Having trouble viewing this email? Click here

April 2020

"Our diocesan support to the neediest among us is crucial": COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund is open to receive gifts

The Diocese of Massachusetts has launched a COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund to help congregations meet urgent, emerging needs and to provide subsistence relief through congregational and ecumenical ministries.

The current pandemic crisis presents a crucial moment to reveal the strength of our commitment to one another, our faith and resilience as a Christian community, Bishop Alan M. Gates wrote in a letter urging members of the diocesan community to continue to financially support their local congregations and to give generously to the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund.

“Our diocesan support to the neediest among us is crucial. Each of us, individually and communally, faces challenge and sacrifice in this crisis,” Gates said in the letter. “For some, this hardship is potentially devastating. It is in those places especially that we must care for one another. We have affirmed repeatedly that we are stronger together than we are separately. Now may we manifest that strength!”  Read the full letter here.

Contributions to the Diocese of Massachusetts COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund can be made online at www.diomass.org/give-now.

Life Together fellows step up as "prayerful and prophetic" leaders in time of COVID-19 pandemic

Members of the MANNA team at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul are working through the COVID-19 pandemic to provide masks as well as food and other resources to members of the homeless community in downtown Boston. Courtesy photo

One of the core components of the Life Together fellowship program is community, and--as with all communities during the COVID-19 pandemic--the program and its fellows are adapting to new ways of being together and being of service.

“As we live into this time, I'm so grateful to be part of a community where the work of birthing the new is already happening,” Life Together's executive director, Kelsey Rice-Bogdan, said in the March 25 Life Together newsletter. “Our fellows are currently offering direct support to those on the margins: distributing food, supporting parish mutual aid networks, helping congregations and communities to connect from home and more.”

Eva Ortez is a Life Together fellow serving with MANNA at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Boston--a ministry of and with the homeless community in downtown Boston. The MANNA team has been working since the crisis began to continue providing essential services for a community that can’t “stay home.” The team has been providing food, a place for people to rest and recharge, and bathroom facilities, and it is now doing basic screening of community members.

In a phone interview, Ortez explained that there is a lot of need in this already vulnerable community, since many of the places from which its people normally get resources or services have been forced to close due to the pandemic; resources--both material and pastoral--that the community is getting from MANNA right now are vital, if even just to show the people served that they are not alone.

“Honestly, it’s such an honor to be able to serve them and be with them and witness their pain and their joy, especially during this time. Seeing joy in the midst of this horrible crisis is God, right? To me, it’s God--it’s resurrection,” Ortez said. “Every day when I wake up, I’m grateful to be alive and every day when I go to work, I know that God is the one giving me the courage and strength and compassion and patience to be there.”

The associate director of training and recruitment for Life Together, Lindsey Hepler, said in a phone interview that though Life Together often talks about its mission in terms of equipping fellows to be prayerful and prophetic leaders when they leave the program, these fellows are already living into those identities as leaders right now.

“To see how they are leaning into that call and so deeply committed to the communities that they serve--even amidst their own fears and anxieties and confusion--the way that they are stepping up and leaning in and just showing the depths of their commitment to the communities that they’re connected to, it’s really beautiful to see,” Hepler said. “It’s just a time of so much need and our fellows really are standing in their identities as prayerful and prophetic leaders to answer that need.”

"What is real": An Easter message from Bishop Gates

"...Dear friends: The Resurrection– discovered by those faithful women at the tomb, and proclaimed to me and to you in the great Gospel of this day–that Resurrection is God’s eternal answer to all that had been denied in the sorrows of Holy Week, and all that grieves us still.

"The Easter proclamation is this: Peter’s failures were real, as are ours–but forgiveness, too, is real, and forgiveness will prevail. The women’s despair was real, as is ours–but hope, too, is real, and hope will prevail. The disciples’ fear was real, as is yours and mine–but love, too, is real–and love casts out fear, and love will prevail. Jesus’s death on the cross was real, as is the death of so many in these painful days, as is the shadow of death around our world, as will be our own death–yours and mine. But Resurrection, too, is real. And new life will prevail."

Watch the full sermon as part of the pre-recorded Easter Day service at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Boston here.

“Habits of Grace”: Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry is offering weekly video meditations, posted on Mondays through May. “As we learn how to adjust our lives given the reality of the coronavirus and the request to do our part to slow its spread by practicing social distancing, I invite you to join me each week to take a moment to cultivate a ‘habit of grace,’” Curry says in his invitation to the series, available here.

“Misinformation, Disinformation, Fake News: Why Do We Care?”: In response to the increased prevalence of disinformation campaigns, especially via online and social media platforms, the church’s Office of Government Relations has released the resource “Misinformation, Disinformation, Fake News: Why Do We Care?”

