Dear siblings of Holy Cross,

I hope this finds you well this week. While a great deal is always going on in the life of the church, the thing I want to write to you about this week is the upcoming congregational reopening survey. Next week, we will be sending it out electronically, and paper or phone form for those who may not be as tech savvy. We eagerly await your replies to it once it is available.

What I want to make sure everyone understands is that this is not a referendum on how or what reopening looks like. Rather, it is to help your leadership (vicar, Bishop’s Committee, and reopening group) to gauge and scale our precautions, as well as to see how many of you plan to return when we can open. Your answers, then, are less about what we will do and more about data to help us approach what we will necessarily have to do.

I want to be exceedingly clear: COVID-19 presents a dire threat to all of us, because even those who are asymptomatic can still be carriers. The last thing any of us should want is to harm one another. That is painful enough to contemplate, let alone all the other ramifications that would incur (potentially mistrust among us as a congregation, the bad press, etc.). Your responses, in turn, will cue us into things we may have missed in preparing our plans so far, further preventing harm.

No matter what, things will be different when we do reopen. We will not be doing congregational singing due to the hazard of increased range of droplets. We will not be sharing the peace by physical contact. There will be other changes, like asking you all to mouth your responses rather than saying them out loud. I, or whoever is preaching, will be required to keep the sermon short so as not to spread the virus. It will be strange for all of us, but your physical well being is required for us to care for each other spiritually.

These are things I do not necessarily like either. Some of you may be angry or upset in reading or contemplating this. That is normal, that is human, and we still need to follow Jesus’ command to love one another. We hope the plan we will end up sending to Bishop Susan for approval will be comprehensive, and in line with “Open Minds, Open Arms.” We embrace the current challenges with a mindset of care, love, and forward thinking. We hope you’ll join in that embrace by filling out the survey.

Blessings,

Richard+

Worship & Formation

Do you know someone who would enjoy the services at Holy Cross or may need to be reminded of Gods' abiding love? Consider inviting them to join you and your Holy Cross family for worship this Sunday by copying and sending them this link to our online streaming platform: https://holycrosscarlsbad.online.church .

Neighbors in Faith

Holy Cross will be providing the meal at Church at the Advent in downtown Carlsbad this Monday, June 29th. The need for meals for our homeless friends and those who are food insecure continues to grow. We thank all of you who responded to our call for donations and brought food and other requested items to our drive-by drop offs at the church this month. Please watch the newsletter for dates next month as the need is ongoing!!

For questions or more information about Neighbors in Faith, please contact Brian Petersen at [email protected].

Follow our Neighbors in Faith ministry on Instagram, @neighborsinfaith_carlsbad, and Twitter, @NIF_Carlsbad.  

Stewardship & Supporting Holy Cross

Bishop's Committee

 

Bishop's Committee meetings are held the third Wednesday of the month from 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm. The next regular BC meeting is Wednesday, July 15th, via Zoom. To read the approved minutes of the May meeting click here, the May Treasures Report here, May P&L here, May Balance Sheet here, the Senior Warden' Report here, and the Re-Opening Committee's Status Update to the BC here.

Offertory - Supporting Holy Cross

We thank all of you who continue to support our mission and ministry during this time when we cannot meet in person.

While we continue to accept donations via checks mailed to the church office, we ask your understanding that we are limiting our deposits to once a month so that we continue to protect our counters and they do not have to make frequent trips to the church office. We encourage you to prayerfully consider one of the following ways to make your offering electronically:

Zelle - look for Zelle in your banking app (no credit cards) and send your offertory/donation to: [email protected] . Please note "general fund" on the note/what's this for line. There are no fees for using Zelle.

Faithstreet - Use your credit card or bank account. There is a fee with each transaction (just like Paypal, Venmo, and other payment processing services), Faithstreet offers the option for donors to pay the fee (the fee is considered a donation to Holy Cross and is tax deductible) - Credit Cards: 3.5% +30 ¢; Bank Account: 1.5% +30 ¢.

Text giving  - text the amount you want to donate to 646-832-4848. Click on the link you receive and enter the Holy Cross quickcode,  hcec . Follow the instructions to finalize the process. (This is part of our Faithstreet platform and the fees outlined above apply.)

If you would like to be added to the Prayers for Comfort, or would like to add someone else (please get their permission first) or add a family member to the Prayers for the Departed , please contact the church office at: email [email protected] or 760.930.1270. Please mention 'Prayer List' in the Subject line and include whether the prayer request is for "Comfort" or for the "Departed".

Individuals will remain on the prayer list for 4 weeks. Please contact the office if you wish to have someone added for another 4 weeks.

Note: If you have lost a member of your family and would like us to include your loss in "Notes of Care" please provide the name and relationship of your loved one, the date they entered into glory, and the address of where you would like notes of care sent.

If you would like to be added, or suggest someone to be added (please get their permission first) to Notes of Care please contact the church office at: [email protected] or 760.930.1270.

Camp Stevens is now open for registration for Day Use and Family Retreats. Day users can enjoy our 256 acres of trails as well as the pool, picnic areas, outdoor chapel, and gardens. Family retreats also include housing in private rooms with private bathrooms and meals for the weekend. Our number one priority is to maintain a safe experience for guests and staff so that each may experience the healing and transformative capacity of this peaceful place apart. All staff and guests must maintain social distancing and masks are required in certain circumstances including passing on trails. Meals are served outdoors and families may picnic on the lawn or use tables provided. There is room to roam, fruits and flowers in the gardens, and lots of fresh air to go around. Register for Day Use at  www.campstevens.org/day-use , or contact Sam Brasted at [email protected] for overnight inquires. 

Humor Corner

Cartoon from Episcopal Church Memes https://www.facebook.com/E.C.M.churchhumor/

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