By Father Casey
I marvel at this church’s patience and resilience. In these months of transition, while renovations have been happening in the church, we could have grown restless and grumpy. Change is never easy, and the dislocation could have diminished us. But what I experience most in speaking with all of you is gratitude. You are thankful: thankful for the beauty of Roper Hall, thankful for our ministries and programs carrying on without interruption, thankful for Transfiguration continuing to be Transfiguration. Y’all are amazing.
The good news is that we’re nearing the home stretch of our renovation project. The construction crew is entering the final stages in the expanded sacristy, with flooring and millwork soon to be installed. Meanwhile, work in the church is in full stride, with technicians busily hooking up our new electrical, lighting, and sound systems. Our brand new church furniture, including the transept chapel altar, will be delivered in about a month. It’s all extremely exciting. The light is definitely shining at the end of this tunnel.
So I hope we can remain patient and resilient just a while longer, including this Christmas, when we’ll hold all our services in Roper Hall. We had hoped to return to the Nave for Christmas Eve, but we’ll miss that goal by just a few weeks. In the grand scheme, the sacrifices of this year are a small price for a beautifully updated church that will serve the needs of our people for generations to come. And I think it will all seem quite worth it when we finally return in late January (our new finish line).
In the meantime, we will celebrate the birth of Jesus this Christmas with every ounce of beauty and joy we can muster. Worship in Roper Hall is first rate. We are offering our very best there, and I hear so often from people how lovely it has been. Christmas will be wonderful, too, thanks to the huge team of creative and dedicated servants who will help us worship in holiness.
Service times will remain the same: 3:00pm (with pageant), 5:00pm (with Canticle and Youth Choirs), 8:00pm and 10:30pm (Transfiguration Choir), and Christmas Day at 10:00am.
On that point, allow me to make a humble request. Last year, attendance at the 3:00pm and 5:00pm was about 300 each, which we can accommodate in Roper Hall, though it will be quite snug. Attendance at the 8:00pm and 10:30pm services was far fewer, so if you are able to shift later in the evening, I hope you’ll consider it. Or simply wait until Christmas Day, which is my favorite of the rota. In fact, I don’t even serve liturgically at it, but attend it with my family.
What I most hope is that you will not hesitate to join us this Christmas. It will be glorious and grand, joyful and jubilant. The miracle of the Incarnation will be celebrated, and the God who left heaven to be with us in Christ Jesus will certainly be with us in Roper Hall. We’ll hear the good news, sing the great hymns, and remember again that we are not alone.
Thanks be to God.
Fr. Casey +