As part of an effort to document pandemic-related changes in churches, the summer issue of Anglican and Episcopal History (AEH) profiled St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church in Canonsburg.
AEH is the academic journal of the Historical Society of the Episcopal Church.
The church review in AEH describes Sunday, March 15 (Lent III), at St. Thomas’, the first Sunday when many parishes in the Diocese of Pittsburgh suspended in-person worship. At St. Thomas’ this included Senior Warden Michelle Lucarelli’s work to live-stream the service for the first time.
AEH church reviews omit names of living persons. However, Canonsburg parishioners know that the “experienced cleric” mentioned in the review is the Rev. Canon Cathy Brall.
In a section describing the sermon, the reviewer notes Canon Cathy mixed seriousness, humor, and animation while “she encouraged listeners to interpret the day’s lessons through a lens of opportunity to show care for one another as Jesus modelled… she challenged the vestry and congregation to look out for one another and neighbors amid hardship and encouraged practices like sharing rather than hoarding paper towels and tipping wait staff extra.”
The article is: “Covid-19 and Rapid Change in a Small Parish: St. Thomas’, Canonsburg,” Anglican and Episcopal History 89:2 (summer 2020): 169-173.
St. Thomas’ is located at 139 North Jefferson Street, Canonsburg, PA 15317