COVID-19 Task Force
Dear Friends,
Lately, few things leave me feeling more like I have some sort of mental whiplash than scrolling through my social media feed. One set of friends and acquaintances posts articles about how, because of COVID-19, we probably won't ever shake hands or hug non-household members again. Which seems a bit off. Another set posts about how this is all a hoax, complete with conspiracy theory videos. Also off.
Mercifully, I believe those two extreme views represent loud, but very tiny, minorities of real people. Most of us believe that some sort of normal will eventually come about while still accepting what our doctors and public health officials are telling us about the very real threat of this virus.
That said, I've heard from many folks asking about when we might return to worship in person at St. Peter's. To be honest, I can't answer that question. For one thing, as Episcopalians, we are part of a diocese and that means that we don't make these decisions alone. We do so under the leadership of Bishop Cole and in unity with the other churches in our diocese. To that end, Bishop Cole will issue guidelines in the very near future.
Once that happens, we will still need to figure out how to implement those guidelines at St. Peter's. So, I have appointed a task force to guide us, the members of which have expertise in the medical, scientific, legal, and business fields. Those members are:
Bylinda Bell
Kendall Flynt
Tom Greenholtz
Rachelle Parman
Leanne Rodgers
Andrea Smith
Josh Smith
Rardy Spratt
I want to thank them for being willing to serve. They will help us interpret the Bishop's recommendations for our context and will do so guided by the facts on the ground rather than arbitrary dates and timelines. I will keep you updated on their work as it begins in the coming days. For now, we are in a holding pattern, continuing to use technology to stay connected in community and worship.
And we are continuing to enjoy our life of community and worship, so I'd like to make you aware of two upcoming events.
May 21: Cannon Hunt Campfire Concert - the Feast of the Ascension
To celebrate the Feast of the Ascension, Cannon Hunt will give us a digital campfire concert via Zoom at 6:30 pm on May 21. He'll sing some originals, and he's taking requests! If you know a great song, especially one that we can all sing together, send an email to parishadmin@stpeters.org with your request. On the night of the concert, grill some burgers and move the laptop outside if you can. Enjoy Cannon in concert and stay on as we conclude our time with a service of Evening Prayer.
May 19 and 24: Digital Town Hall Meetings
We will host Digital Town Hall Meetings via Zoom on May 19 at 11 am and 6:30 pm and on May 24 at 12:30 pm. There, we will update you on the state of life at St. Peter's. We are limiting attendance to 20 people per meeting, so email parishadmin@stpeters.org to reserve your spot. We also ask that you send any particular questions you'd like answered at the meeting. If you need assistance to login to Zoom (which can be done via phone or computer), someone from the church office will be happy to give you a tutorial – just let us know!
My hope is that, in these days of mental whiplash, St. Peter's can serve as a steady place. A place where we remember the most fundamental realities of life – that Christ is risen, that God is love, and that we are called to live out those truths in the world around us. Please continue to walk that way with us in worship, in prayer, and in community.
God bless,
Fr. Quinn+