In addition to concrete tips on how to identify and limit the spread of misinformation, the resource offers an overview of the misinformation landscape, the structure of disinformation campaigns and the use of misinformation in elections.

Buildings and grounds manager of the Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center, Caleb Baker, is shown with food supplies that are being stockpiled for the particularly vulnerable members of the Greenfield, N.H., community. Courtesy photos

BCH Center serves community during pandemic: The Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center in Greenfield, N.H., is stepping up to provide its facilities to meet community needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Town of Greenfield, N.H., has asked the center to stockpile food supplies for those who are particularly vulnerable to the virus, such as elders and people with pre-existing medical conditions. The center is ordering and storing the food, and the town is handling distribution.

Additionally, working with Monadnock Community Hospital and the Town of Greenfield, the center has been designated as a potential quarantine site for emergency workers and hospital medical personnel who, if exposed to the virus, may need a place to stay away from their families during a two-week quarantine period. Should the quarantine designation become necessary, the center will work with the hospital to establish protocols to limit exposure for BCH Center staff.

"This option has been a godsend for MCH staff needing a place to stay for the short term. They have a comfortable and peaceful place to stay while working hard at MCH. And they have the added peace of mind knowing that they are not going to potentially expose a loved one in a high-risk category," the Monadnock Community Hospital said in a news release.

New England bishops urge advocacy for Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe: Bishops in New England’s seven Episcopal dioceses issued a joint statement on April 14 urging advocacy for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe as it faces the threat of disestablishment.

“The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, the People of the First Light, have lived in what is now known as southeastern New England for 12,000 years. Four hundred years ago they sheltered pilgrims in need of refuge and care. After giving that precious gift of hospitality, the Mashpee Wampanoag endured and overcame generations of persecution, oppression and marginalization. Today they are threatened with having their reservation lands taken out of trust and being disestablished by the United States government in their own homeland,” the bishops said in their statement.

“As Christians, we are called by Christ to love our neighbors as ourselves and to grow as a community rooted in love. As Episcopalians, we are called by the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, the Most Rev. Michael Curry, to work towards a beloved community of racial healing, reconciliation and justice. In this season of Easter in which we celebrate Christ’s resurrection, we celebrate the Creator’s power of resurrection, justice and love over the powers of death, oppression and empire. In that spirit, we cannot and must not ignore what is happening to the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe today,” the bishops said.

They urge people to contact their senators, the Senate Indian Affairs Committee and the Office of the Secretary of the Interior. A petition is also open to signatures of support.  Read the full statement here.

RIP: The Rev. Gayle Pershouse Vaughan, 76, died on March 29 in Lincoln, following the recent progression of cancer for which she had been in treatment since 2017.

The Rev. Gayle Pershouse

Photo: Tracy J. Sukraw

Pershouse’s ordination to the transitional diaconate this past November was an occasion for inspiration and redemption for many in the diocesan community and beyond, given the circumstances of her decades-long journey toward ordination. ( Read the Dec. 18 story here.).

When her hospitalization in early February made the May 23 date projected for her ordination to the priesthood uncertain, Bishop Alan M. Gates proceeded to ordain her a priest on Feb. 2 at the Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington.

A memorial service will be held at a later date to be announced.  Read more here.

New transitional deacon ordained: On Saturday, April 4, the Rev. Anna Page--whose sponsoring parish is St. Andrew's Church in Wellesley--was ordained to the transitional diaconate at St. Michael's Church in Raleigh, N.C., by Diocese of North Carolina Bishop Sam Rodman, on behalf of Bishop Alan Gates.

COVID-19 precautions meant the service was limited to a few distanced participants and--for the laying on of hands, special garb--but the service was live-streamed via Facebook for family and friends.

Bishop Sam Rodman ordains Anna Page to the transitional diaconate on Saturday, April 4. Courtesy photo via Facebook

Courtesy photos via parish newsletter

Palm projects: At St. Anne's in-the-Fields Church in Lincoln, families were encouraged to get creative for Palm Sunday and make their own palms at home, in order to adhere to social distancing guidelines and restrictions on public worship.

Palm "procession": At Grace Church in Vineyard Haven, Sunday school teacher Leigh Ann Yuen decided to paint palm branches around the church to create a "virtual procession" for Palm Sunday.

"The idea was very much to share the art online... I am very interested in the way church is being delivered through social media during this time of social isolation and I am seeing some new connections emerge as people are adjusting to this new 'normal,'” Yeun said in an e-mail. "But still having a 'real' presence, the paint on the sidewalk, was important too--to connect home, church and community.

