Grace-St. Luke's Episcopal Church
eNews
Tuesday, December 22, 2020 COVID-19 Update: Celebrating Christmas and Epiphany with GSL A Message from the Rector: The Rev. Ollie V. Rencher
The seasons of Christmas and Epiphany will be quite different for life at Grace-St. Luke’s Church and throughout the world in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to yesterday’s Shelby County Health Department Directive to assist with flattening the coronavirus curve, our Bishop, the Right Reverend Phoebe A. Roaf, asked in a message to all diocesan faith communities to temporarily suspend in person worship and indoor activities with more than 10 persons for at least the next several weeks effective December 21. Our updated schedule of offerings for Christmastide into Epiphany is provided below and available online at www.gracestlukes.org/news/advent-christmas-epiphany/ The GSL Clergy as well as members of our Re-Entry Task Force and the Vestry support this holy pause to in-person offerings for a stretch as part of our Christian witness in partnership with the state and community public health measures requested. Fortunately, our worship, formation, and several connection-making offerings will continue online and will include some new offerings to be announced in January. While this change naturally is painful and disappointing, especially as GSL and other Episcopal congregations have observed sound protocols for in-person gatherings, health and medical professionals agree that we will not regret exercising an abundance of caution at this particular juncture in the pandemic. We walk by faith and not be sight, trusting in God that a new day will come when we can gather. The twelve-day journey of Christmas to the Epiphany (January 6) when the Church celebrates the divinity of Jesus boldly reminds us of our baptismal heritage that the “Church” literally is the body of Christ. From the beginning of the Christian tradition, the Church has been without walls, because the Spirit of God
cannot be confined to a building. The Church is rooted in and thrives by its baptized members and newcomers who share a combination of faith, hope, service, and giving, all built on nothing less than Jesus' love and righteousness. The devoted congregation of Grace-St. Luke’s has been an extraordinary community of believers long before the COVID-19 pandemic, and I believe our resilience and commitments will not be detoured. If anything, I wholeheartedly believe the faith that binds us has been growing and stretching us in new ways bound to form and improve our practice of being faithful followers of Jesus. Now more than ever is a perfect time to hold one another and the world in fervent prayer. While the GSL Clergy, Staff, Vestry, and Lay Pastoral Care Ministers will continue to pray for you daily and be even more intentional in reaching out, I ask that you both pray for and reach out to fellow parishioners, family, and friends in this time when personal connection is especially meaningful. All this to say that the Church is alive, well, and not closing, because we live!
Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24
8 to 8:45 a.m. - Virtual Video of Christmas Lessons and Carols from GSL premiered December 20
Noon - Virtual Video Premiere of GSL Youth & Children Holiday Greetings, Christmas Pageant and slideshow of Creches (Nativity Scenes) from parishioner homes and GSL
2 p.m. - Virtual Service of Evening Prayers with sermon, choral ensemble, hymns, music for flute and organ, and selected tenor arias from Messiah by George Frederic Handel
8 to 8:15 p.m. - Virtual Compline (Night Prayers) officiated by the clergy
9 p.m. - Virtual Service of Evening Prayers with sermon, choral ensemble, hymns, music for organ, and string quartet with the “Gloria in excelsis” from Gloria by Antonio Vivaldi Christmas Day, Friday, December 25
10 a.m. - Virtual Service of Morning Prayers with homily, hymns and music for organ First Sunday after Christmas, December 27
10:30 a.m. - Virtual Service of Morning Prayers with sermon and music
Second Sunday of Christmas, January 3
10:30 a.m. - Virtual Service of Morning Prayers with sermon and music
God's peace, blessings, and take good care, The Reverend Ollie V. Rencher, Rector
Direct 901.252.6320 | orencher@gracestlukes.org Click here for video message.
Parish Office Holiday Schedule
The church office will be closed December 25, 28, 29, 30, and January 1. The Office will be open December 31 and resume regular hours on January 4. For pastoral or hospital emergencies concerning a member or after-hours parish facilities management matters, contact the Clergy-on-Call at 901-252-6334.
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