27.01.2022
‘Worship is paramount in strange and unsettling times’ – Letter from the Archbishop of Dublin
Archbishop Michael Jackson has written to Diocesan Clergy, Diocesan Lay Readers and parishioners of Dublin & Glendalough.
Dear friends
The past two years in church life have been unprecedented. They have been difficult beyond comparison for so many of us. I want to thank all of you for what you have given and for what you have done, both inside church and outside church, as clergy active and retired, in the stipendiary, non–stipendiary and self–supporting ministries, as Diocesan and Parish Readers and as parishioners in all your faithful witness. This has ranged from provision of regular worship, in circumstances of ever–changing Regulations, to neighbourliness and kindness in situations where both have been deeply appreciated. Of course, we miss congregational singing but, in the context of a wider society and a wider world, this is a lesser rather than a greater anxiety. Variants of Covid–19 wane and new variants take their place. The unpredictable frames our decisions and our planning.
Obviously, it is critical that we continue to make worship available. We are working hard to maintain the current level of provision. Worship is paramount in these strange and unsettling times. It means so much to so many of us. The archdeacons of Dublin and of Glendalough, following their discussions with a range of Rural Deans and others, have been considering our current context with me along with other issues affecting the life of the dioceses that relate directly to this. While everything in terms of Restrictions has changed, other issues we face are not going away soon. A large number of parishes is without a resident priest as rector, as a direct result of a significant number of retirements all coming around the same time. The issue of sustainability in the short term of the level of provision of public worship on Sundays comes to the fore. There are clergy who speak of very small numbers of people gathering for worship in some parishes, largely out of fear of catching or spreading Covid–19. Such reticence is entirely understandable. A number of these clergy has asked if there is anything we can do and so we are seeking to respond. This situation is not universal but, where it is real, it is now acute. Even with new possibilities opening up following the removal of so many Restrictions, many will remain cautious and will need to be encouraged and supported to come to church.
What we are asking for is your co–operation and assistance, as the archdeacons make arrangements for a sustainable baseline for the continued provision of public worship for as long as needs be. In parishes where there is a vacancy or sickness, simply stated this would mean having a single service Sunday by Sunday in one parish church in any given area. It would involve as many people who feel safe to do so attending this service as a witness to faith in God and as a witness for those who are not able to attend in person but who may join on–line or by other means, not least as our society opens up safely and responsibly. This service would vary between Morning Prayer or a Service of The Word and Holy Communion, but there would be the assurance of at least one Holy Communion Service per month. Public worship would, in this way, be kept going, conducted by a priest, a Reader or a churchwarden, the last of these being envisaged only in extreme circumstances. A rota would be provided and distributed to parishioners by clergy and by those in charge of parishes currently without a rector insofar as is possible. This will mean that any of you may find your Sunday Service conducted by someone whom you do not know. This has long been a norm in dioceses other than our own and is a way of life across the Church of Ireland.
I seek your co–operation and understanding, as details for your area emerge. I thank you in advance for your willingness to enable all of us, in strained and straitened circumstances, to work together for the good of everyone.
“We are fellow–citizens with the saints and of the household of God, through Christ our Lord, who came and preached peace to those who were far off and to those who were near.” Ephesians 2.19, 17
Yours sincerely
+Michael
Dublin & Glendalough