The Summer Schedule by The Rev. Hartshorn Murphy You may have noticed in the last issue of Ebb and Flow, in the Vestry Notes, a suggestion that we go to a summer schedule this year. There are three compelling reasons to do so this year: 1. Many people are away over parts of the summer on vacation which means that we have less than a "critical mass" for worship at our individual worship services. In this way, our worship experience is compromised by a pervasive experience of "absence." 2. The new kitchen compels us to create times of fellowship in sharing meals together. To do that more effectively requires a more leisurely (less rushed) time schedule. 3. With one less clergy person around (see: "On Taking a Sabbatical…" in this issue), a summer schedule would be more reasonable. And so, beginning June 19, 2005, we will go to a new Sunday schedule of two, rather than three, services. Early morning worship will move from 7:30 to 8:00 a.m. It will continue to meet in the Chapel of the Resurrection (unless that space is outgrown) and will retain the format presently used during 7:30 a.m. worship (a more meditative, quiet service which stresses a slower pace, uses antiquated language and is richly graced by our harpist, Paul Baker.) Beginning that Sunday and continuing every Sunday through July 31st (excepting July 3rd for the Mass at the Beach), there will be a free breakfast for all of us, in Pierson Hall, from 9:15 - 10:15 a.m. Various ministry teams and fellowship groups have been recruited to host a meal. There will be craft activities in a separate part of the Hall for children who will undoubtedly finish eating faster than the adults. This is intended to be a time in which our "three congregations" can get to know each other a bit better and for friends who infrequently see old friends worshipping at different times, to become reacquainted. We are tentatively calling this: "Good Food and Holy Conversation." The 9 and 11 o'clock services will be combined and will meet at 10:30. This will mean some changes as we combine elements from both the 9 and 11. As the 10:30 service will be finished at about 11:45, there will be time for a bit more fellowship on the patio following worship. While we sincerely hope that folk will make an effort to come to breakfast ("bake it and they will come!"), we know that some folks (and many city summer visitors) will never quite get to church that early. Plans are being developed to "beef up" the fellowship after the 10:30 a.m. worship, that wonderful hour from 11:45 - 12:45 before people sprint to the parking structure to avoid the 1 p.m. penalty of having to pay for parking. At this writing, the plan is to have breakfast through July. We'll see how it goes. Perhaps it will continue into August if some folks want to make that happen. This summer schedule will demand flexibility from all of us - and a good measure of good humor and patience. Change is, after all, never easy but is always constant. There's a hymn text, written at the time of the civil war, that has the line in it: "New occasions teach new duties; Time makes ancient truths uncouth." I've personally always resonated with this verse. New occasions - a new kitchen we've worked hard for - brings new responsibilities and opportunities. Time - our time, the time we seek to be faithful and true in - makes how we've "always done it" (a relative term!) uncouth (archaic or awkward). It's time to try something different. It sounds like fun, doesn't it?
Copyright © 2005 St. Augustine by-the-Sea
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