Volume 5, Issue 22
June 5, 2020
THIS SUNDAY: June 7, 2020
Trinity Sunday

ON-SITE CHURCH SERVICES RESUME

8:00AM
Joe Adorno (EM)
John Hanaoka (U)
Lorna Nishi (AG)

9:30AM
David Crocker (EM)
Linda Crocker (U)
Janis Wright (AG)
Mabel Antonio, Vikki Secretario (HP)
UPCOMING EVENTS
REOPENINGS

ON-SITE CHURCH SERVICES
June 7 th
8:00AM and 9:30AM
Sanctuary and Side Lanai

Daughters of the King
June 11 th
7:00 - 8:00PM
Memorial Hall




RECURRING EVENTS
ALL RECURRING EVENTS SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
Sunday School
Every Sunday, 9:30 - 10:15AM
Memorial Hall

Aloha Hour
Every Sunday, 10:45AM - 12:00PM
Under the big tree

Monday Crew
Every Monday, 8:00AM
Church Office

Laundry Love
1 st & 3 rd Wednesday, 5:00PM
Kapa`a Laundromat
McMaster Slack Key Guitar and Ukulele Concert
Every Wednesday, 6:00PM
Church

Choir Practice
Every Thursday, 6:00PM
Choir Room
OH HAPPY DAY!!

All Saints' Open for In-Person Worship on June 7 th
Aloha mai kakou,

I tremendously look forward to the opportunity for us to commence in-person worship again this Sunday at All Saints'! I have enjoyed filming the recorded Morning Prayer services in cooperation with Fr. Andrew McMullen and the crew from St. Michael & All Angels, and have found it God's blessing that our two parishes could work together in such a meaningful way. This has been indeed a special time and season, and now we are about to enter into a new one of transition.

To that end, the vestry and I want to make sure that we do so in a way that transitions with intention and care for the physical, social, and spiritual well-being of our 'Ohana. Therefore, we will follow the guidelines below:

  1. We will still have both services (8am and 9:30am), but with social distancing and face masks. Households and couples can sit together, though, without social distancing.
  2. We thought at first that we would conduct the services outside near the deck, but instead we decided to hold them in the Sanctuary. There is room enough for everyone at 8am, and we will have the side lanai doors open with lawn chairs our for 9:30am with the addition of the big tent over that area (Rain is predicted this Sunday, plus logistically it is much easier than to set everything up outdoors). I would ask all those coming to the 9:30am service to pack some lawn chairs in your car in case you might need them to sit on the side lanai.
  3. Hank will continue to bless us with leading us in music ministry; however, in accordance with diocesan guidelines, for the time being we will have no in-person choral or congregational singing. We will have instrumental music, and the likelihood of more Virtual Choir musical offerings.
  4. We will have Holy Communion in a few weeks after we receive some special orders from the Mainland. In the meantime in our first few weeks together, we will have the "Liturgy of the Word," that is, the first portion of our normal service but without the latter Communion element.
  5. In addition, our Healing Ministry leaders are also planning on still offering prayer support - more instructions about that on Sunday.
  6. Finally, we will have a modified "Aloha Hour" after the 9:30am service -- no pupu's, but beverages like coffee, juice, and water in disposable cups.

These are all steps toward returning to the full in-person style of worship we love as statewide and nationwide virus testing becomes more robust and, eventually, a vaccine is developed. While the above measures are by no means perfect, I would invite us nevertheless to find God's moments of blessing in the midst of them. I am reminded of Moses and the Israelites, who escaped Egyptian slavery only to have to wander about in the desert for 40 years before "coming home" to the Promised Land -- the trick was to find God in the midst of their sojourns rather than wanting to go back to their former lives. While we are also sojourning through this wilderness experience, let's also look for "God-moments" and find ways to love and serve each other and our community in new and creative ways.

