Dear Friends,
It’s been a long, long time since we’ve worshipped together in person in our sacred spaces at King’s Chapel and the Little Chapel.
We need these sacred spaces, and we need one another. It’s part of being human, our desire, to gather together, to smile and catch up and hug – it’s what our Homecoming Sundays have always meant. It’s what I’ve been longing for. Many of you feel the same.
So we rejoice that we will be open physically on Homecoming Sunday, September 19 to worship together, both at our 11:00 AM Morning Prayer service at the church (58 Tremont St), and at our 9:00 AM Morning Light service in the Little Chapel (64 Beacon St). Our musicians will make a joyful noise unto God -- Music Director Heinrich Christensen and our choir at Morning Prayer, and Skip Lewan at Morning Light. Your ministers, David Waters and I, will lead prayers and preach the word. And together we’ll learn and grow, preparing to return to our needy world strengthened and sustained.
We also will be open a second way on Homecoming Sunday – for worship together virtually, through our ongoing Zoom service at the 9:00 AM Morning Light and through live-streaming on YouTube at 11:00 AM Morning Prayer. What we’ve learned in the last 18 months is that we can have meaningful worship together even if we are not physically present. It’s new for some, uncomfortable for others, but wonderful and valuable for many. For me, worship together online is nothing short of a miracle, perhaps the best miracle the modern church has known. It's let us continue to be an open church, and to welcome warmly and fully those from a distance, or those whose physical attendance is not easy for many reasons. Jesus would be thrilled – he reached out all the times, in many unorthodox ways.
Which way of worship is best for you? You individually will know best. We all are different, with different needs and abilities to take risks, all of which God knows and which this church honors completely. Since 1787, King’s Chapel never required us all to march to the beat of the same Creed, and now we respect your march to the beat of different considerations for loving worship.
What we promise is complete transparency – for King’s Chapel also is committed to gather “in the love of truth,” as we say in our Covenant. We promise to let you know what to expect if you come physically or worship virtually; what we have planned so far in order to keep everyone as safe as possible; and how we could adjust later. We promise to follow the science, because we love you.
All of our planning has been done in the context of our faith – it is the foundation of our spiritual and community life together. That’s why we are committed to be inclusive of everyone and insist on providing continued virtual worship alongside in person church. I join you in prayerful consideration as you discern whether or when to return to in person worship. David and I are always free to talk with you, if you’d like, as are our Wardens and other leaders.
Whatever way you choose on worship with us at Homecoming, we hope to see you!
With blessings always,
Joy