No Shortage Of “Power” During Recent Outage
The Rev. Stephen Elkins-Williams

Despite a lack of electricity, services were held at 7:30, 9:00, 11:15, and 5:15 on Sunday, December 8, 2002. The parish facilities had been without power since the previous Wednesday evening as a result of the severe ice storm. Bulletins had not been printed, therefore, nor was there heat, lights, or the availability of the organ, a public address system, or the nursery! All services were held in the chapel as attendance was expected to be low. At 7:30, 14 hardy souls attended, at 9:00 about 160 overflowed into the loft, at 11:15 another 130 participated, and at 5:15 41 people worshipped using candlelight and flashlights!

In addition to their usual vestments, clergy wore heavy wool capes throughout the services. Extra candles provided light for the elements on the credence table, and some celebrants read prayers with the aid of a flashlight. Smaller versions of the Junior and Senior Choirs led the music at the 9:00 and 11:15 services, and the former sang its anthem to the guitar accompaniment of Julie Covach. Robust singing of the Advent hymns warmed the chapel, including the uninhibited voices of several toddlers! A strong spirit of unity in adversity, concern for those most affected by the storm, and gratitude to God for this opportunity to worship, pervaded the congregations.

At the conclusion of the 5:15 service, as Dr. Richard Pfaff, the celebrant and preacher, holding a flashlight, greeted the last person at the door, the lights came back on. His light-hearted call to those departing to the parking lot “Come back for a longer version of the sermon!” brought a joyful response but no takers!