Much mahalo for your steadfast prayers, service, and support,
Kahu Kawika+
Considerations For Moving from the Lawn to the Sanctuary
  1. Rain is predicted for Sunday.
  2. The big mounds of gravel and dirt by the deck will need quite a bit of time and work to remove.
  3. We are not having printed bulletins, but will show the service on a screen in the Sanctuary.
  4. We can fit all the 8am crowd no problem in the Sanctuary even with social distancing, and most of the 9:30am as well. For the 9am crowd, we are still asking folks to bring lawn chairs in their cars in case they may need to sit on the covered lanai.
  5. Sound system will work better using the Sanctuary and lanai.
  6. We will be livestreaming and recording the service for our website, and again the logistics for that are much easier from within the Sanctuary.
  7. For Altar Guild, it is easier to set up the Sanctuary than the Deck. Plus we can show our liturgical colors on the Altar and Lectern.
Livestream the 9:30AM Service From Home
You will be able to livestream our 9:30AM service via Youtube live. It may be accessed on our website, youtube account, or direct link here:

Reflection from Kahu Kawika
The Trinity of God: A Community of Love
Ka’u ‘Ohana i ke Akua,

After I was ordained 25 years ago to serve as a curate in Oxford, UK, I noticed a pattern with my boss, the rector of the church in which I worked – he would invariably go off on vacation the Sunday after Pentecost, leaving me to preach the sermon on Trinity Sunday on, you guessed it, the Trinity of God. To say this was a daunting task fresh out of seminary is an understatement, especially in a parish full of renown theologians, seminary professors, and academicians. I never did hear from the rector whether he intentionally chose Trinity Sunday to be away in order to avoid having to deal with talking about the Trinity, but I have often wondered about it!

I must confess, discussions in churches and down the ages in church history have often been rather esoteric, mainly because we as humans have a hard time getting our heads around the idea that God is both One God and yet Three Persons – this makes our understanding of God different that the other main monotheistic (one-God) faiths of Judaism and Islam, in that Christian orthodoxy affirms what we might think as illogical – that somehow, when it comes to God, 1 = 3! And yet, given that we believe in a God who is our Creator and is grander than we are, it should also come as no surprise that there will be aspects to God’s character and personhood that extend beyond human comprehension.

The most common, but incomplete, explanation about the Trinity given in sermons is what I call the “Water Analogy.” Just as water molecules can exist in three forms – as solid (ice), liquid (water), and gas (steam) – so God exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (or Creator, Savior, and Spirit). However, the problem I have with the Water Analogy is that the water molecules can only be in one state at a time – they can change from ice to water to steam and back depending on the surrounding temperature, but the same molecules cannot be in all three states at the same time. The Christian belief in God’s personhood, though, is that the one God exists is the three forms of personhood all at the same time, simultaneously.

However, such discussions really miss out on why God as a Trinity of persons should matter to us in our daily lives. The biblical witness affirms a God who represents a perfect community of love. Indeed, God is love (1 John 4:8b), meaning that God is the embodiment of perfect love. I even heard a seminary professor say that the love between the Creator and the Son is so intense that it got personified into the form of the Holy Spirit – God and Love are thusly synonymous.

I see the Trinity as the perfect model for us as imperfect beings. The Church is called to be the community of love, looking to the example of the Trinitarian God and allowing God’s Spirit of love to inhabit us and raise us up to ever newer ways to extend love among us and beyond us to our world. All Saints' is one church, but is made up of members intended to be connected to each other in God’s love. We can even extend this to our Diocese made up of churches, all Christian denominations together as the one worldwide Church, and even go on to all people of faith and the human family – that our goal should be to hold the oneness of Divine Love to move us toward the positive transformation of our lives, our relationships, and our world.

The recent news reports have once again raised up the ever-present problem of racism – in the recent words of an Episcopal leader, “the original virus infecting the American republic.” It seems that, like a virus, it may go underground and then rise up again in a virulent form. We Christians should join all people of good will to model and show a higher form of Love that confounds the power of our baser instincts.

The hope of Trinity Sunday is that we love and serve a God who energizes a Community of Love. Come, Lord, empower us to be your hands and feet of love in this needy world!

I ka mahalo o ke Akua,
Kahu Kawika+
For the aged and infirm, for the widowed and orphans, and for the sick and the suffering, especially Bill, Ann "Tommie", Mike, Nora and those we name silently or aloud, let us pray to the Lord. ​Lord, have mercy. 

