Over the last four months, it has been a privilege to worship with you on Sundays in an online format. Nonetheless, online worship and in-person are not the same thing. Every single day, a name and a face cross my mind, and I ache to see and to worship with that person again! This Sunday (July 12), we are recommencing in-person worship—with our regularly scheduled services at 8:00 & 10:15 a.m., and 6:00 p.m.

This is going to sound odd, but I want you to know that it is perfectly OK for you not to return for in-person worship at this time. Conditions for worship may be restrictive enough to discourage you. You may simply feel uncomfortable with the health climate in Central Florida at this time. Or you may have determined that as far into the future as you can see, in-person worship will not be a safe place for you. Regardless, we will continue to offer online worship by live-streaming the 10:15 service and we will be grateful to have you continue to worship with us that way. You are an important part of the Cathedral family.

If you wish to attend one of this Sunday’s services, here are some guidelines you need to be aware of:

For the service you wish to attend, you must make a reservation for yourself and for any household member accompanying you. Seating capacity is limited to 100 people for each service. For that reason—and for the sake of our being able to do contact tracing should the need arise—we ask you to reserve a spot for the service you wish to attend. Please download the Church Center App from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store, or visit the website: https://stlukesorlando.churchcenter.com/home. Alternatively, you may contact the church office during business hours.
You must practice social distancing the entire time you are in the Cathedral—touchless greetings and passing of the peace; seating every other row; honoring the 6 foot markers for individuals or households on the pews.
You will need to wear a mask throughout the service.
Communion in the form of a pre-intincted host will be brought to you at your pew. After the clergy has dropped the host into your hand, you may remove your mask long enough to partake.
Prayer books and Bibles have been removed from the pews; bulletins with the full text of the service will be provided.
Congregational singing will be restricted to at most a closing hymn at 10:15 & 6:00. There will be no congregational singing at 8:00.
At the close of the service, exit row by row from the rear, and please do not congregate in the narthex or Great Hall.
Restrooms will be available in the Great Hall area—however, we encourage, um, sparing use thereof.
There will be no reception/coffee hour before or after services in the Great Hall.
There will be no in-person children’s church or nursery. Children’s bulletin and coloring sheets will be available in the narthex. For those worshiping from home, Children’s Zoom Church will continue at 9:30 on Sunday mornings.
An offertory receptacle will be available in the narthex as offering plates will not be passed. Of course, you may continue to take advantage of online giving (the Church Center App makes that very simple).

These are challenging times. As a congregation, you have been fabulously patient and faithful beyond anything anyone could expect in adapting to the way we have had to conduct worship—and faithful beyond what anyone could ask for in continuing to support your Cathedral’s ministry. I am deeply grateful.

Needless to say, we will be monitoring the overall health situation in Central Florida and in our congregation. We will communicate with you as quickly as we can if our plans have to change. Meanwhile, know that I pray that you stay safe and healthy, and that this unusual season finds you growing in your love for the Lord.

Blessings, in Christ,
Reggie Kidd, Dean