Hello, People of Grace,
I wanted to write and share news with you both about our gathering together and upcoming opportunities for prayer and community in the coming weeks.
First, an update on our parish gathering protocols. We have reached the point when we can shift our framework around use of masks. That being said, we remain vigilant with our need to take care of ourselves and one another. Remembering our last email with the vestry and medical team’s conversation, beginning November 7, All Saints’ Sunday, we will shift to the following framework:
• Masks will be optional for all who have been vaccinated.
• Masks are encouraged for all who are unvaccinated, both children and adults.
• Our formation team is working with teachers to make responsible choices on use of masks in classrooms regarding which children may soon be able to receive the vaccine, the well-being of teachers, etc.
• We will be able to share meals together on Wednesday nights beginning Wednesday, November 10. You may pack your own tray to take home if you are still more comfortable doing that.
• We will have KN95 masks available for services for those who may feel the need for a bit more self-protection while in the building.
• Feel free to space yourselves out if you feel the need as we all care for one another.
Like we said, we remain vigilant, and we will allow ourselves a bit of flexibility to make this season as stable as possible. Also, we continue to strongly encourage you to get the vaccine if it is possible for you to do so. That remains our best protection, both personally and communally.
It may seem odd to explicitly link this gathering update with a stewardship update, but I think it makes perfect sense to do so.
We have faced a lot as a community—we continue to do so. From COVID-19, to political turmoil, to lightning strikes, to broader church dynamics, this community has remained grounded in God’s love for us and our love for one another. I am deeply, deeply grateful, and I am inspired by your faithfulness!
I am looking forward to 2022 (and beyond) with enormous hope for what the Spirit has in store for us as a community. I have no doubt that we all will continue to stand side by side as we deepen our meaningful spaces for worship and prayer while we imagine new ways of growing in our faith. In order to do this, it is essential that we invest in the life of OUR community. Far too often, “stewardship season” feels like a non-profit campaign drive. For me it is most certainly not. For me, this season gives us an opportunity to invest in our own heart and soul, to pay attention to how we are seeking to make meaning in very uncertain days. We are the church, the Body of Christ, and we have this remarkable opportunity to step forward, as our campaign focus reminds us, in faith, hope, and love. So, I encourage you to pray and see how the Spirit is challenging you to support your own spiritual growth and health.
You can find a link below to make your commitment online.
And, look ahead to upcoming opportunities for prayer, worship, and community!
• November 28 Advent Wreath Making at 9:30 AM
• December 1 Sound Bath meditation space in the nave at 6:30 PM
• December 11 The Path of Illumination: Advent Retreat at 10:00 AM
• December 12 Lessons & Carols at 10:45 AM service, Cathedral Bookstore at Grace
• December 15 book launch party at 6:30 PM for The Heart of a Calling: The Practice of Christian Mindfulness in Congregational Ministry (following dinner at 5:30 PM)
• December 19 Messiah Sing-Along in the nave at 4:00 PM
• December 24 Christmas Eve services at 4:00 PM (children and families), 7:00 PM (carols and Holy Communion) and 10:30 PM (Vivaldi’s Gloria and Midnight Mass)
Finally, here is a short reflection on All Souls Day to remind us of how these pieces—and our lives—fit together.
Blessings, always,
Stuart