[Magdalen] Is anyone here worshipping in person inside a church?

[Ann Markle]

We are outside in  the parking lot, but next week will likely be the last.
Today was nippy (low 50s), forecast to be a little warmer next week. We do
as others have said --  no real peace, no coffee, no wine (except
celebrant), no music.  We have an undercroft with 10 windows that fully
open.  We did have 1 rainy Sunday (not bad, since July 5!), and the
undercroft worked, though if we get more people (currently getting about
25), we may have to go for 2 services again, to allow for adequate
spacing.  Every time I think about Christmas, I get a stomach ache. We may
forego Christmas services altogether.  The other option I've seen floated
is doing several services, with number limits; but without singing, there
hardly seems to be a point, really.  There are far more beautiful services
online and on tv.  Not having Holy Week and Easter was worse than missing
Christmas.

Ann

The Rev. Ann Markle
Buffalo, NY
ann.markle at aya.yale.edu


On Sun, Oct 4, 2020 at 3:16 PM Ginga Wilder <gingawilder at gmail.com> wrote:

> Fr. Tony,
> I am thankful you had the opportunity to celebrate last week.  Glad to hear
> that.
>
> SC attitudes about being open-faced in public are the opposite of those in
> Vermont.  Our governor is moving toward opening restaurants and schools
> soon.  SCDHEC has not been able to receive online data giving counts of
> cases, deaths, etc. That is worrisome to me, but the governor is caving to
> pressure from merchants to open up.  Some school children and adult family
> members are suffering emotionally from being home schooled.  I understand
> completely the financial needs of the people.  I will continue to wear a
> mask when I make quick trips into the grocery store and pharmacy.  We have
> people in our bubble...all of whom are keeping safe practices.   We will
> see them outside without masks.
>
> Good Shepherd does not do Zoom worship.  Our Sunday service is videoed
> ahead of time and posted on our Facebook page and website on Sundays @
> 10:30 AM.  We watch this service every Sunday.  John and I attend our
> daughter's live Zoom Sunday worship @ 10 AM and have sincerely been blessed
> by that.  Today, they even held a Zoom pet blessing.  ECGS will continue to
> offer videoed worship as we move to two in person Sunday services.  Same
> with our daughter's church.
>
> Seems as if we are all doing the best we can and are blessed by that.
>
> Ginga
>
>
> On Sun, Oct 4, 2020 at 2:43 PM anthony clavier <anthonyfmclavier at gmail.com
> >
> wrote:
>
> > We are worshiping in the church buildings, the number permitted to be
> there
> > depends on the size of the building. No singing, no Peace (thank God), no
> > touching. Masks are worn and save distancing observed. Communion is
> > received in one species, thus only the celebrant drinks from the chalice.
> > The plate isn’t passed. No coffee hour.  All rather Spartan, but at least
> > we worship.
> >
> > Because of my antiquity and preexisting conditions, I’ve been largely
> > housebound since March, but, beginning three weeks ago, my oncologist
> > permitted me to celebrate on Sunday. We have two tiny mission churches,
> and
> > I’m fortunate to have a younger assistant to share the load.
> >
> > Warmly,
> >
> > +Tony
> >
> > On Sun, Oct 4, 2020 at 12:39 PM Ginga Wilder <gingawilder at gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > South Carolina is beginning to worship in person worship in churches
> > > again.  We have careful protocols in place that limit attendance,
> mandate
> > > masking, no singing, no 'visiting' with others.  With the exception of
> > the
> > > celebrant, Eucharist is bread only.  I have really missed worship but
> my
> > > internist has restricted me from attending worship in the nave.  I will
> > > comply, of course.
> > >
> > > What is going on in your churches/dioceses regarding in person worship?
> > > Are you attending?
> > >
> > > Ginga
> > >
> > --
> > The Right Rev. Tony Clavier
> > Co-editor, The Anglican Digest
> > Vicar: St. Thomas' Episcopal Church, Glen Carbon IL
> > and St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, Granite City IL,
> > Diocese of Springfield.
> >
>