Dear friends,
As I write this, it has been just over a year and a half since we have worshipped together in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit. After much discernment with the vestry and leaders of lay ministries, I share the joyful news that we will return to worship inside the chapel, with organ and choir and acolytes, on Sunday September 5.
I am keenly aware that we are still in the Covid 19 pandemic which led us to embrace Zoom church and outdoor worship over the last year and a half. That said we have a high level of vaccination in both the students and community members of our congregation and I know that we will all do our part to make our worship as safe as possible for all those gathered. Given that the chapel remains a Kenyon building, masks will remain required for all participants when indoors. We will also keep doors open to increase ventilation, mark off pews to encourage social distancing, and continue offering communion in one kind (i.e., bread alone with out the shared chalice).
I know some members of our congregation will remain uncomfortable worshipping under such circumstances. For that reason, we will continue offering an outdoor worship option at 4:30pm Sunday afternoons, as well as the livestream of the 10:30am service on Facebook.
As always, I welcome any questions, comments, or concerns about these decisions. If you wish to participate in any lay ministry, please be in touch with the every-intrepid Robert Bennett who has managed our crew of online ministers over the course of the pandemic.
Finally, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the congregation as we have weathered (and continue to weather) the challenges of the pandemic together. Your faithfulness and compassion have truly been one of the great sources of comfort to me through some very difficult moments in my own life over these past several months. I cannot wait to be with you in the chapel once again.
–Rachel+
