Programming on hold - Rector's Rambling for September 6, 2020

 

About this time of the year the Church begins to ramp up her programming.  After this Labor Day weekend things usually shift into a new gear.

Following what is basically a school year schedule, the Church generally resumes Christian Education as well as meetings of groups such as the St. Catherine’s Guild and the Daughters of the King after taking a hiatus in June, July, and August.

But this year so much is still on hold.  I am happy that we are able to meet for public worship, which we have been doing now for 10 weeks.  We continue to be the only parish in the city that is open for Sunday public worship and I am grateful for the response from so many to return.  I hope and pray that more and more parishioners and guests will discover that it is safe to come back to church for worship with such a large facility that allows for social distancing in the pews.  As I have mentioned in the emails to parishioners, we could quadruple our attendance at the 10:00 AM Service and still have enough room to stay six feet apart.  I would have to do a lot of moving around to distribute Holy Communion in the pews for 200 people, but I have been getting in shape this summer and would like that challenge.

And although the rest of our classes and programming are on hold, now is the time for us to start praying about how we can become a more mission minded parish.  How do we shore up our faith and become outward looking as well in order to share it?  Worship is, of course, the central act of the church, and it is the place that we are starting!  And as we ease back into gathering for other activities, we can begin both our deepening education for sanctification, and working on the missional outreach of things like The Alpha Course, engaging the community with the gospel, and inviting people into relationship with Jesus Christ through various faith-based programming.

A reminder that you may have friends who want to return to church and receive Communion, but their own parishes are not open yet.  Invite them to join us on Sunday until their own parish reopens.