November 16, 2020
Dear saints,
Over the past several weeks we have made the most of some warmer fall weather by hosting in-person Sunday services in our beautiful church courtyard and grounds. It has been a tremendous gift to the staff as I hope it has been to all those who have attended to be able to see one another again. A number have also enjoyed walking the labyrinth on Sunday evenings with live music accompaniment, scheduled to run Sundays in October and November. With the addition of late afternoon baptisms, the block has been busy again on Sundays and how welcome that has been.
Baptisms, weddings and funerals will continue to be held outdoors at All Saints’ for the remainder of the year and into next year. The regular Sunday outdoor services will come to an end on Sunday November 22, when we will pause while the colder winter weather moves in, so if you have not had a chance yet to join us for worship on the block, please do register via the registration link in this email. We will assess in the new year when we are able to resume outdoor in-person Sunday worship. In the meantime, we will continue broadcasting our regular online Sunday morning service, as well as offering a full array of formation opportunities and small groups. Given diocesan protocols don’t allow us to worship indoors, and the sheer numbers of expected attendees, Christmas Eve services this year will also be online only. It will be a festival of word and song, so please do plan on breaking out your Christmas carol songbooks and sing your hearts out wherever you may be this Christmas. We will miss being in person very keenly, yet we will rejoice all the same!
It was just over eight months ago when I first wrote to you about the coronavirus and how it would impact our lives as a church. None of us could have anticipated quite how much and for how long that impact would be felt. With all of the uncertainty that is still before us, it is with a profound sense of gratitude that you as a parish continue to support All Saints’ so thoroughly and with generous and full hearts. It gives me great hope that we will persevere in walking the path before us together.
