Wed, 20 Oct, 2021
Six Days of Homecoming—Day Three
Altar Guild
This is the third installment in a six-part series around the theme of Homecoming. While our sanctuary has been open for our Rite I congregants since early June, our Rite II service has continued to be held in the idyllic gardens of the Goodwin Mansion on the grounds of Strawbery Banke through these early weeks of autumn. It is with deep gratitude, eager anticipation, fervid preparation and prayer, and a whole lot of hard work that we enter this week of Homecoming. We acknowledge that, although not all who worshipped with us previously for Rite II will be returning to our beautiful Church On The Hill, we hope that through the voices of these individuals and teams we amplify this week, we can all feel the joy in returning our Rite II service to the sanctuary, the joy in Coming Home.
As we prepare for our Rite II service to return to the sanctuary this Sunday, October 24, we have been highlighting some of the ways that our church has changed throughout the past year and a half since we initially went into Covid-19 lockdown. While a lot has changed, and continues to (in case you missed it, check out Tuesday’s “Building and Grounds” update!), there are some things that have mostly continued on, mostly as normal — even in our absence from this beautiful physical space. Our virtual church services were fully produced from inside the sanctuary, and something that perhaps may have never occurred to some of us is the idea of the altar and vestment preparation, and how it shifts based on liturgical seasons, and who’s taken such fine care of us throughout, even in these partially unseen ways. Today’s reflection comes to us courtesy of Bertha Rocray, Head of the Altar Guild.
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Homecoming brings as much excitement to the Altar Guild as it did when we were much younger and in school or college. As we prepare for Oct. 24, we look forward to using our treasured communion vessels and hope we remember the details of preparation. With great anticipation we look forward to being together, hearing music, singing hymns and being in our beloved St. John's.
As we are a service group, we have been privileged to be in the church a bit more than many. As we work in teams, it is the responsibility of one person per team to prepare the altar for virtual church.
Our last Sunday together was March 15 of 2020, just prior to Easter. As we were prepared to decorate for the season, we proceeded with our plan, but then came the job of finding what to do with all the lilies. As no institution would accept plants, it was decided to put the plants on the front steps for others to enjoy and/or take home. I can report, all lilies found new homes.
Soon it was Christmas 2020, and it was decided to prepare the church for Christmas. By now we had all learned a bit more about coping with the pandemic, and distribution of the poinsettias was much easier. 2021 arrived with a hope of being together soon. When word went out that the 8 o'clock service would resume, two members of the Altar Guild were so overcome with emotion that they sat in the church and cried. Little did we realize how much we had missed being inside our lovely St. John's.
Next was going to the Goodwin Mansion which brought an entirely new challenge: How were we going to carry water and wine to the garden? Using Nathan's ideas, we put the wine in a red plastic ketchup bottle, and the water in a plastic mustard bottle (!!). Our altar cloth was a green tablecloth made by our beloved Dorothy Polando. Next was how to transport it all - a milk crate was used, and we had our "church in a box.”
With news of the Rite II service returning to the sanctuary this Sunday, October 24, waves of joy and excitement came over us, and we’ve had many volunteers offer to polish and clean and help prepare for homecoming! From lilies on the front steps, to church in a box, we are all excited for Sunday Oct. 24, 2021 - our Homecoming to St. John’s.
One dedicated member of the Altar Guild, Jane Holway, should be recognized for her dedication and hard work during the pandemic. Not only has she attended all 8 o'clock services, but also she has visited countless parishioners, bringing communion and daily reflections to many, even taking video of various portions of the service on her cell phone to show those who are at home without internet to be able to view our YouTube streamed services.