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As of September 1, 2020, the Diocese of Ottawa is in the amber phase of our pandemic response plan. This means churches can reopen our buildings for certain activities while carefully observing restrictions in an effort to protect everyone’s health and safety as much as possible.
Church of the Ascension has decided to continue our Sunday Services of the Word on Zoom while also offering on-site services during the week for those who feel they can safely attend and wish to do so. Please make this decision carefully, taking into account what we know about who is at greater risk should they contract Covid-19. Ottawa Public Health encourages older adults, people with underlying health conditions, and people caring for them to avoid non-essential trips in the community as much as possible.
On-site Service Schedule
Holy Eucharist
Mondays at 7:30pm and Wednesdays at 2pm
(beginning Sept 7)
Contemplative Compline
2nd Tuesday of the month at 2pm (beginning Oct 13)
The service will be projected on the screen and weekly readings will be available as print-outs. You can also download the set of readings in advance:
Readings for Monday (English)
Readings for Wednesday (English)
Lectures pour les lundis (français)
Lectures pour les mercredis (français)
What will on–site services look like?
The services will be short (30–40 minutes) and peaceful, filled with prayer, reflection, and communion. There will be no singing in the Eucharistic services but Aude will play the piano for us, filling the space with beautiful music. The Compline service will include a soloist but no congregational singing. Children are welcome but the children’s area and Sunday school remain closed so they have to stay in the pew with their household.
Attendance is limited to 40 people in a maximum of 15 social bubbles. Please reserve a place in advance (see below). Only one person from each bubble needs to make the reservation for the group.
Everyone must wear a mask and households or social bubbles must keep 2 metres away from one another.
When you arrive enter through either of the doors on Echo Drive and proceed directly to up the stairs to the church (don’t forget to use the hand sanitizer). A greeter will confirm you do not have any symptoms of Covid-19 and record your name and contact information in order to assist with public health contact tracing before directing you to your pew. We will fill the church from the front to the back and encourage you to sit towards the centre of your pew.
Should you need to use the washrooms during the service, please use the door by the piano and return the same way (unless you need the elevator). We want to avoid having people in the hall as much as possible.
When the Eucharist is celebrated, only the bread (in the form of both regular and gluten-free wafers) will be distributed. Rhonda will bring it to you in your pew.
At the end of the service, you will be directed to leave, one pew at a time, through the doors at the back of the church, down the stairs, and out the main doors. Sadly, we can not linger for conversation but have to save the chatting for Zoom!
*The elevator, of course, is available to anyone who needs it and we have space available for people who use wheelchairs or other mobility aids.
The church will be thoroughly cleaned between every service.
How do I make a reservation?
Only one person from each bubble needs to make the reservation for the group.
The reservation system will open Monday for the following week’s services (i.e. Sept 21 for services in the week of Sept 28). Reservations will close the Saturday before the services.
If at all possible, please reserve online:
English Reservation Form
Formulaire de réservation en français
You may also make a reservation by calling the church at 613-236-3958. If there is no answer, leave a message with your name, phone number, and the service you would like to attend. Rhonda or Adam will call you as soon as they are able to get more details. Rest assured, phone messages are time stamped so you can leave a message and not lose your place in the queue!
It is our sincere hope that everyone who wishes to attend an onsite service will be able to do so but we will have a waitlist should the demand prove greater than our capacity.
Home Communion
If you are unable to attend an on-site Eucharist and wish to have communion brought to your home, please contact Rhonda.
Learn, Learn, Learn
This is a season of learning. We will adjust as we go and as the circumstances require. Stay tuned for updates!