We are excited to worship with you in the church building once again! The following information is intended to help us transition to in-person worship as smoothly as possible:

1. Sunday Service Guidelines
2. A statement of thanksgiving to God for his provision through the vaccines and advice to congregants from the Medical Task Force.
3. Family Ministry Guidelines

Section 1. SUNDAY SERVICE GUIDELINES

These guidelines were developed and approved by the Reopening Work Group (ROWG) after considering many factors. The ROWG received counsel from the Medical Task Force (MTF) as well. The ROWG comprises five staff, two elders, and one member of the MTF. The ROWG will continue revisiting these guidelines and make further adjustments as needed.

• The 8:30 AM, 11:00 AM, and 4:00 PM services are now open to all worshipers!
• Masks are not required, but the MTF advises all who are unvaccinated (including ministers, choir members, ushers, greeters, adults, and children) to wear masks during the services and at all times while in the building.
• There will be no social distancing required on the floor of the sanctuary, though this may be practiced as attendance allows.
• The balconies will be reserved for socially distanced seating and for those wearing masks.
• The Fellowship Hall will be open as an alternative place for worship. The service will be streamed and masks will be worn and social distancing will occur.
• Singing will occur throughout the services on the floor and balcony of the sanctuary but not in the Fellowship Hall.
• Stay-at-home or outdoor virtual worship will be supported. If you are gathering in a group to worship virtually and would like support, please contact us!
• The Welcome Center will be used before, between, and after services for fellowship.
• No pre-registration will occur for worship attendees, but families will be required to pre-register in Realm if planning to use Children’s Church and Nursery to ensure we have proper staff and volunteers to care for our children.
  • See the Family Ministry statement below for more information.
• The facilities are available for use by ministries of the church. As always, space must be requested from and approved by the Facilities staff prior to use. Please contact them here to request space.

 
Section 2. GIVING THANKS TO GOD & A NOTE FROM THE MTF
Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! – Psalm 115:1

With grateful hearts we praise our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who alone is the Healer of all diseases (Exodus 15:26). The God of all mercy is the reason for the end of this pandemic. We are deeply grateful for the many clinicians who risked their lives during the pandemic, and the scientists and public health providers who have tirelessly developed and distributed the Covid-19 vaccines. Even so, we are especially reminded that it is God in His providence (Proverbs 16:9) who gives us every breath to understand (Job 32:8), opening the human mind to scientific discovery (Daniel 2:21), who is the true Healer in this pandemic (Psalm 103:3). Like the leper who returned to Jesus with thanksgiving for his healing (Luke 17:15), even so we return thanksgiving for His merciful provision received through the Covid-19 vaccines.

In light of this good gift, we have asked the Medical Task Force to offer final advice to congregants concerning health questions pertaining the Covid-19 vaccines. As followers of Jesus Christ and fellow congregants, the Medical Task Force has helped the church navigate these health complexities. We are indebted to this dedicated and talented team of clinicians and scientists, who are also disciples of Jesus, and our brothers and sisters, who have taken considerable time to counsel the congregation on these confusing health-related questions.

A note from the Medical Task Force to the congregation:

Dear Fellow Park Streeters,

It has been a long time of being away from each other in worship and other vital activities of our Park Street community during this pandemic. Our congregation has been blessed to continue in worship some in person and some virtually and all safely, by God’s grace! We are grateful to be returning to in-person worship services. In light of regathering, we offer the following information in support of our fellow congregational members.

1. We believe that it is safe for vaccinated individuals to regather for normal worship and other church activities in light of declining numbers of Covid-19 cases and deaths in Massachusetts, with recent rapid improvement due to vaccinations.
2. We urge all congregants to not delay in seeking vaccination. The vaccination of one person in our community contributes to the health of our whole community.
   • The Covid-19 vaccines have been rigorously tested using the best available science without cutting corners. After examining the evidence, we have full confidence that the vaccines are trustworthy and safe.
   • The vaccines are highly protective from multiple strains of the virus.
3. At this time, with regard to in-person worship and activities:
   • We advise all unvaccinated people to wear masks while in the church building.
   • Vaccinated people need not wear masks, although they are welcome to continue wearing masks if they wish.
4. When singing, unvaccinated attendees are not protected from sending or receiving aerosolized virus even when wearing a mask.
   • We recommend that immunocompromised people and unvaccinated people who want to come to church but are concerned about aerosols generated by singing, worship in a space reserved for them during services. In this space, all congregants can sit together to watch the live streamed service. They will all wear masks, sit distanced from each other and will not be singing.
5. Getting a vaccine will speed our return to normal here at Park Street, while protecting those who cannot get vaccinated or are immunocompromised.