For all who have died, especially those affected by the COVID-19 virus and those we name silently or aloud, in the hope of the resurrection, and for all the departed, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. Amen.







This a short summary of the Vestry meeting held on May 26 th. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your Vestry members or Kahu Kawika.

  1. Resignation of our beloved Senior Warden, David Murray. Vestry showered love on him and thanked him for his above-and-beyond service.
  2. April 2020 Giving: Up by $5000 since a year ago, April 2019. Much mahalo for your constant support - very encouraging.
  3. Preschool: Department of Health Services is mandating that we can only have 9 keiki per classroom, thus curtailing our overall enrollment.
  4. Gravel/Concrete Project - Gravel and perimeter pavers to hold gravel in place will cost $6000, $2000 donated by a mainland `Ohana couple, balance of cost from Buildings and Grounds.
  5. WW2 Memorial Plaque to be cleaned and installed.
  6. Wifi Project: Completed throughout the whole property.
  7. Labyrinth compete - much mahalo to Ron, Bob Vlach who designed it, and to the volunteers who worked on it.
  8. Roof Repair to Rectory and Cottage: Balance of cost paid out of Rectory Improvement line item.
  9. Sacristy and Gym Doors Work Completed - thank you David Crocker who installed them and Larry Richardson who stained them!
  10. Removable Flagpole installed by Wayne Doliente and Ron Morinishi. For flags on special days.
  11. Discussion around the new in-person directives from the Diocesan Worship Task Force.
  12. Easter Season Bible Study on the book of Jonah led by Kahu Kawika.
  13. Ke Akua Youth Group continued meeting on Sundays 10am via Zoom.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!
Statements from Presiding Bishop Curry and Bishop Fitzpatrick on President Donald Trump’s Use of a Church Building and the Holy Bible
St. John's Episcopal Church Lafayette Square, Washington, DC
[June 1, 2020] The following is a statement from Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry:

This evening, the President of the United States stood in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church, lifted up a bible, and had pictures of himself taken. In so doing, he used a church building and the Holy Bible for partisan political purposes. This was done in a time of deep hurt and pain in our country, and his action did nothing to help us or to heal us.

The bible teaches us that “God is love.” Jesus of Nazareth taught, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The prophet Micah taught that the Lord requires us to “do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our God.”

The bible the President held up and the church that he stood in front of represent the values of love, of justice, of compassion, and of a way to heal our hurts. 

We need our President, and all who hold office, to be moral leaders who help us to be a people and nation living these values. For the sake of George Floyd, for all who have wrongly suffered, and for the sake of us all, we need leaders to help us to be “one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all.”

The Most Reverend Michael B. Curry
Presiding Bishop and Primate
The Episcopal Church
Please join Bishop Curry in this prayer from the Book of Common Prayer by following the video link below.
My Dear Siblings in Christ Jesus,

This morning, I joined St. Peter’s Church, Honolulu, for virtual Morning Prayer. We observed the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (transferred). At the time I was struck by the words of the Psalm of the day (Psalm 7:1-4, 12-13):

Give the King your justice, O God, *
and your righteousness to the King's Son;
That he may rule your people righteously *
and the poor with justice.
That the mountains may bring prosperity to the people, *
and the little hills bring righteousness.
He shall defend the needy among the people; *
he shall rescue the poor and crush the oppressor.
or he shall deliver the poor who cries out in distress, *
and the oppressed who has no helper.
He shall have pity on the lowly and poor; *
he shall preserve the lives of the needy .

These words were still on my mind as I watched the news as peaceful and legally assembled demonstrators were pushed away from the White House by mounted Federal and military forces with tear gas and rubber bullets. Why? It appears to have happened to allow the President to make a short statement and then to walk across the street to stand on the sidewalk in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square, with, literally, a Bible in hand for a very short photo opportunity. He was joined by members of his staff. No one from the Parish or the Episcopal Church was present. I think this photo-op after the violent clearing of the streets was unfortunate and unhelpful. Personally, I particularly found the sight of the President waving the Bible during a photo opportunity to be profoundly offensive and even sacrilegious.

