Dear Christ Church Family and Friends,
My return
: I am grateful to be back in the saddle after four weeks away due to my shoulder surgery. I want to thank the Revs. Brandon King, Pete Cornell, Scott Russell, Karin Mitchel and Cathy Brunson who assisted on Sundays and at other times during my time away. I also want to thank the staff and vestry who stepped up during these weeks and carried a bigger load so that I could begin my long recovery. I am still on a great deal of restrictions, so I ask for your patience and your kindness as I will need more help than usual.
COVID-19 virus:
Over the past few weeks, you have received emails (from us and others), read articles and watched the news about the COVID-19 virus, so I have no doubt that you are as overwhelmed with information and concern as I am. Of course, we must all take precautions such as washing our hands, using hand sanitizer if hand washing is unavailable to us, covering our mouths with tissue or into our elbows, etc. (you can read all the other measures regarding preventing COVID-19 at the Center for Disease Control website here:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fabout%2Fprevention-treatment.html
). However, it is also important that we need to keep our wits about us so that we do not get stuck in such a deep sense of fear that we cannot think or act clearly.
Bishop Stokes
has not mandated a closing of all churches at this time (please see his letter to the diocese here:
https://mailchi.mp/dioceseofnj.org/bishop-stokes-statement-on-covid-19-coronavirus?e=90c39c6c6f)
If that changes or if I deem that the situation calls for the cancellation of services, we will send out an email right away. In the meantime, we plan to hold Sunday services as usual. Here are the guidelines we will be using for church services until further notice:
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We are a community of love, and our way of expressing love for one another is our willingness to keep each other healthy. Please do not shake hands or hug during the peace. Other ways to communicate the peace are the peace sign, bowing, prayer hands or just giving the peace verbally.
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Bottles of hand sanitizer are located in the back of the church, and one more will be in the front of the church for you to use prior to taking communion. We encourage you also to bring your own hand sanitizer as the shortage of it has hit all of us, including Christ Church. Please use hand sanitizer as necessary during the service. The clergy, Lay Eucharistic Minister and Chalice Bearer will all use hand sanitizer and/or wash our hands prior to the Eucharistic Prayer.
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Bishop Stokes has mandated that no one use the intinction method during communion – that is, please do not dip the host into the wine. If you do not feel comfortable drinking from the common cup, please only take the host and cross your arms over your chest in an “X” to indicate to the Lay Eucharistic Minister or Chalice Bearer that you do not want to take the cup. If you are worried about the risk and decide not to take communion at all, you may come up to the rail anyway (just put your arms over your chest). In the Episcopal Church, taking communion in one kind is considered a full and sufficient experience of the Eucharist. Also, having the desire to take communion is considered sufficient and you will receive the full grace of the Sacrament.
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As you greet the clergy and music director at the end of the service, I ask that you refrain from hugging or shaking hands. We know you love us. We love you too, and we want each other to be healthy.
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Bishop Stokes has discouraged coffee hour for the foreseeable future, so we will refrain from coffee hour until further notice.
If you feel that you are too at risk to come to church, here are some options for you:
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You can find Morning Prayer here:
I also encourage you to watch the video about COVID-19 by
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry
:
This Sunday:
As you know, we are having a special service this Sunday at 10:30a.m. for the alumnae of the Annie Walsh Memorial School in Sierra Leone. I continue to be in conversation with this group about the service and how to proceed. If you would like a traditional Lenten service or if you feel uncomfortable being in a large crowd, please attend the 8a.m. service. They are planning to have a reception in the Nicholas Room after the service, but
I encourage you to use your best judgment and make your own decision whether or not you want to participate in it.
Meetings: I am not cancelling church meetings or groups at this time (this could change at any time). However, I ask the group leaders to consider using the church’s Zoom account to host online meetings. Please contact
Terry Ann Schwarz
for more information.
Things are changing rapidly in regards to COVID-19. Please regularly check your email for updates from us.
O God, our times are in your hand. In the midst of uncertainty lead us by your never-failing grace as we seek to be agents of healing and hope. Walk with us through difficult times; watch over us in danger; and give to us a spirit of love and compassion for those who suffer and mourn. And finally remind us that you have promised never to leave us so that even in the valley of the shadow of death your love may be felt, through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN. — The Rev. Lyndon Harris
Peace and blessings,
Rev. Joanna+
