An Important Note from the Rector: St Paul’s is Temporarily Closing

Dear Members, Friends, and Neighbors of Saint Paul’s:

This is the message I did not want to write this year. With rapidly-rising Covid infections due to the Delta and Omicron variants, and in consultation with the Wardens, staff, and medical experts, I am announcing, effective immediately, that all in-person worship and other activities at St Paul’s are suspended until further notice. This decision was not reached lightly, and we do think it to be the best course of action given our present circumstances and capabilities. We will reëvaluate in early January.

This does not mean Christmas is cancelled. It just means Christmas will be on Zoom & YouTube. We have done this before and we need to do it again. The new schedule will be as follows:

Friday 24th December — Mass for Christmas Eve — 5:30 pm on Zoom & Youtube

Sunday 26th December — Morning Prayer (Christmas I) — 11:00 am on Zoom

Sunday 2nd January — Mass (Christmas II) — 11:00 am on Zoom

Other services of Morning and Evening Prayer will continue in their regular pattern on Zoom. All are welcome!

It is very good that we were able to have our beloved Crèche service this past Sunday, where we were able to sing some carols, hear some of the Christmas readings, to see the Christmas greenery, and to build and bless the Christmas crèche. A hearty thank you to the Sunday School, to Jean Del Colliano and Nora Archer for their hard work and dedication in making this happen! And thank you to Sandy Miller and Rob Snyder for preparing the Crèche — and to Jonathan Vantassel for preparing the Christmas greenery.

In consultation with the Bishop’s office we are also postponing the Celebration of New Ministry and my institution as Rector until Sunday 24th April 2022 at 4 pm. Please mark your calendars!

Let me also please take this time to encourage everyone eligible to get double vaccinated and boosted — and regularly tested as needed. We have all come too far to go backwards.

Thank you for your faithfulness and for your prayers. Jesus Christ is still the Light of the world. He still comes among us to show us his way of love and mercy. And he still comes to save us from our sins and from ourselves. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6) Wishing you all a very happy Christmas.