BY KAREN BOSSICK

St. Thomas Episcopal Church will hold a special service of remembrance on Sunday to remember those who suffered and passed on due to COVID and to celebrate those who helped the community get through the worst of the pandemic.

The service, which is open to all members of the community, will start at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 1, at Festival Meadows on Sun Valley Road.

Participants will offer up prayers and they will recognize representatives of various sectors, including first responders and delivery people.

“After restrictions began to be lifted in May, we wanted to give thanks,” said the Rev. Jonah Kendall. “As a community of faith, we mark and celebrate time and the things we’ve been through. And we wanted to mark and honor this time we went through.”

St. Thomas, like others, was hard hit by the pandemic, particularly with an outbreak in the choir. But it lost only one member due to the virus.

“One of our readings for the day will be from Ephesians about how we bear one another in love. Supporting one another is how we get through these difficult times,” Kendall said.