The Shell Newsletter – May 20, 2021

From the Rector

Covid Updates for Worship

Yesterday the diocese released updated guidelines for congregations based on both the recent CDC recommendations for those who are fully vaccinated, and our commitment to be a community of love that follows the gospel call to care for the vulnerable among us, especially those in our congregation who can’t be vaccinated at this point, including children and the immunocompromised. We are blessed to have many children at St. James’ and I know you join me in wanting to keep them safe and healthy. You can review the updated Covenant for Regathering here.

Our diocesan guidelines are based on a system of four phases with decreasing restrictions – from red to orange to yellow to green. What phase we’re in is based on our county’s Covid infection rate. We are currently in the Orange Phase. We will be able to move into the Yellow Phase if Carroll Country’s case rate remains below 10 cases per 100,000 people for two more weeks.

This is what this means for us as we transition to our summer schedule:

• We will continue mask use and social distancing for indoor worship services.
• We are still asking folks to sign up in advance to attend the 8:30 am indoor service
• The 8:30 am service will be livestreamed to Facebook to keep a virtual option for those who prefer or need it
• We ask that folks wear masks when coming and going to outdoor services, but you are welcome to unmask when seated if you wish.
• There is no sign up for attending the 10:30 am outdoor worship**

Moving into the Yellow Phase means we will be able to ease mitigation practices based on three criteria:  a high percentage of vaccinated people in our congregation, congregational support for easing restrictions, and reasonable accommodations for unvaccinated people. We will be sending out a congregational survey next week to gather this information, then using the data to help plan next steps for later in June. Please take the time to fill out the survey so we can count everyone’s voices!

Did you notice the ** above about no sign ups for the 10:30 am service? Here’s the one caveat about that. Under Orange Phase guidelines our seating capacity for indoor worship is 40 people. This means if we have to move the 10:30 am service indoors because of inclement weather we will have to limit attendance to the first 40 people who arrive, and while there will still be music there won’t be congregational singing indoors. Pray for good weather! And know that increasing seating capacity is one of the things I’m hopeful we will be able to do in the Yellow Phase depending on survey results, to avoid this issue going forward.

If you have questions please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. And take the survey next week!

Yours in God’s peace,
Kristin+

Calling All College Graduates!

We want to offer a blessing and gift to all of this year’s college graduates! Please contact the office (office@stjamesmtairy.org) ASAP so we can add you to our list and reach out to connect with you in June. Congratulations to everyone who is marking this achievement this year!

Sunday Worship Information

Join us on The Day of Pentecost for Liturgy of the Word at 10:30 am followed by Zoom Coffee Hour, or watch the service livestreamed on Facebook.

A printable bulletin is available here.

We will “open the doors” beginning at 10:15 am for folks to greet each other and say good morning.  Kristin+ will give instructions at 10:25 am and we will begin recording and livestreaming the service promptly at 10:30 am.  Don’t worry if you’re late – you can still attend via Zoom if you “get to church” at 10:40!

Join Zoom Meeting

Sunday School Closing Ceremony at 9:30 a.m. outside in the Memorial Garden (bring your lawn chairs).  All students will be recognized as well as our graduating seniors.  Looking forward to seeing everyone in person!   (In case of rain, certificates and treats may be picked up at the front entrance of the church from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. on Sunday)

Worship Ministries

The Lector Ministry
Did Jesus know how to read?  How do you know?  The oral tradition was prominent in his day and unlike Paul he was not raised in a major city, near the crossroads of trade, and was not trained to be a scribe. Joseph was a carpenter and Mary existed in a culture where women were subordinated to men. So, could Jesus read?

The answer comes right after Jesus is tempted in the desert, when, in Luke’s account he goes to his hometown synagogue (“as was his custom”), and unrolled the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, and began to read a passage that was self-descriptive. (See Luke 3:16-19.) According to internationally recognized biblical scholar, Carroll Stuhlmueller, this is the only place in scripture that gives direct evidence that Jesus knew how to read.[i]

While reconstructing a typical Sabbath synagogue service back then is difficult, Stuhlmueller finds a scriptural basis that it included prayers, two readings (one from the first five books of the Old Testament, known as the Torah, and the other from the Prophets), a homily, and a priestly blessing. When we add to this the strong belief by scholar Lawrence Boadt that the Psalms were used in liturgical services, I get blown away when I take the lector stand every few weeks.[ii]

Here I am, reading words read aloud that were read in the great temple of Solomon, or in a Nazareth synagogue by Jesus, or in the numerous synagogues in which Paul preached during his travels. I’m struck also by the fact that Jesus’s first act of ministry in Luke is reading scripture aloud in public. Doing the same as a lector is truly a sacred privilege. And at times, I must confess, I feel a sense of awe and transcendence when I read.

Join me in this ministry. We need more lectors. Our numbers are slowly shrinking. You won’t get to unravel a scroll, but the words you read will, according to Hebrews 4:12, divide soul from spirit, joints from marrow, and judge the intentions of the heart. That’s why they’ve been read aloud by many for thousands of years, including many of our spiritual superheroes.  As my younger colleagues at work would say, “That is dope.”

~Peter Sabonis

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