Threats of meeting violence with violence without an acknowledgement of the racism and historic inequality that permeates our society, or a call to the common good, is a moral failure. Making no practical distinction between peaceful demonstrators gathered in front of the White House and violent rioters adds nothing to restore a sense of justice or calm. Threatening to domestically deploy the military to the streets of our nation to battle our own citizens is dangerous and imprudent. The United States is in crisis. There is a violent minority – including it appears those from various groups with no real concern about the core issue of racial inequality and police violence – who are wreaking havoc on communities. The violence and racism need to be addressed by our leaders – and all of us -- in a peaceful, calm and wise way.

Today, I also listened to the brother of George Floyd, Terrance. He called the community – the nation – to peace, education and action. In his grief and righteous indignation, he showed the path of righteousness.

I admit that I reflect on this day as a Disciple of Jesus Christ. Again and again, I am driven to the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3-12) when Jesus taught:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Terrance Floyd witnessed to the truth of the Sermon on the Mount.

As the Body of Christ – the Church – we must stand with those who are peacefully seeking justice and are striving for righteousness in our time.
+Bob

The Right Reverend Robert L. Fitzpatrick
Bishop Diocesan
The Episcopal Diocese of Hawaiʻi

Bishop-in-Charge
The Episcopal Church in Micronesia
This Week In Sunday School
We All Have a Place in God’s Church
Sunday School has been suspended until the School Year resumes this fall. Until that time, the Sunday School article in  The Epistle  will include more information so the parents of our keiki can share the lesson with their children.

Where You’ll Find Today’s Theme

John 6:1-13 (Feeding of 5,000)
Acts 8:26-39 (Phillip baptizes an Ethiopian man)
Luke 10:38-42 (Martha and Mary have different ways)

Wondering and Learning

The word  liturgy  means  the work of the people.  The Greek term for  church  is  ecclesia , which refers to a general assembly, like the popular assembly of ancient Athens. In the church, it refers to the whole gathered community. That means all of us in the church.

We all have a place in the church. But what is that place for each of us? And in particular, what is the role of children in the ministry of the church?

Growing in Faith

The three stories from the Bible give us a variety of perspectives on what we can do for God. There was a crowd that was hungry and a boy offered his lunch. He had a critical role in upholding Jesus’ ministry.

What if no one came forward with any food at all? The boy’s concrete offering and his spiritual offering of generosity paved the way for the miracle of the feeding. In the same way, Jesus needs our help to further his work.

Martha and Mary show us two different ways to be with Jesus. Though Jesus says that “Mary has the better way,” in truth both ways are valid and important. Some of us are called more to listen or meditate or teach, while others are called more to serve and provide hospitality or to work behind the scenes to support the work of the church.

Phillip’s ministry came by happenstance, and he was open to doing whatever the Spirit led him to do, which in this instance was to teach and baptize an inquisitive traveler. When we talk with our friends and they ask a question about our faith or about the church, can we also be open to sharing our faith and our beliefs and our love of God?

A more theological look at ministry in the church, and a very familiar perspective, comes from Paul in his letter to the Corinthians and from the writer of the letter to the Ephesians: not all are called to be priests; not all are called to teach. God wants us to become whoever God created us to be and to use the gifts that we have been given for the work of God.

Telling the Story, Exploring the Theme

Read aloud today’s story from a children’s Bible, showing the pictures, tell the story in your own words. Encourage the children to think about which person they are most like.

The story of the feeding of 5,000 may be acted out, with one child playing the boy with the food, the rest of the children playing the crowd.

For older children, you might read, or have them read, one or more of the passages from the epistles—Corinthians or Ephesians. (Younger children might enjoy the passage about “If everyone were an eye...”)

After telling the stories and/or reading the passages, proceed to Prayer. Later, while sharing snacks, you can invite the children to talk about the lesson and to think about how they might serve the Lord.
Farm-To-School
" Advocating, educating, and driving action towards a sustainable Kaua`i. "
Click here for more information.
JUNE 7: TRINITY SUNDAY
SUPPORT CAMP MOKULE`IA
Aloha from Camp Mokule`ia!

For 73 years, our sanctuary on O`ahu’s north shore has been a place of rest, recreation, and renewal for thousands of children, youth, and adults. It is a thin place ­– where access to the divine is more easily found through God’s creation in sand, wind, and waves.

