
wonderful
relationship
with an
amazing woman;
I could go on,
but you get
the idea). And
God is always
with us. These
“everyday
miracles”
surround us if
we open our
eyes.
So in this
time of fear
and doubt,
let’s change
our focus from
what we can’t
have and
rejoice
instead in
what God has
given us.
Symptoms?
fever, cough,
difficulty breathing,
pneumonia in both
lungs. How does it
spread?
Through respiratory
droplets spread when
you cough/sneeze;
close personal contact
(e.g. touching or
shaking hands);
touching something
with the virus on it,
then touching your
mouth, nose or eyes
before washing your
hands. Protection of
yourself and others?
Wash your hands often
(after coughing,
sneezing, blowing your
nose,
touching common-use
areas,
such as door handles,
elevator buttons,
etc.)
with soap and water
for at least 20
seconds
(back and front,
special attention to
nail areas);
use hand sanitizer if
soap and water are not
available;
avoid touching your
eyes, nose or mouth
with unwashed hands
avoid close contact
with people who are
sick;
cough or sneeze into
your sleeve instead of
into your hands;
and
stay home to avoid
spreading the illness
to others.
_______________________
