Worship During the Fall Semester: A Letter from Fr. Adam

August 17, 2020
 
Dear Holy Trinity family,
 
It has certainly been a peculiar season of ministry for us at Holy Trinity. This pandemic has made so many simple things we take for granted—things as basic as just gathering together—immensely complex. But God has been faithful to our parish, and I thank him for all of you.
 
As we move into the fall, we need to be mindful of the sudden increase of people at the church brought about by the return of the students at the college. As most of you are aware, Hillsdale College has, like most colleges in the state, opted to try for as normal an in-person semester as can be managed under these strange circumstances. So we as a parish need to be ready.
 
After extensive consultation between the parish staff, our vestry, Bishop Julian, and many of our key volunteers, we have decided to take the following precautions for the fall semester. Please take a few minutes to read closely these important updates.
 

• SUNDAY SERVICES: We will continue with two Sunday morning services—at 8:30 am and 10:30 am—per our normal semester custom. The 10:30 service will continue to be livestreamed. We will continue to administer Holy Communion according to our current precautions; for returning students, please read the instructions within the service orders carefully.
  • Those who prefer to join our worship from home over the livestream may request a home visit and Holy Communion from one of the clergy by reaching out to me.
• SOCIAL DISTANCING: social distancing at the 10:30 service will be next to impossible while the college is in session. Every other pew will continue to be blocked off at 8:30 but not at 10:30, though household units are encouraged to distance from each other as best as they can. For that reason, I am urging:
  • more folks (including students) to commit to attend the 8:30 service until this pandemic is behind us,
  • folks who would rather maintain some social distancing, or who are members of a vulnerable demographic, to attend the 8:30 service,
  • and as always, folks who are experiencing Covid-like symptoms or who believe they may have been exposed to Covid to stay home and worship with us over the 10:30 am livestream.
• MASKS: facemasks continue to be recommended but not required,
  • however, I do want to urge folks to seriously consider wearing them, and especially our returning students for the first two weeks of the semester.
  • But let me reiterate that no one is to be shamed for exercising their freedom in this matter. Let us “not quarrel about opinions” (Romans 14:1).
  • It is especially important that we exercise grace toward one another on this matter. It may be worth giving my sermon from May 24 another listen.
• CHOIR: with deep regret, the music team has decided to suspend normal choir activity for the fall semester. The choir will engage in monthly rehearsals outside Sunday mornings to allow for greater social distancing (choir members will hear from our music team about this in the near future), and to prepare for the bishop’s visit in November, for which we will have some choral enhancement to our service.
  • Choir rehearsals will correspond with scheduled outdoor hymn-sings for the entire congregation to join; watch the announcements for dates and times.
  • Instrumental music and vocal solos/duets will continue to be offered weekly for the offertory at 10:30.
• FELLOWSHIP LUNCH: with further regret, the fellowship lunch after the 10:30 service will also be suspended for the fall semester.
  • However, we will serve coffee between the two services outside in Kent’s Place (the pavilion behind the church), every first and third Sunday as weather permits. If you plan to come to 8:30, plan also to stay a bit later; if you plan to come to 10:30, consider coming a bit early.
    • We need folks to volunteer to help with this, ideally 2-3 people every first and third Sunday to a) bring coffee, b) set up Kent’s Place during the last part of the 8:30 service, and c) clean up during the first part of the 10:30. See a list of things to do for these, and sign up here.
  • We will endeavor to host a parish picnic on some weekend while the weather is still nice; keep an eye out for an announcement on this.
  • This is a vital ministry of our parish; we will strive to restart it at the earliest convenience.
• WEDNESDAY NIGHT ED: Christian Education for all ages on Wednesday nights will continue this fall as we have done it before. (Fr. Tim sent an email to parents about how we will endeavor to keep our kids safe.)

 
Allow me to conclude by saying a few things. First, not every one in the parish will agree with all these extra measures—some will think they go too far, others not far enough—and so I encourage you to be mindful of the diversity of opinion in the congregation and to conduct yourselves towards one another with generosity and a spirit of service. Second, I want to hear from you if you have concerns; please know that I am ready to listen if you want to talk about these matters. Third, it is my express intent that we as a parish can return to our normal patterns of ministry as soon as possible. Some of the more disappointing items in this list—the choir, our fellowship lunch—will return in full flower at the proper time.
 
Let us pray that God will deliver us from this season soon, and give us patience in the meantime.
 
Blessings in Jesus,
Adam+