Enhancements to Our Worship, Part 1

Within a few months of my arrival as your new rector, I spoke of the goal of enhancing our worship spaces. Since then, plans have been made, and donors have stepped up to fulfill parts of the vision. I have several to share with you, and I’ll introduce them to you over the next three rector’s notes! Today’s introduction is to the Tabernacle prayer area and the middle Communion rail.

A Tabernacle is a locked box used to store the reserved sacrament (consecrated bread and wine). Ours is to the left of the altar, along the Pomerado Road side of the sanctuary. A candle always burns with it, symbolizing the presence of Christ. A few months ago, a parishioner donated a beautiful stand for our Tabernacle. Next, she enabled us to define the area further as a place of prayer.

You will now see that the Tabernacle has a prayer rail with cushions and flooring that matches the chancel. This improvement gives more reverence to the Tabernacle and the reserved sacrament within it. Unlike the rest of the sanctuary, which changes depending on how the space is used, the Tabernacle prayer area will never change. It is a permanent spot where you can come for personal prayer and devotion. Rites of reconciliation will also be held here, along with our weekly Evening Prayer daily office.

It took a couple of tries, but we now have a re-engineered middle Communion rail that opens and closes! This will enable parishioners to receive the bread and wine across the whole arc of the chancel during Communion, and clergy can pass through it at other times.

What a blessing it is to have our worship space beautified. We give thanks to the parishioner who made this part of her legacy at St. Bart’s. We invite you to come and pray.



Mother Nina+