April 22, 2021
My Dear Doubters of Great Faith,
I hope and pray that you were able to join your Doubter community of faith last Sunday in one of the wonderful expressions of worship that took place both on-line and in-person, as we joyously continued the celebration of Jesus Christ’s resurrection, and our own, here on the corner of Inwood and Mockingbird! Both offerings were spirit-filled, happy occasions, as we joined together to celebrate the goodness of our risen Savior, and all that that necessarily implies for each of us, and for our community and world!
The resurrection joy that we feel at being reunited as the body of Christ, again and again, mirrors the joy that Mary and each of the disciples feel following their own days, weeks, and months of desperation. Love comes again, and again, and again, like the ever-flowing stream!
It was wonderful to welcome the body, this body of Doubters, back to the Church campus, to know and to feel the literal presence and movement of the Holy Spirit in, through, around, and beyond the room of believers! We did so in a way that was faithful, and “faith-filled,” to God, and to the wishes of our bishops, and to the dictates of science. And we will continue to do just that.
In addition to all of the measures that have been meticulously implemented and overseen, we have now been allowed by our bishops to add back in congregational singing, with the continued mandate of social-distancing and proper masking. We have also been given permission to host outdoor social time following the service. These are both key aspects of our common life together, and I am excited that, as we do them safely, we can reintroduce them to our time together.
And so, if you decide to attend in-person worship at St. Thomas the Apostle, you can expect to experience the following:
- RSVP to Pam Liles (pam@thedoubter.org) in advance to attend the 10:30 am Sunday morning worship service
- Be met by Ushers at either parking lot entrance who will lead you to the West Parish Hall entrance where your temperature will be taken (must be 100 or below), you will be given a mask (which must remain in place throughout your time in the building), you will be given a service leaflet with all materials necessary, and directed to a seat.
- Seating is 6’ apart, and social distance is expected to be maintained.
- The doors of the Parish Hall will be open for cross-ventilation.
- Air scrubbers are installed and functioning within the HVAC units of the Parish Hall.
- Hand sanitization stations are available in locations around the property.
- Restrooms are available, but all other spaces within the property are closed.
- Communion will be distributed in the singular form of a sealed host for your consumption.
- Offering plates will be passed.
- Following the service, the congregation will be dismissed to exit either to the courtyard for a reception or to the parking lot.
As I stated last week, we are following the protocol developed and administered by the Diocese of Dallas, as dictated by the CDC and scientists. However, we are not and will not be collecting vaccination information on members. At the end of the day, each person must weigh their own risk tolerance based on the best information that they can gather, and that we can provide of the experience that we plan to host. That is why it is critically important to me that we (the Church) do what we say that we are going to do, so that you can trust what we tell you that we are going to do.
As such, we will continue with our on-line service offering so that you may make your own risk assessment, knowing that you have another option to continue worshipping with your Doubter community.
It is important to me that no one feel left out, or “other-ized” by this process. We do not want to create any sense of “us” versus “them” in who worships in person or virtually. We are ONE CHURCH, and we will remain ONE CHURCH! Each of us has the right to make our own assessment and decision within our own space and time and comfort zone, based on all the information that we have. I want you to know that I support you in your decision, whatever that may be.
If you have any questions or concerns about how this process is evolving, I hope and pray that you will reach out to me and talk to me directly about your feelings. You are a valued part of this Doubter community, and I want to hear from you!
Yours in faith,
Fr. Christopher+
