FROM THE RECTOR
Dear Parish Family,
I am sad to tell you that
the Vestry and I have decided to stop in-person services and hold
services on Zoom only, effectively immediately. This has come about because of
a phone call I received on Tuesday night from JoAnne Rainville, the Tamworth
Community Nurse, stating that there has been a significant spike in cases in
Tamworth. Ten new cases were confirmed in Tamworth on Tuesday from local
test results alone, so the true number is no doubt higher. Previously there had
only been a few cases a day, so the cases more than doubled. She recommends
that we close down immediately and hold all our services on Zoom. I believe
this is the right decision for us under these circumstances. We know that the
Omicron variant does infect those who are vaccinated, so far with relatively
mild illness, but there is still much we do not know.
JoAnne also recommends that we wear N95 masks, or the KN95
if we can't obtain N95's (if you can tolerate them - people with respiratory issues may have difficulty with these masks). They are more effective than paper masks, and cloth
masks are the least effective. Cloth masks tend to become damp with normal
respiration, and they are then permeable. N95 masks are more readily
available than they were - I found them on Amazon today. As has been true throughout the pandemic, hand washing and physical distance of at least six feet is of great importance. Lastly, she recommends
we not gather in groups for social events and holiday parties.
We will have the Christmas Eve services at 5:00 and 7:00 pm and
the Christmas Day service at 10:00 am, as scheduled, all on Zoom. This Sunday
we will have one service at 10:00, with no 8:00 service. On January 2 we
will have one service at 9:00.
I look forward to seeing you on Zoom, and I pray you will have a joy filled and peaceful Christmas, filled with the light and love of Christ.
Merry Christmas!
Caroline
Dear Parish Family,
I am sad to tell you that the Vestry and I have decided to stop in-person services and hold services on Zoom only, effectively immediately. This has come about because of a phone call I received on Tuesday night from JoAnne Rainville, the Tamworth Community Nurse, stating that there has been a significant spike in cases in Tamworth. Ten new cases were confirmed in Tamworth on Tuesday from local test results alone, so the true number is no doubt higher. Previously there had only been a few cases a day, so the cases more than doubled. She recommends that we close down immediately and hold all our services on Zoom. I believe this is the right decision for us under these circumstances. We know that the Omicron variant does infect those who are vaccinated, so far with relatively mild illness, but there is still much we do not know.
JoAnne also recommends that we wear N95 masks, or the KN95 if we can't obtain N95's (if you can tolerate them - people with respiratory issues may have difficulty with these masks). They are more effective than paper masks, and cloth masks are the least effective. Cloth masks tend to become damp with normal respiration, and they are then permeable. N95 masks are more readily available than they were - I found them on Amazon today. As has been true throughout the pandemic, hand washing and physical distance of at least six feet is of great importance. Lastly, she recommends we not gather in groups for social events and holiday parties.
We will have the Christmas Eve services at 5:00 and 7:00 pm and the Christmas Day service at 10:00 am, as scheduled, all on Zoom. This Sunday we will have one service at 10:00, with no 8:00 service. On January 2 we will have one service at 9:00.
I look forward to seeing you on Zoom, and I pray you will have a joy filled and peaceful Christmas, filled with the light and love of Christ.
Merry Christmas!
Caroline
Christmas Services Schedule
Christmas Eve services will be held at 5:00 and 7:00 pm on December 24. Both services will be livestreamed on Zoom and Facebook Live. There is not an in-person option.
A Christmas Day service will be online at 10:00 am
On Sunday, December 26 there will be one online service at 10:00.
On Sunday, January 2 there will be an online Service of Lessons and Carols at 9:00 am led by our lay Worship Leaders.NDAY MORNING
This Sunday-December 26
The First Sunday after Christmas
via Zoom and Facebook Live at 10:00a.m.
The Collect
Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The First Reading Isaiah 61:10-62:3
Psalm
147:13-21
The
Second Reading Galatians
3:23-25; 4:4-7
The
Holy Gospel John 1:1-18
Updating the Prayer List
Please let Deb know if you would like to add someone to the prayer list. Thank you.
Savior
of the nations, come!
Virgin’s
Son, make here your home.
Marvel
now, both heaven and earth,
that
the Lord chose such a birth.
Wondrous
birth! Oh, wondrous child
of
the Virgin undefiled!
Mighty
God and Mary’s son,
eager
now his race to run!
Thus
on earth the Word appears,
gracing
his created spheres;
hence
to death and hell descends,
then
the heavenly throne ascends.
Come,
O Father’s saving Son,
who
o’er sin the victory won.
Boundless
shall your kingdom be;
grant
that we its glories see.
Hymn 54
