September 1, 2020
Dear Friends,
I write to you during this last “official” week of summer with an update on progressing toward on-site Sunday worship. As I mentioned during announcements this past Sunday, the Wardens and I would like to have Vestry input before moving ahead with plans. Our next Vestry meeting is scheduled for Thursday evening, September 17, when we will be exploring possibilities and making some decisions about what comes next. This gives us time to experiment with filming the service and will also allow for the possibility of more data on early fall virus transmission levels. I will send an email with the details of our discussion after the meeting on September 17.
Any decisions we make will continue to be informed by diocesan guidelines and the expertise of healthcare professionals. And when Sunday services do begin, they will feel different from what they were at the beginning of March. Some of the particularities of what that means are still evolving, but regardless of when we open the building, we know some non-negotiable realities now: Everyone will need to wear masks, distance, and give their name and number to an usher for contact tracing. Tim is working on weaving music into the liturgy, but the service will be said and there will be no congregational singing. While it will be wonderful to be together in our beloved church, we will have to forego physical contact at the peace and the sharing of food and drink at coffee hour for the foreseeable future.
Zoom will be part of our life going forward as well. We are practicing with cameras that will allow for continued participation from people who are not comfortable worshipping on site. We have a full year of Adult Formation classes planned, all to be offered online (day and time TBA). Our weekday services will continue online, as will our meetings.
More information will be forthcoming. As always, I urge any of you who want to offer feedback to contact me or reach out to Mother Susan, Deacon Bob, or your Vestry Liaison. I look forward to next steps as we continue our lives of discipleship and our care for one another.