We entered this year with much to celebrate. Camper participation was up 300%, and program registrations were running ahead of 2019 ­– laying the groundwork for this year’s summer youth participants to experience God’s love in real and lasting ways. Unfortunately, the pandemic has required us all to put plans on hold or change them altogether. For Camp Mokule`ia, adapting to social distancing requirements means canceling all on-site programming for the rest of the year.

We have discerned God’s call to show God’s love in a new and different way, and we need your help.

We have partnered with Family Promise of Hawai`i  whose mission is to help homeless and low-income families in Hawai`i achieve sustainable independence by mobilizing existing community resources and support. From July 1 – December 31 (2020), Camp Mokule`ia will provide housing and meals for families in need. With your help, Camp Mokule`ia will be a “thin place” for these families to be embraced and strengthened by God’s abundance.

Trinity Sunday (June 7) is traditionally the Sunday the Episcopal Diocese in Hawai`i sets aside to celebrate and support the ministry of Camp Mokule`ia.  As you consider what sheltering in our homes has meant for your lives, we invite you to give to support this ministry.  Your donation will provide the vital financial support needed to safely prepare for the future reopening of camp programs when health guidelines allow.

We are grateful to have the support of donors who are offering matching gifts.  Your donation of $50 or more will be matched up to $10,000 and help us sustain and grow this valuable work , ensuring we survive the current economic challenges brought on by the pandemic and thrive as we live in new ways of serving Christ and one another.
Blessings,

Darrell Whitaker
Executive Director
Camp Mokule`ia
INVITE WELCOME CONNECT FREE WEBINAR: BEING CHURCH IN THE DIGITAL WORLD
Wednesday, June 10 th
Our faith communities are navigating unchartered waters as to how best to Invite, Welcome, and Connect virtually. As we live into these challenging realities, Invite Welcome Connect is excited to partner with you to equip clergy and lay leaders in reimagining and redefining how we engage in ministry and live into a new Way of Love. Join seasoned Invite Welcome Connect practitioners (both clergy and lay) to learn about best practices in the digital world. This gathering is free but registration is required. For more information and to register, click  HERE .
PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO LISTEN TO THIS SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE FROM OUR BISHOP!!
During this time of separation, Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick will be sharing video messages. To watch the Monday video message click on his image below, or visit the Diocesan website  HERE .
BISHOP'S MONDAY MESSAGE

FROM THE EPISCOPAL CAFÉ
A Prayer for Summer

June 2, 2020

God of the hummingbirds and butterflies, 
garden veggies and shade trees, 
be with me this summer. 
 
Open my eyes to the beauty in my front yard – 
a bird bathing
the shades of green leaves
the vibrant flowers. 
 
Open my eyes to my neighbors – 
the cadence of friends talking
children chasing one another through the grass
hands waving hello. 
 
Keep my feet firmly planted – 
reveling in the earth supporting me
reverent of my place in the vast universe
cautious of my footprint on creation. 
 
Open my hands – 
to strawberry filled fingers reaching for a hug
one more push on the swing
another walk around the park. 

Open my ears – 
to the cries of injustice
the invitation to serve
the voice of God nudging me to serve my neighbors. 
 
Keep my spirit set on seeking you – 
choosing joy over sadness
intent on singing a song of peace. 
 
God of the gentle wind and rushing storms, 
trickling creeks and towering mountains, 
quiet my soul. 
 
Help me to dig deeper
into your Word
your grace
your love. 
 
With every sunrise and sunset
may my body be a prayer
my life given in love
for the sake of my neighbor
for the sake of the world
in Jesus’ name

Amen.
Kimberly Knowle-Zeller is an ordained ELCA pastor, mother of two, and spouse of an ELCA pastor. She lives with her family in Cole Camp, MO. You can read more at her  website , follow her work on  Facebook ,  or  sign up for her monthly newsletter . 
Trinity Sunday - Building a Better Future
A Message About Voting
June 7, 2020
You can make a difference in your community for your neighbors, your family, your friends and yourself by accepting the responsibility to participate in local, state and federal elections. Voting is a sacred right, a right to lift our voices and determine how the United States’ policies and laws are formed. Voting is a commitment, a commitment to one another to not sit idly by and instead take action to build a better future.

