Dear Ones,
We asked and you answered! On Sunday, we had 7 responses to the survey about summer worship that had been posted in the e-news for a few weeks; after our Monday message highlighting the survey, we had 49 responses! We’ve included the graphic data here below, and you can read all of the individual (anonymous) comments here. Below is a summary of what you said, and what’s next. (And it’s not too late to respond to the survey!
About half of those who’ve responded so far normally attend the 10 a.m. and half the 8 a.m.. Most appreciated the 9 a.m. combined service over the summer for the sense of unity it created, bringing the 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. communities together into a fuller, more energetic congregation. People enjoyed seeing friends they don’t normally worship with, stronger singing, and the efficiency of sharing resources and volunteer roles. Many also liked having the rest of the day free after an earlier service. The main concerns were the earlier time—particularly for those used to 10 a.m.—and preferences for a specific liturgy, with several noting they prefer Rite I over Rite II. Some found alternating rites confusing, missed certain hymns or musical elements, or felt the service length was too long. A few mentioned challenges for families without children’s programs at that hour.
Looking ahead, opinions were split: some strongly favored keeping a single 9 a.m. service year-round, citing community building, volunteer support, clergy relief, and cost savings; others preferred returning to two services to preserve liturgical choice, service style, and personal scheduling needs. Several suggested a blended approach—continuing the combined service in summer or for special occasions, paired with fellowship or formation opportunities.
We will be returning to our 8 and 10 a.m. services this fall as scheduled this Sunday, August 17. However, the conversation about how and when we worship will continue!
I was inspired again watching Brian Capener’s 2008 film about the re-building of the church campus, A Work Well Begun, by the “Great Debate,” a process that created space to for all of the diverse perspectives on the question of what to do about the church building to be truly heard. Because worship is at the heart of who we are as a church, we have strong ideas and feelings about it. The responses show a hunger in the congregation for worship that energizes, draws us together and moves us forward. At the same time we have real concerns about scarcity of resources (human and financial) and understandable fears about losing something precious to us.
I am greatly encouraged by the energy in this conversation and by this congregation’s openness to change. Nine and a half years ago, when I first read your parish profile, it was one of the the things that stood out to me as unique about Grace Church and drew me to you— I thought, “This congregation grew five times larger, restructured itself, and tore down and rebuilt every building on the church campus— they know transformation!” The pandemic brought on a desire for tradition, safety and stability, but I see in this moment a re-emergence of who we are: a community rooted in the strong earth of our tradition, but with branches that stretch toward the sun and wave in the breeze of change and growth, even as the roots soak up the waters of new life.
I encourage us to see this fall as a time of openness to new experiences and to listening deeply to one another as we continue the conversation around “How will we worship?” We will have one combined outdoor 9AM service for our celebration of St. Francis Day on September 28 and possibly one or two others this fall. With the help of the vestry, I will be forming a Worship Discernment Task Force to aid in the creation of new ways for us to experiment and to listen to one another around worship, and to synthesize what we are hearing from one another. As our Senior Warden Genevieve Schlangen commented to me, “This isn’t a vote, a one-and-done decision, but a process of discernment.” If you would like to serve on the Worship Discernment Task Force, please let me know via email revamy@grace-episcopal.org I hope that by our Annual Meeting in January we will be able to come to a broad consensus on the question of how we will worship going forward into the new year.
On a personal note, I was profoundly moved by the surprise “welcome back” prayer and blessing on Sunday. I am so, so deeply grateful to God for the work of healing being done in me, and to this congregation for your love and patience as that has unfolded. A year ago it was difficult to imagine being where I am today—not only functioning, but energized and excited. There are not many congregations with the depth of spirit to have stuck with a rector through a rough ride like this one. I know God’s not done with us yet— as our beloved Helen Christianson is fond of saying, “The best is yet to come!” Thanks be to God!
In deep peace, love and gratitude,
Amy+
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