If congregants have additional questions about the safety or efficacy of the Covid-19 vaccines, as fellow congregants and followers of Jesus, we are available to answer questions or concerns. For more information about Covid vaccination, please see the health information from the CDC.

 
Section 3. FAMILY MINISTRY GUIDELINES
 
Family Ministries has reopened all regular summer Sunday programs at limited capacities. We have one nursery available for ages 0–2 and Children’s Church (8:30 AM — ages 3 to 6) (11:00 AM and 4:00 PM — ages 3 to Grade 3) at all three services. Pre-registration is required for your children to attend. You will pre-register your children through Realm, similar to how pre-registration for services has been happening. You can register by clicking on one of the links below.

Registration Links for August:

• August 15
• August 22
• August 29  *No Activities

SUMMER COVID GUIDELINES

1. Children must be pre-registered (registration closes at 11:00 PM the SAT before)
2. There will be no health screening form.
3. If your child presents symptoms or tests positive for Covid after attending a family ministry program, please contact Adam Herndon.
4. Nursery-aged kids are not required to wear masks.
5. We ask that all non-vaccinated children attending Children’s Church wear a mask as recommended by our Medical Task Force.
6. Per EEC guidelines, Nursery and Children’s Church volunteers are still required to wear a mask.
7. When you arrive to the church, please go the Family Ministry Check-In area to pick-up your child’s nametag and parent security tags.

Dear Park Street Church,

I know we’ve all been watching the news about the Delta variant of COVID and the increase in COVID cases. Our Re-opening Work Group met again this week to discuss the situation, and next week the Board of Elders will be discussing this matter further. If we make any changes to our current Sunday practice, we will promptly communicate those with all of you.

This Sunday we will operate as we have been since Memorial Day weekend, though, for at least the next few weeks, we are moving our after-service coffee hour completely outside (weather permitting). Look for us on the Common just across the street from the church.

As a reminder, here is our present practice:

• The balcony is reserved at all three services for those wearing masks and seating is socially distanced.
• At 11 AM and 4 PM, the service is streamed online and to the Fellowship Hall. Congregants worshiping in the Fellowship Hall will be masked, socially distanced, and there will be no singing in this space.
• Masks are not required (though all are very welcome to wear masks), but the unvaccinated are advised to wear masks at all times while in the building.

What a joy it has been to be physically gathered in worship this summer, and we should all be thankful for the high vaccination rates in MA (we’re in the top 1 or 2 states across the nation).

Remember to sign up for All Church Camp by this Sunday. Our family looks forward to seeing many of you there.

In Christ,

Mark

Registration for All Church Camp will close this SUN, AUG 15. If you would like to register please do so by the end of the day on the 15th. We will all be together at Camp Laurel South in Casco, Maine.  Click below to register and for more details. We hope to see you there!

REGISTER

For the past eight years, Julie Boyd has served faithfully in our church’s Communications Department. During the past two years, Julie has begun to pursue a Master of Arts and Counseling degree at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary with the intention of becoming a licensed, professional counselor. She has decided to step out of her staff role at Park Street to pursue her graduate studies full-time, and she will finish with us on August 13.
 
Our staff took time together this week to honor Julie’s tenure at Park Street and pray for her as she moves into her next chapter. Although sad about her departure, we are happy she will remain a part of the Park Street community and thrilled to see her pursue God’s calling as she continues to develop her gifts in this new way. Please pray for God’s continued leading and provision in Julie’s life. We have been extremely blessed by her creativity, passion and empathy during her service to our church, and she will be deeply missed.

