The Antonine Plague of 165, the Plague of Justinian in 541, and the Bubonic Plague of 1348 found priests and deacons ministering among the sick and dying - and then contracting the disease and dying. Rather than gather in community centers and, later, in parish churches or cathedrals, the Christian people worshiped in their homes. Some believed, sadly, that God sent disease as punishment for human immorality. We have heard this line of thought voiced in the past weeks by a number of prominent evangelical preachers in the U.S. In this view, Christ appears as the judge who separates sheep ("good Christians") from goats ("immoral people").  Others, however, viewed the plague as the opportunity to act with charity toward those who suffer. For them, the image of the suffering Christ and the image of Mary holding her dead son in loving embrace were prominent. 

We are a church, a people that holds to the second view. For us, discovering the origin and appropriate treatment of disease is the province of medical professionals, not preachers. We hold that God does not "punish" G

od's creatures with sickness but rather loves them and desires that they flourish. Medicine can thus be an agent of grace. Christian faith in Jesus and his healing work, his self-giving in life and in death, invite us into an ethic of care for anyone who suffers in this world. Leave judgment to cranky old preachers: it is its own reward.

It was the English mystic, Julian of Norwich, alive during the P lague of 1348, who called Christ our " Mother" - the mother who feeds her children with life, not death. Jean Janzen's paraphrase of Julian's writing offers this image as we keep Palm Sunday and the proclamation of Matthew's Passion: "Mothering Christ, you took my form, offering me your food of light, grain of new life and grape of love, your very body for my peace." We are keeping a fast from communion and yet we know as a sacramental people that the Holy Three are with us in this time of trial, offering us the gift of light, life, love, and peace. Let us hold to these gifts in the days ahead.  

(Rev. Samuel Torvend, Christ Episcopal Church, Tacoma)

The Way of the Cross - prayer and reflections for the 14 Stations of the Cross

As we make our way through Lent, the weekly newsletter will include two or three Stations with questions of reflection for you to use in your prayer and meditation.  By the end of Lent, you will have "walked" all 14 Stations. This week we continue with the final two stations:

If you need assistance, please email Maria Love: 

[email protected]

Yes there is isolation. 

Yes there is panic buying.

Yes there is sickness.

Yes there is even death.

But,

They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise

You can hear the birds again.

They say that after just a few weeks of quiet

The sky is no longer thick with fumes

But blue and grey and clear.

They say that in the streets of Assisi

People are singing to each other

across the empty squares,

keeping their windows open

so that those who are alone

may hear the sounds of family around them.

They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland

Is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound.

Today a young woman I know

is busy spreading fliers with her number

through the neighborhood

So that the elders may have someone to call on.

Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples

are preparing to welcome

and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary

All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting

All over the world people are looking at their neighbors in a new way

All over the world people are waking up to a new reality

To how big we really are.

To how little control we really have.

To what really matters.

To Love.

So we pray and we remember that

Yes there is fear.

But there does not have to be hate.

Yes there is isolation.

But there does not have to be loneliness.

Yes there is panic buying.

But there does not have to be meanness.

Yes there is sickness.

But there does not have to be disease of the soul

Yes there is even death.

But there can always be a rebirth of love.

Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now.

Today, breathe.

Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic

The birds are singing again

The sky is clearing,

Spring is coming,

And we are always encompassed by Love.

Open the windows of your soul

And though you may not be able

to touch across the empty square,

Sing.

Emergency Food Pantry:

Jesus said, "Feed my sheep." John 21:17

The South Bay Community Services "Emergency Food Pantry" needs donations every month. It's easy to donate! We will focus on a different food category each month. Pick up a flyer from the narthex, carry in your car until your next trip to the market, purchase the food, and place it on the table in Nale Hall before the end of the month.  During the month of April, our featured items will be cereals, powdered and canned milk.  Thank you for your support!

David Dennehy,  Senior Warden

619-840-9994 

[email protected]

Mark Higginbotham,  Junior Warden

619-861-5510

[email protected]

Terry Farrelly,  Treasurer

Pamela Brittain

Ray Contreras

Diane Gustafson 

Mark Higginbotham

Muriel Kulikowski

Jim McDevitt

Judy McKay

Lynn Young

Approved Minutes for the January 22nd Vestry meeting can be found here:

Vestry Minutes, 1-22-20

Approved Minutes for the February 19th Vestry Meeting can be found here:

Vestry Minutes, 2-19-20