"I’m not sure how much all this was accomplished by the path of palms on the sidewalk, but I do believe that these little gestures can have a significant impact in ways we might not ever even know."

The palm "procession" painted on the ground outside of Grace Church for Palm Sunday. Courtesy photo

Sally Gamble honks and waves from her car to cheer up community members. Courtesy photo via parish newsletter

Visiting angel: At All Saints' Church of the North Shore in Danvers, member Sally Gamble has been driving around to the homes of members of the congregation to honk the horn of her car and wave.

"I decided to do my road trips because I have many friends and parishioners who are elderly, live alone or are ill. During this trying time I felt that seeing someone face to face might help them," Gamble explained in an e-mail. "I decided to drive into their driveway and toot my horn. When they came to the door or a window I would wave and smile at them, and tell them I missed them. It was a wonderful experience for me and hopefully made them feel better."

Bread of Life: The Church of the Good Shepherd in Reading works with Bread of Life in Malden, a nonprofit organization that brings together some 500 volunteers from 40 partner organizations that include congregations from the faith community, businesses, civic organizations, schools and government and social service agencies from Malden, Everett, Medford, Melrose, Wakefield, Reading and Peabody to offer free food to hungry, homeless and isolated people, according to its website.

On March 26, the Rev. Brian Raiche, the rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd, and a member of the congregation donated a number of masks made by a parishioner to Bread of Life, as well as a number of worn cassocks that can be used as smocks when serving food.

The Rev. Brian Raiche, the rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Reading, and a member of the congregation deliver masks and cassocks to Bread of Life in Malden. Courtesy photo

A sign outside of St. Peter's Church-Iglesia San Pedro in Salem lets the wider community know why the bells are tolling daily at 7 p.m. Courtesy photo via parish newsletter

Ringing the bells: St. Peter's Church-Iglesia San Pedro in Salem has teamed up with St. Andrew's Church in Marblehead as well as nearby Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox churches to ring their church bells daily at 7 p.m. in honor of all healthcare workers fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We wanted to do something to support our essential workers who are doing so much to help so many," said the Rev. Nathan Ives, the rector of St. Peter's, in an e-mail. "Given the restrictions on gatherings and worship, aside from Facebook to broadcast our services, our churches don't have a voice right now, but with the bells they still do.

"God bless our essential workers!"

Communication station: The sisters of the Society of Saint Margaret in Duxbury have set up a letter-writing table in the refectory of the convent for the sisters to use to write letters and cards during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This has been a great opportunity to use up note cards and art supplies that we have had for many years and brighten up someone's day at the same time," one of the society's recent newsletters explained.

In an effort to offer an opportunity for sisters to connect, the sisters are also hosting "Wednesday with the Sisters" at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays, when they will post a video on their Facebook page and chat with people live in the comments, then collect people's prayers or concerns and offer them at their Compline service later that evening.

"We know that as we are all trying to be strong and courageous and cheerful, we also must have times when we can grieve, lament and speak about our fears," the newsletter said.

The "Communication Station" set up in the convent for the sisters to write cards and letters. Courtesy photo via SSM newsletter

Courtesy photos via YouTube video

Mug Shots: The Rev. Tim Schenck, the rector of the Parish of St. John the Evangelist in Hingham, invited members of the congregation to share pictures of their favorite mugs while worshiping from home, and the congregation obliged, sending him enough photos to create a video slideshow on YouTube here.

Boston Globe: On Good Friday, a pastor reflects on how the coronavirus has interrupted our rituals: The Rev. Jon Eden of Christ Church in Cambridge writes in this Boston Globe opinion column: "For the past 10 years, Good Friday has probably been my most intense day of the year. As an Episcopal priest, it is an emotional day, the one day set aside for us to contend with all of humanity’s worst inclinations. To contend with betrayal and death and absence and silence. The services on this day have no dismissal, people simply leave in silence.

"It’s not just an emotionally challenging day, but a logistically challenging day as well. At Christ Church in Harvard Square where I work, we usually offer two main services, each with a prelude of walking the Stations of the Cross. In between those services, we offer a children’s service that involves about 15 adults from the parish re-enacting some of the key scenes of the day, followed by an Easter egg dying party that involves about 400 hard-boiled eggs, to be hidden on Saturday in the Old Burial Ground for the Easter egg hunt. The whole effort involves upwards of 50 volunteers." But not this year. Read more here.

Kotaku: In the age of pandemic, church is online: Shifting to online services shows how digital interactions are so different than being together in person.

