The Weekly View - December 17, 2021
Click here for the full NEWSLETTER
In This Issue
- Weekly Message from Rev. Joanne Whitt
- Weekly Facebook Video
- Announcements & Upcoming Events
- Outreach Opportunities & Updates
Dear St. Luke family:
Just in time for Christmas, a reinstatement of the state-wide mask mandate! Session was already leaning towards requiring masks at our potentially crowded Christmas Eve service. With the new Omicron variant, and COVID cases once again on the rise, we didn’t want to be responsible for being a “super-spreader” event. Now, that decision has been made for us.
The State has allowed Marin to re-instate its previous mask mandate, and Marin has done so. Marin’s previous masking rules allowed an exception for worship leaders during religious services, including clergy, readers, and choirs. This means the choir members do not need to wear masks while performing this coming Sunday, and the liturgist and I may remove our masks while we’re speaking. As we did previously, we’ll keep unmasked leaders at least 12 feet away from the folks in the pews.
Mask or no mask, I’m excited about the worship service this Sunday, with special Christmas music from the choir and guest musicians. I’m also excited about our Christmas Eve Service of Lessons and Carols at 5:00 p.m. on the 24th. Our greeters will hand out masks to those who may have forgotten one, as well as bulletins and candles. Masks certainly won’t diminish the magic of that beautiful candlelight service. There will be special music that night from the choir, Erich Miller, Cassandra Mech, Becky Viebrock, and Beth Potillo-Miller. My friend and colleague Nick Morris, executive director of the Marin Street Chaplaincy, will be one of our worship leaders.
Please wear your masks this coming Sunday, and each time we gather through mid-January. Unfortunately, this means that in worship on January 9, you’ll meet your new pastor, Andrew P. Quick, while you are masked. During coffee hour following the congregational meeting after worship, however, everyone may eat and drink without masks, and Andrew will be able to see your faces!
Looking ahead to my last Sunday with you, January 2, we’ll celebrate the New Year and a new future for St. Luke with Epiphany “star words.” Each worshiper will receive a star with a word that is intended to inspire and perhaps challenge us in the new Year. One pastor who has adopted this practice writes, “Instead of making a resolution that I’ll feel guilty about a week later, I take a star word as a gift and keep my eyes open. The stars have allowed me to see God in unexpected ways and places. They’ve been challenging, life-giving and transformative.”
I look forward to seeing you in worship on Sunday!
Grace and peace,
Joanne Whitt
Interim Pastor