Enable Boston, our ministry to support people with disabilities, is looking to re-build its volunteer team, as several of our faithful volunteers recently moved away. We are looking for volunteers willing to support children or adults with disabilities in Sunday life activities (including worship services, children’s ministry, or alternate activities as needed for the individual).

The time commitment is at least once per month on an ongoing basis; needs are present at the 8:30 AM, 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM services, but we will also need volunteers as Christian Education classes reopen in the fall. Individual training and support is provided.

Contact Leslie Bodkin, Director of Enable Boston, with questions or to apply.

Would you like to use (or grow) your writing gifts and organizational skills to serve the Lord and our sister churches? Please consider serving on the Grant Writing Team. We work with City Engagement partners to explore and respond to fundraising opportunities. Team members meet via Zoom with partners, typically in the evenings. Their approach varies by project, but usually involves querying partners to understand their plans and goals, formulating a proposal that is responsive to a funding opportunity, gathering the necessary support materials, and submitting an application.

For more information, or to join the team, please email Judi Manola.

DivorceCare will host its fall kick off on Zoom on THU, SEP 9 from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM.  We meet weekly through DEC 16. If you are interested in attending, please register by emailing [email protected], and we will send a link for the meeting.  

Would you like to provide childcare during the week for a few hours a day?  Nursery Director, Stephanie Verrengia, needs help in the nursery for a few hours in the morning, three days a week. If you enjoy working with kids, please consider applying. This is a paid position. 

To apply or find out more, email Stephanie.

Welcome the nations’ people whom God has brought to our doorsteps. More than 60 nations are represented in the multiethnic community of Park Street Church, including many who are enrolled in our English as a Second Language (ESL) Program. All classes are taught by caring volunteer teachers from Park Street and surrounding area churches. Would you like to learn more about our ESL ministry? You can!
 
In preparation for the upcoming fall semester, the ESL ministry of Park Street will be holding a teacher training day and workshop on SAT, SEP 18, 9:00 AM-12:00 PM, for all who are interested in learning about this program and how to get involved. Please register by TUE, SEP 14. To register e-mail Karen Patschke, our ESL Coordinator. This is an in-person event.

 REGISTER 

after all services

We invite you to join us for refreshments and fellowship on the Common this Sunday (weather permitting) in lieu of our usual indoor coffee hour. Look for a welcome team on the grass immediately across from the church after the 8:30 AM, 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM services.

Park Street Church is looking for qualified applicants for the Director of Facilities Management. This position is responsible for managing Park Street’s downtown properties, as well as overseeing the stewardship of the Wilson House campus in Cambridge, MA, and the operational infrastructure (mechanical, electrical, security, HVAC, technological, etc.) of these critical assets. The position is also responsible for safety and security of the church’s properties and the church’s technology footprint and its efficient and secure operation.

VIEW THE JOB DESCRIPTION

Park Street Church is hiring for the position of Ministries Administrative Assistant. This position will report directly to the Senior Minister while serving as part of the Ministries Team. The Ministries Administrative Assistant will work in collaboration with the Missions Administrator and the Administration Administrative Assistant as well as the Church Administrator, Financial Controller, Director of Facilities Management, and Director of Communications to better enable the church to faithfully fulfill its mission.

VIEW THE JOB DESCRIPTION

Park Street School is hiring for a Toddler Associate Teacher for the 2021–2022 school year.

Located in the heart of Boston’s historic Beacon Hill neighborhood and offers a continuous, integrated, Christian-based learning environment to students from toddler to grade six. Park Street School exemplifies a Christian worldview and strives to maintain a faculty and staff with varying backgrounds and cultural experiences.

Please email Jenny Exilhomme for a complete job description and application instructions.

Lexington Christian Academy (LCA) is hiring a Residential Life Coordinator and Dorm Parent positions. Are you interested in education and youth development? Are you looking for a creative way to tackle the high cost of housing in the Boston area? Are you working part-time or taking graduate classes? Consider being part of the residential community at Lexington Christian Academy. 

Find more information about these and other LCA job openings at the link below.

LCA JOBS