By Father Ted
This week, I went back and read the E-News articles I wrote last May and June. Since Fr. Casey spent much of that time on vacation, and Mother Rebecca was on sabbatical, I got the chance to share my thoughts about worshipping in Roper Hall for four of those weeks. I don’t normally enjoy going back and reading things I’ve already written (who isn’t their own worst critic?), but these made me laugh. First of all, we thought the renovations of the church would only take six months! We may have been a little optimistic about the timeline, but after walking through our new spaces, I’m glad that we didn’t try to rush anything. The new chapel space is lovely, the lighting in the church is greatly improved, and the new pews will last a lot longer than any of us will.
I also laughed as I re-read them because they reminded me of what I was worried about at the time. I was afraid that some of you would use our time in Roper Hall as an excuse to take an extended sabbatical from church. But that didn’t happen. I was worried that some of you wouldn’t bother to pick up a hymnal at the door. That didn’t happen either. I was worried you would be frustrated by starting the communion lines with those in the back rows, but I think you liked that part. Re-reading the articles reminded me that our time in Roper Hall exceeded my expectations, and based on the feedback that I have received, I think it exceeded yours, too.
This is the last weekend of our worship in Roper Hall, and I hope you will cherish it with me. At the end of each service we will have the opportunity to give thanks for our time there, which feels like the right way to turn the page. I hope you will be there and enjoy the best of what Roper Hall offered us: the chance to sing next to the choir, the ability to see new faces across the room, and the opportunity to see the triptych artwork enlarged and up close.
The following week, we will return to the church, and we will do it in style! I hope you are planning to be with us, either at the Table, the 10:00 am Dedication, or Evensong (or all three). And for those of you who have joined the church in the last nine months, we cannot wait to welcome you into our beloved spiritual home. This will be a milestone in the life of our parish, and you won’t want to miss it.
See you at church!
Ted+