Dear People of God at St. Paul’s by-the-Lake,
We have now passed the “one year” mark of when the COVID-19 pandemic began to affect our lives, including the life of our parish. With all of the ups and downs of the past 12 months, I think we can be cautiously optimistic that things are currently progressing in a positive direction, in terms of public health metrics and the loosening of restrictions.
In light of this, the Diocese of Chicago recently issued some updates in its guidelines for holding public worship. Nothing too substantial will be changing at this time; indoor services are still limited to 50 people. We are now permitted to allow live singing by one (masked) singer, but we cannot yet return to having the whole congregation sing.
As we enter Holy Week, some aspects of these liturgies will be a bit different fromwhatweareaccustomedto(butnotnearlyasdifferentastheyhadtobe last year!). Singing and chanting will be limited; the foot-washing and veneration of the cross will be modified; and we will not be able to hold our parish Agape Meal on Maundy Thursday, nor our Resurrection Party following the Easter Vigil.
Another difference will be our attendance limits. In the past, the 10:30 Mass on Easter Day has been our most highly attended service all year. This year, we will be limited to 50 people in the Nave. We will open up Banner Hall for an additional 25 people to watch the live-stream, with a Eucharistic Minister to distribute Holy Communion. However, this still caps our total attendance at 75. For this reason, I am asking normal 10:30 attendees to consider coming at 8:00, or coming just for the Vigil on Saturday night (any of the three count as your Easter obligation). This would especially open up space for visitors.
Despite these changes, we will still observe together the Passion, Crucifixion, and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, for these remain realities even during the present time of upheaval. I hope you will join us, whether in person or virtually, for this holy celebration.
Fr. Kemp, Priest-in-Charge