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All Saints’ Summer Alpha, that's what's happening. Plan to attend, or invite a few friends, or both. Online Alpha is a great way to dip your toes into faith. No experience required. allsaintswhitby.org/all-saints-sum…
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Weekend is coming. Find some Saturday morning reading material at allsaintswhitby.org/news-events/sa…
(And yes, it's the spring edition and yes, it's July ... but some things are timely whenever they arrive.)
Thought and Prayer for The Day, Thursday July 2, 2020 by Rev. Geoff Lloyd
Reopening All Saints’ for Public Worship
Dear Friends in Christ,
My turn to produce a Thought and Prayer for The Day has fallen two days after the Diocese of Toronto has issued protocols for the reopening of churches and so this letter may seem more practical than spiritual, as was my last one. But I think it is important that you are all kept up to date on the procedures we need to undertake on the journey towards reopening. They are contained in a 17-page document you can view and/or download on the Diocesan website. The document is long and complicated, and your Churchwardens and Deacons Elect will be meeting with me to produce a simplified version for all of us here at All Saints’.
At this stage, however, I feel that I should warn you that things will be vastly different to start with in our reopening which will take place “on an undetermined date in September” – a quote from page 14 of the document. Here are the opening 2 paragraphs of the document which sums up my feelings and hopes for us all as we go forward into this new era of church worship:
“We anticipate that this is likely to be a long and graduated process. We offer these guidelines as our best effort to care for God’s world and all people, as society battles against a global pandemic. We rest secure in the knowledge of God’s love for us and God’s desire for the health and wellness of every person – physically, spiritually, and emotionally – as demonstrated through the life and ministry, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. As we continue to learn together about Covid-19, we are trying to act in ways that are honourable and creative. We will be adapting our directives responsibly and responsively, at each new phase, and with any change that may arise as the situation unfolds.
There is much to be done to provide a gradual, careful, and inviting reopening. To support this work, we require each parish to recruit an individual or team of volunteers who can implement the protocols and monitor the checklists provided, and to plan for how the congregation can begin to gather again, within the guidelines of size and social distancing, in ways that are welcoming, pastoral, missional and cautious.”
I am asking, therefore, that you pray earnestly for your leadership team at All Saints’ (Gary Gannon, Joanne Warman, Tim Ralph, Sheila Robson, Karen Carter and Roy Allam) as we seek to make plans to return the church, safely and cautiously, to its normal routine and pattern of public worship. Let us all commit ourselves to this purpose and pray together this great prayer from St. Ignatius of Loyola:
“Lord teach me to be generous; Teach me to serve you as you deserve; To give and not to count the cost; To fight and not to heed the wounds; To toil, and not seek for rest; To labour, and not to ask for reward – except to know that I am doing your will.” Amen.
I remain your friend, Geoff
