October 14, 2020

Dear People of St. Mark’s,

It is with great pleasure that I can let you know some good news: we will resume in-person worship this month. The diocese has approved our regathering plan, allowing for limited in-person worship consistent with the public health guidelines for religious organizations.

We will begin with a single service on October 25 at 10:30 AM. If all goes well, we will add our 8:00 AM service back soon. Worship on October 25 and going forward will be Holy Eucharist without congregational responses or vocal music, since it’s not yet safe to have these. The readers, LEM, and I will do our readings and preaching from the sanctuary, lectern, or pulpit.

We will post each Sunday’s service bulletin to the church’s website: https://stmarks-silverspring.org/worship-services/ by the Friday before. Please download it to read on your screens or print out and bring with you. A limited number of copies will be available at church, marked “Please take this bulletin home for disposal. Do not leave it at church”. Please take home with you any bulletins you use.

When you arrive, please proceed to the South Transept entrance – the doors at the top of the parking lot circle. Ushers will take your temperature at the door. If it’s not above 100.4°F, they will let you in and escort you to your pews. These will be marked so as to maintain physical distance (6ft) and allow household groups to sit together. If you’re over the age of 2, you must wear a face covering or mask while in church. We ask that you use the restrooms in emergencies only, and to ‘go at home’ before coming here.

Giving online, and via mailing offerings, have been quite successful this year – and thank you! If at all possible, please continue to give in these ways. For convenience, we’ll place collection plates at the church entrance for you to use when entering or departing. We will not pass them during the service.

For those who aren’t able to come in person, or who wish to worship twice, we will record the service and post it on the church website by Sunday afternoon. Services at Riderwood will resume soon upon coordination with the Riderwood Chaplain and service participants.

We are excited to be able to worship together once again in our beautiful and sacred space, and hope you will join us as best you are able to do so.

Yours faithfully,

Rev. Dr. Christopher Wilkins, Priest-in-Charge                

Rev. Christopher I. Wilkins