Dear Friends:
I want to update you on a few things as we navigate these new realities together from a distance.
First of all . . .
|
|
If you click the photograph above, it should take you to our parish
Facebook page.
On Sunday mornings at 10 o'clock, we will be streaming Morning Prayer at that location. We will follow the service that starts on page 79 of the Book of Common Prayer. There will hopefully be a small version of our choir each week. I will attach to this e-mail an outline for the service, as well as the two hymns we will be singing together here:
OUTLINE and
HYMNS.
If you do not have a copy of the BCP at home, you can find an online version
HERE, or you can order one
ONLINE. We do have some "retired" ones here at church, if we can arrange a time for you to pick one up.
I realize that some folks do not use Facebook, and I understand that. But we just don't have the technology or expertise to stream on other platforms at this point. If you want to avoid Facebook altogether, the service will be posted later on our youtube page at this link.
YOUTUBE.
This is, obviously, something completely new to us all, and I will welcome any feedback you might have, as we try to make the best of a difficult situation. As I said in my Christmas Eve
sermon, we are an incarnational people, and this online worship is but a pale shadow of the glory of being together for the tangible things of our Sacramental life together.
The local clergy and I have decided to do a live stream of joint services on Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm, streamed at our
Facebook page and hosted by First Baptist. Again, these services will be available at our
youtube channel the following day.
|
|
HOLY WEEK
We're not sure what's going to happen with Holy Week yet. I have signed up for a teleconference with my former Liturgics professor from seminary tomorrow and Monday. Hopefully, he will have good guidance and creative solutions. I will let you know in subsequent e-mails if a plan starts to develop.
|
|
THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
You might be thinking to yourself, "What will happen to my church if this drags on for months?" And, of course, we don't yet know the answer to that. Vestry is not inclined to send out some piece of mail asking people to keep their pledges current, because everyone is suffering and anxious right now. Your first priority needs to be to take care of your family and friends, and to help your neighbors who need you. If you are able to keep your pledge up to date, that is wonderful! But firstly, you need to prioritize taking care of people. Again, we are an incarnational lot--we care about the
drains.
|
|
SPEAKING OF WHICH . . .
You know how the loose-plate offering on the first Sunday of the month goes to the Rector's Discretionary Fund? And you know how you all generously put loose change in that little box to buy gift cards for people in need? Well, obviously, those two things won't be happening for the time being. And--as expected--we have seen an increase in people coming to church looking for help. So . . . if you find yourself at the grocery store, and you are able to do so, please consider picking up a couple items to restock our food pantry. Best items are canned soups, tuna, peanut butter, pasta, and toilet paper . . . if that even exists anymore.
|
|
GOING FORWARD
I intend to keep my regular office hours, unless we are all told to shelter in place. The Bishop has advised us to avoid meeting folks in person as much as possible. If you need a priest, I am here for you. If you need to talk, call me. If you need me to visit, I will, if possible.
In these times of anxious waiting, let us remember that God knows our fears and suffering, and God is with us--which is what the Incarntion is all about. God does not take away our suffering, but God is with us
in our suffering. Take courage, and wash those God blessed hands of yours!
We wait with expectation . . .
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