The 2018 mid-term election saw the largest voter turnout for a mid-term election in 100 years, and voter turnout among 18-29 year-olds increased by a larger percentage than any other age group—going from 20% in 2014 to 36% in 2018. The power of your vote only exists if you take time to register to vote, research the candidates for all positions who will appear on your ballot, and cast your vote.

Voting procedures vary by state/territory, and may very well be modified on a regional basis for this election because of the Coronavirus pandemic, so make sure to pay attention to the processes where you live. Here’s how to do it:

  • You must be 18 to vote, but some states allow people to register before they turn 18 if they will be 18 before election day. Find out when you can register at www.usa.gov/voter-registration-age-requirements.
  • Register to vote! Visit www.vote.org/register-to-vote.
  • Double-check registration: unfortunately, instances of voter purging—eliminating lists of people registered to vote—are becoming more common (learn more from the Brennan Center for Justice here: iam.ec/voterpurges). Even if you have registered to vote, it is best to check your voter registration status: www.vote.org/am-i-registered-to-vote.
  • When it is time, research who will be on your ballot for local, state and federal elections. There are a number of ways to do this, but you can get started here: www.vote411.org/ballot.
  • Vote! Election Day is November 3rd. The ways you can cast your vote will vary depending on where you are. Check for in person polling places here: www.vote.org/polling-place-locator. Or you can vote by mail or early voting too! Learn more here: www.usa.gov/absentee-voting.

Special note: Even if you aren’t old enough or unable to register to vote, you are still able to engage in the election process. You can volunteer to help get out the vote, attend city council meetings, create or join neighborhood associations, and educate and mobilize others on voting. While the nature of these types of engagement will change due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, you might consider organizing rides to the polls on Election Day for those who otherwise could not get there, or organize child care in your church for those who need time without small children to go vote. You can even sign up to be a poll worker ( www.eac.gov/voters/become-poll-worker ).

Stay updated on election matters and much more, including opportunities to advocate to Congress, by following The Episcopal Public Policy Network on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @TheEPPN.

Published by the Office of Formation of The Episcopal Church, 815 Second Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017
© 2020 The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. All rights reserved.
Episcopal Farmworker Ministries Respond to Needs During COVID-19 Pandemic

By Shireen Korkzan
Posted June 3, 2020
Farmworkers in North Carolina wear long pants, sleeves and gloves to work in the fields partly to protect themselves from pesticide exposure. Photo: Lynette Wilson/ENS

[Episcopal News Service] Ana wakes up at 4:45 a.m. six days a week to work on a large farm in Oxnard, California. When she arrives, she washes her hands thoroughly before putting on a pair of gloves and a face mask. She then spends a few minutes exercising to prepare her body for another long day of physical labor. By 6:30, she’s limber and ready to spend the next 10 hours stooped over and picking strawberries in the field.

Ana, her last name is withheld at her request, says her supervisors have always been strict about sanitation and safety for farmworkers, but additional restrictions have been put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Before the pandemic, wearing face coverings to minimize pesticide exposure while working was optional. Now it’s mandatory, and every farmworker is given a new disposable face mask at the start of each workday.

“Now because of coronavirus, we’re not allowed to touch our cell phones while picking crops so that we don’t touch the fruit with our bare hands,” Ana told Episcopal News Service through her interpreter, the Rev. Anthony Guillén, who also serves as missioner of Latino/Hispanic Ministries and director of Ethnic Ministries for The Episcopal Church. Ana joined  St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church  in Ojai, California, earlier this year, where Guillén assists with the Latino ministry.

“I feel that the supervisor and managers where I work have been very attentive to the situation from the beginning,” Ana said. “They also give us regular updates about COVID-19. Thank God I don’t know anyone who has contracted the virus yet.”
Since January, more  than 1.8 million  Americans have been diagnosed with COVID-19, and more than 106,700 have died. To slow the spread of COVID-19, states began issuing stay-at-home orders in March, which led to a shutdown of the U.S. economy and over  40 million unemployment claims .

