June 29, 2017
Early in June, I received a note from a lady who described herself as an older and long-
time member of the church. She expressed concern about coming forward to receive Holy Communion by intinction at the front of the sanctuary (“not a fan”), but she also shared her appreciation for the Communion service on June 4, with loaf and cup being served at the front of the sanctuary where the floor is level, with no need to go up the stairs to the chancel. That arrangement, she said, “was a piece of cake.”
Indeed, some things were changed for June 4. To make room for the bells on the chancel, we removed our regular Communion table, and placed a smaller one on the sanctuary floor right in front of the chancel steps.
What didn’t change was the place where we actually served Communion. When we ask you to come forward to receive, we always serve on the level part of the sanctuary floor, and never ask you to come up the stairs to the chancel.
I can’t be sure about everything that was done before I got here, but I am absolutely sure
that since January 2015 we have not asked you to come up the chancel steps to receive Communion. We have always come down to serve where the floor is level. Also, we ask ush- ers to help us identify those who prefer to remain seated so that we can go to them.
Please know that as we plan for worship services filled with Spirit and creativity, accessibility is always a primary concern. We’re thinking about older people and children and everybody in between, those who move easily and those who don’t.
Please continue to send in suggestions and share concerns. It is good and helpful to hear from you. Your comments bring to the attention of church leaders things that otherwise might be missed. Just leave a note in the church office or send an e-mail to me, david.pattee@ CUCCstc.org.
Grace and peace to you.
The Rev. David Patee, senior pastor