Response to COVID-19 -- Schedule Changes
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary." (Luke 1:26-30)
Dear Friends,
So, I know it's an odd time to be thinking about Mary and the birth of Jesus and everything that goes with that. I mean, we're living through an emergency that makes things feel downright apocalyptic. Also, we're in Lent! Why bring up this story?
Well, it's not my fault. The church calendar has for centuries celebrated the Annunciation, the visit of the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary, right smack in the middle of Lent on March 25. And, as always, I fixate on that little phrase at the end of the quoted section from Luke: "Do not be afraid, Mary."
Of course, Mary had every reason to be afraid. She lived in an uncertain time when tyrannical rulers oppressed her people. She lived in a day when her unmarried pregnancy would have been a terrible social scar. She lived in a day when God's people longed for God to do something—anything—to make things right. Fear was a reasonable response.
And the angel has the audacity to tell her not to be afraid.
But this is the way it goes with God's people. God or some messenger of God is always telling them not to be afraid right when the world is coming apart at the seams.
+++
And so, I say to you: Do not be afraid.
How can we do that? The same way God's people always have, not through some false sense of security or ignoring the facts on the ground, but by looking at those things honestly and realizing where your ultimate hope is found, which is in the God who holds the caverns of the earth in his hands. The God whose name is Love. The God who calms the storms. The God who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ.
That's why we live as a people unafraid.
Do not be afraid. Notice what I didn't say. I didn't say don't be cautious. I didn't say don't be wise. I didn't say ignore what scientists are saying. I said, "Do not be afraid."
+++
How do we do that as a church—live with caution and wisdom but not fear? These are questions that I've been trying to get my head around for a couple of weeks now. But things have become very clear in the past few days. Our Bishop, our Vestry, and other clergy colleagues have been incredibly helpful as I've been thinking and praying through these questions. You can find Bishop Cole’s most recent letter here.
I believe that his letter is the better part of wisdom, and that action that might currently seem radical is the exact kind of action that can slow the spread of this virus and keep the situation manageable for our health care system. So, in accordance with his request and in consultation with our Vestry, St. Peter's will suspend all gatherings beginning this Sunday, March 15, including our Sunday Eucharists and our Sunday evening Lenten series. Our 12-step groups will continue to meet, but every other group meeting at the church is suspended for the time being. Please know that everyone involved understands the gravity of these decisions, and we make them believing that it is the very best thing for the most vulnerable members of this community.
We hope to reconvene for corporate worship on Palm Sunday, April 5, but because the situation is moving quickly, we will need to reassess regularly.
+++
This is hard news. It is hard for you to hear, and it is very hard to be the one giving it. But I want to assure you of a couple of things. I want to give you a few reasons not to be afraid:
1) We will continue to be the church. The church gathers to worship and is sent to love and serve the Lord. Consider this a time we are sent out for just a bit longer than usual. Use that time to love and serve the Lord and to love your neighbors as yourselves.
2) We will continue to offer prayer. Both you, personally, and the church will continue the work of prayer. Specifically, I will lead Morning Prayer every Sunday during this time at 10:00 a.m., and we will send you links so that you can tune in and a bulletin so you can follow along. We are not "wired" for a streaming service, so the quality might not be perfect. But it will provide all of us some time to pray together corporately.
3) The staff and I will continue to be available. As long as we remain in good health, the church office will remain open. Deacon John and I will be available for one-to-one pastoral visits both here and in your home as needed. Please stay in touch, and please let us know of anything you need.
4) We will be looking to deepen community during this time. Be on the lookout for communication about helping us sustain and even deepen our sense of community during this time. We are already working on a small-group ministry that we think will be useful. If you are interested in being a facilitator for a small group, please let me know! For the time being—stay in touch with one another.
God is with us, friends. God will never leave us or forsake us. Nothing in all creation can change that. Do not be afraid.
God bless,
Fr. Quinn Parman+