Meanwhile, farmworkers – mostly migrant and seasonal workers, both documented and undocumented – who largely labor behind the scenes, have joined the ranks of health care workers and first responders as  essential  to keeping the country functional. In response, regional Episcopal ministries serving and advocating on their behalf have stepped up their efforts.

“I don’t think people really appreciate all the hard work farmworkers do,” Guillén said. “We hear a lot of stuff on the news about nurses and doctors and first responders and police and truck drivers. They’re all on the front line, but so are farmworkers. I don’t think people really stop to think about them.”

Even though farmworkers are essential, they have historically been treated as expendable. The COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t been an exception.

“[Farmworkers are] doing work that puts their life in danger, and they’re doing it for their families and their dreams,” said the Rev. Daniel Dario Robayo Hidalgo, missioner for Latino/Hispanic Ministries of the Diocese of North Carolina. “Food is still being available during this crisis. Why? Because these people are still getting our food for us. We should treat them properly.”

Robayo is a board member of Episcopal Farmworker Ministry, a nonprofit that’s working to provide farmworkers in North Carolina with food, medicine and  personal protective equipment . Despite its efforts, the ministry has been struggling to help so many people in need during the COVID-19 crisis.

“It’s been a big heartache for us that we can’t provide hand sanitizer or masks,” Robayo said. “It hurts. It can get pretty hot here in North Carolina, and we haven’t even talked about hurricane season yet with this pandemic. Lord have mercy.”

Robayo told ENS that too many employers in North Carolina don’t offer medical care or personal protective equipment to farmworkers. Not only that, farmworkers in the state recently said in a press conference over Zoom that they still have to work shoulder to shoulder at a fast pace without any gloves or face masks. Additionally, most farmworkers share small living spaces and travel together to go to work and run  errands .

These conditions make it easy for the virus to spread among workers going in and out of fields and meat processing plants, and some farmworkers in North Carolina have already been  infected .

Food insecurity is just one of several injustices that farmworkers in the United States have been struggling with for decades. In 1962, César Chávez and  Dolores Huerta founded the United Farm Workers of America to peacefully fight for basic human rights for farmworkers, including fair wages and access to clean water, education, food, health care and  housing . But those hard-won victories are still few and far between for most farmworkers, many of whom remain undocumented.

Ana said that, in light of COVID-19, she wants to support her family to an even greater extent than she already has been since starting her career as a farmworker nearly 13 years ago as a minor.

“I would like to help my family more, but I can’t because I’m not a citizen,” she said. “I wish my company or the U.S. government would offer me some sort of legal work status.”

To read the entire article, click here .

– Shireen Korkzan is a Midwest-based freelance reporter who primarily writes about religion, race, ethnicity and social justice issues. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @smkrm
IN BRIEF . . .

These news briefs were featured in previous issues of "The Epistle"

Please submit your story ideas to the Epistle Staff at [email protected] .
KUPUNA SHOPPING ASSISTANCE MINISTRY
Any of our All Saints' kupuna who need assistance with grocery shopping can contact Carolyn Morinishi (808-651-2061) to set up a delivery.

ALL SAINTS' VIRTUAL SWAP MEET
If any ministry has an unmet need, reach out to put it in the All Saints' Virtual Swap Meet and it will be published in the Epistle . Contact Bill Caldwell at [email protected] .

PASTORAL CARE CONTACT INFORMATION
Whenever you have a need for support, please call (650) 691-8104 and leave a voice mail. The system will immediately forward the information to the Pastoral Care Committee who will respond to each request. If you prefer, you may send an electronic pastoral care request via email to [email protected] .

PRAYER CHAIN MINISTRY
Individuals who want to participate in the Prayer Chain Ministry must re-enroll to continue receiving the email communications . To re-enroll, please visit the newly established   Pastoral Care web page  or contact the Church Office at (808) 822-4267.

SUBMITTING A PRAYER REQUEST
Prayer requests will now be   submitted online   or by contacting the Church Office at (808) 822-4267.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Names can be added to the Prayers of the People petitions by using the  Prayer Chain Request form  or by contacting the Church Office at (808) 822-4267. Names will remain in the Prayers of the People for a maximum of four Sundays before a name must be resubmitted.