Dear Ones,
I am writing to update you on the Cathedral’s plans to reopen in the coming days. All of us at the Cathedral want to return to our normal schedule of worship services as quickly as possible. We want to gather to experience the “beauty of holiness,” but we also need to safeguard our congregation to the best of our ability.
Right now in Phase 1 of reopening, requirements for resuming in-person worship are profoundly restrictive: everyone—clergy, altar party and congregants, must be masked, observe strict social distancing (6 feet), refrain from any kind of touch, and, at the strong recommendation of choir directors around the country, refrain entirely from congregational singing; at Communion, only bread may be distributed. In the short run, we would be unable to offer nursery, Sunday School, children’s church, between-service classes, or post-service coffee hour. Seating capacity in the Cathedral would be severely limited, and restroom use would be restricted.
Given these considerations, as of today, May 21st, here is our plan (subject to change based on safety):
We plan to resume our normal schedule of in-person Sunday worship services mid-July. In the meantime, we continue online services at 10:15 on Sunday mornings.
In addition, beginning the first week of June, we plan to open the Cathedral for Midday Eucharist on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with appropriate safety precautions in place. Noonday Prayer will continue online (Monday, Thursday, and Friday), but we plan to stream the Eucharist on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. If you cannot come to the Cathedral for those services, we invite you to view them online and partake with us spiritually.
Also, the Church Office will reopen beginning Tuesday June 2. Hours through June will be Tuesday through Thursday, 10 am to 3 pm, and Fridays, 10 am to noon.
This plan emerged with prayerful consideration and after extensive consultation with Cathedral clergy, staff, the Chapter, and many of you over the past few weeks. The factors influencing this decision center around the Cathedral being a welcoming, safe, and inviting place where everyone can experience “the beauty of holiness.”
I am very grateful for your patience. I am grateful for how many of you have told us how meaningful the online services are. We know they are not the same as being together in the Cathedral. We know there are going to have to be adjustments when we return: “normal” will likely be different. Now, however, we are thankful for the opportunity to offer worship to a wider reach beyond our own doors, and to join our hearts in worship with those near and far: our Cathedral family, friends, and those who are just now discovering the Cathedral.
Finally, I am asking for your help in a particular way. As we move closer to resuming in-person worship, the Cathedral will need an army of volunteers, to undertake the cleaning and hospitality necessary for maintaining a welcoming, safe, and clean worship environment. If you would like to help, please email Anne Michels (amichels@stlukescathedral.org).
We’ll send a further update with more detailed information soon. Looking forward….
With much love,
Reggie Kidd, Dean
rkidd@stlukescathedral.org