The Rev. Kit Lonergan, the rector of St. James Church in Groveland, says: “There is immense holiness in seeing the hands of people as they open them for Communion, or having someone cry into your shoulder and feel the wetness of tears staying there for a while, or being able to read in the eyes of someone how they really are doing (not just New England ‘fine’). So nothing we do online can replace that.” Read more here.

Vox: How coronavirus is changing the ways we grieve and mourn the dead: After losing a loved one, millions of Americans turn to their religious communities for support and comfort. But social distancing measures are changing what that support and comfort looks like.

The Rev. Bill Parnell, a leader in the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, said that worshiping communities he helps oversee are struggling with the restrictions social distancing has put on their grieving process. Read more here.

Patriot Ledger: Online Devotion: Churches offer virtual worship during closures: With crowds banned to help stop the spread of the new coronavirus, faith leaders throughout the South Shore have turned to the internet to broadcast services and reach out to the faithful.

Even for the Rev. Tim Schenck, who was an early adopter of social media and already does a portion of his ministry online, there’s been a learning curve for broadcasting services online.

“We’ve taken a brick-and-mortar institution and turned it into a virtual one out of necessity,” he said. “We don’t have high production values, but it’s more about building community.” Read more here.

Bedford Citizen: Zoom Boom: The path to heaven may be paved with free video conferencing software: The headline is tongue in cheek, but on a practical basis at least it isn’t far from the truth. Numerous local churches and temples were contacted by The Bedford Citizen for a two-part article querying leaders about what is being done in their organizations in response to the restrictions imposed by COVID-19.

Zoom, the video-conferencing and messaging application that simplifies virtual meetings across any device, is being used by nearly all of the congregations (and many other local organizations) in Bedford to take the place of in-person services, programs and even counseling sessions.  Read more here.

Apr 16 : Parish Administrators Online Gathering: Northern and Western Region, 11:00am 

Apr 16 : Children's Formation Online Gathering, 3:30pm 

Apr 19 : CANCELED: Bishop Harris visits St. Mark's Church in Burlington

Apr 19 : CANCELED: Bishop Gates visits Epiphany Church in Walpole

Apr 19 : POSTPONED: Lantern Ceremony, Old North Church, Boston 

Apr 21 : Parish Administrators Online Gathering: Southern Region, 11:00am 

Apr 23 : Parish Administrators Online Gathering: Central Region, 11:00am 

Apr 23 : Youth Ministry Online Gathering, 3:30pm 

Apr 23 : CHANGE: Diocesan Council Meeting via Zoom, 6:00pm 

Apr 26 : CANCELED: Bishop Harris visits St. Paul's Church in Natick

Apr 26 : CANCELED: Bishop Gates visits Parish of the Epiphany in Winchester

Apr 27-29 : POSTPONED: Clergy Conference, Babson Executive Conference Center, Wellesley 

Apr 30 : Children's Formation Online Gathering, 3:30pm 

May 2 : CHANGE: Lifespan Ministry with Older Adults Workshop via Zoom, 9:00am 

May 2 : POSTPONED: Diocesan Altar Guild Annual Meeting & Luncheon, Christ Church, Plymouth

May 3 : CANCELED: Bishop Gates visits St. John's Church in Sharon

May 3 : CANCELED: Bishop Harris visits Grace Church in Norwood

May 3 : CHANGE: Next Steps for Creation Workshop via Zoom, 1:00pm 

May 6 : Mission Strategy Online Book Group: "Dignity," 7:00pm 

May 7 : Children's Formation Online Gathering, 3:30pm 

May 9 : POSTPONED: Regional Wardens Day: Trinity Church, Stoughton

May 10 : CHANGE: Mother's Day Walk for Peace, now an online walk-a-thon fundraiser 

May 10 : CANCELED: Bishop Harris visits St. Mary's Church in Rockport

May 13 : POSTPONED: Clergy Professional Development Day: All Saints' Church, Chelmsford

May 14 : POSTPONED: Clergy Professional Development Day: Church of St. John the Evangelist, Duxbury 

May 14 : Youth Ministry Online Gathering, 3:30pm 

May 16 : POSTPONED: Clergy Professional Development Day: Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston 

May 16 : CANCELED: Confirmation-Cape & Islands Deanery, St. John's Church, Sandwich

May 17 : CANCELED: Bishop Harris visits St. Barnabas's Church in Falmouth

May 17 : CANCELED: Bishop Gates visits Grace Church in Everett

May 21 : CHANGE: Diocesan Council Meeting via Zoom, 6:00pm 

May 24 : CANCELED: Bishop Gates visits Christ Church in Cambridge

Stay connected with our diocesan community:

Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts 

Episcopal Church | Anglican Communion