January 14, 2022
Dear Doubters of Great Faith,
Happy New Year!
That may seem a bit belated, considering that we are already 13 days and counting into a year that is already shaping up to resemble so much of 2020 and 2021. But I have had the great good fortune, thanks to you, of several weeks of holiday, to reflect just a bit, and so, now it’s my turn to bid each of you a happy and joyous New Year, in spite of, or maybe even because of, the circumstances in which we find ourselves.
For this time, we call it “omicron,” but before it was “delta,” and before that, “beta,” and who knows before that. If COVID-19 has taught us nothing else in the nearly two years we have been wed to her (and to each other, by the way!), it’s that we, the people of St. Thomas the Apostle, are hearty and resilient “Doubters of Great Faith.”
And I find myself sitting, for just a moment, in gratitude, for all that we have accomplished, in spite of, or maybe even because of, this insane journey to which we have been thrust.
Now, numbers are certainly not the full and complete story of health, as we find ourselves regaled daily with ever-increasing infections, hospitalizations, and deaths. But let me share some trending numbers I find so much more encouraging. Over the course of the last five years, here are the attendance statistics for Christmas Eve/Christmas Day/Christmas I services at St. Thomas the Apostle.
- 2017: 126
- 2018: 138
- 2019: 107
- 2020: 139
- 2021: 169
With the exception of the year you were in Rector-transition, this parish has continued to touch and impact more lives each and every year, INCLUDING two years of a world-wide pandemic!
I want to thank everyone who had a hand in making the Christmas season as extraordinarily beautiful as it was, from our dedicated clergy staff, to our wonderfully talented musicians, to the faithful altar guild, and the many devoted altar-servers! From start to finish, each of you played an important and necessary role in enlivening yet again the Incarnation of Our Lord Jesus Christ. I would especially highlight the wonderful new bell choir, led by our gifted Director of Music, Mr. Lee Corbin, as well as the creative inspiration of Mr. Stephen Toon and Mr. Phil Scheldt in lighting and decorating the Nave and Courtyard.
You continue to exhibit mercy, grace, and resilience as we move through the ebbs and flows of this COVID-19 pandemic. If it has taught us nothing else, it is that we are flexible and resilient. We will need to demonstrate that again, as we respond to this latest surge.
I have implemented several measures to help us weather this wave, which hopefully will be past in a matter of weeks.
- Upon entering the Church, please do not linger or mingle in the Narthex.
- Music will be limited to organ voluntaries.
- There will be no congregational or choral singing.
- We will not leave our seats to pass the peace.
- Coffee hour is suspended.
- Choir and bell choir rehearsals are suspended.
- The Epiphany class, “Paired Saints,” is postponed until Lent, beginning Wednesday, March 9.
- If you are on the St. Thomas campus for a service or meeting, you MUST wear an appropriately fitting mask, preferably an n95 or kn95.
- If you are feeling compromised in any way, whether you think you may have COVID-19 or not, PLEASE STAY HOME! Do not jeopardize anyone’s health by assuming that you are fine.
If we are vigilant in this, I know we can protect each other and weather this latest surge.
I continue to be grateful for the flexibility and resilience that each of you has shown throughout this pandemic.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Christopher+
