Friday, March 13, 2020
Dear People of God at St. Mark’s,
It is a strange moment that we are living through! The coronavirus is beginning to disrupt daily lives in unprecedented ways and is creating lots of anxiety for all of us. I spent most of yesterday in touch with San Juan Basin Public Health, Episcopal colleagues from our region, and local clergy colleagues here in Durango, as well as pouring over the ever-changing news and announcements from other dioceses about the choices they were making in their contexts. I was grateful for a wonderful video/statement from Presiding Bishop Curry, HERE, reminding us that we are all in this together, literally and globally, and I realized that a deeper understanding of this profound truth could be one of the good things to emerge in the midst of all this suffering. I encourage you to check it out, as well as his statement yesterday, HERE, that the moral primacy of love trumps any other consideration as we make decisions.
My constant questions were, “How can we best respond from St. Mark’s? What are the options that will be responsible to the needs of the most people - our own folks at St. Mark’s, so many of whom are in high-risk groups, but also of all our neighbors? Where’s the balance between precautions in the midst of unclear data, and not creating disruptions that could turn out to have been unnecessary?” No one could tell, exactly, where that line was, which is why this is all so crazy-making for everyone! I consulted with various parish leaders, noted decisions other churches were making and said lots of prayers for wisdom! As the day developed, I learned two new things that made the decision even more complicated: we had a parishioner now in self-quarantine who’d been at church the other day (very likely unnecessary, but it’s the “unlikely” that makes these decisions hard!), and Durango now had an unconfirmed case of COVID-19.
Quite literally as I was opening email last evening to begin this note, a letter arrived from Bishop Lucas that gave updated directives. I am very grateful for the considerations and prayer that went into her decision-making and I hope you will take a moment to read her words to all of us, HERE. The bottom line is that she has asked of us two things that are difficult, but I believe wise and necessary. She is asking that:
She knew this would be hard, disruptive, even painful, in very many ways. But I firmly believe that she has made the right call, and I am grateful for her leadership.
This made things sparkling clear beginning Sunday, March 22nd. But it was less clear regarding this coming Sunday. Here were the two key issues: While I am not yet 60, I do have Type 2 diabetes, and thus am directed not to be at worship or meetings beginning immediately. These age/health factors are also true of all of the clergy who can normally take my place on Sunday morning. Secondly, most of you are in one of those age or health categories, as well. This would leave us without clergy leadership (though we could do Morning Prayer), but also with a very tiny congregation present!
Putting those factors together with a deep concern for our responsibility to others in our community, Senior Warden Marcy Jung and I decided late last evening that the wisest course was to begin our “fast from public worship” NOW. This means WE WILL NOT HOLD WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY MORNING, MARCH 15th, though other meetings could happen at church next week, if attendees meet the age/health guidelines. Most will not, and some groups who use our space have already decided not to gather. I am especially pained at not having a chance to see all of you one more time face-to-face, but that is where this strange and new situation has called us!
There is a dismissal at the end of worship that many of us love. The deacon says to us: “You have BEEN to church, now go BE the Church.” That is exactly what this odd season will help us to explore. How can we BE the church, in new and creative ways, even in the midst of a season when we can’t GO to church? We are still the Body of Christ, connected one to another, whether in person or apart. My deep prayer is that we will begin to understand this in new ways, and that it will bear fruit in our lives together at St. Mark’s. I have a hunch all of this will impact our prayer and thinking as we continue our journey toward a new mission statement; we are going to learn new ways to understand our bonds in Christ, and new ways to love the world around us.
I know that many of you may have questions about all of this, and I encourage you to contact me HERE or the office HERE. Please also continue to check our website HERE, and our Facebook and Instagram accounts for ongoing updates. We will of course continue to explore what all of this means in practical terms over the next couple of days, including on Monday evening when the Vestry will meet “virtually” to discuss creative ways to continuing caring for one another. In the meantime, though, please know that I am praying for each one of you, as well as for God to lead us to new, creative, even fun ways to be St. Mark’s for the world around us. I am so grateful for the ways I know we will rise to this occasion, faith intact and even strengthened. Please continue to pray for our world in the midst of these uncertain times. I offer two prayers below for your possible use, both of which I find powerful ways to focus my intentions. The second, from a prayer book our military members use, asks God to provide for us all the spiritual benefits of the Holy Communion, even when we cannot be there in person. We had planned to print up nice copies and include it in notes to those who had to be at home, but now its wisdom applies to all of us!
I also invite all of you to join me this Sunday at 9:15 a.m. local time for “virtual” worship with the Presiding Bishop from the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. (where parishes have also been directed to close). We’ll keep you posted as we explore ways to worship in the following weeks.
If I have to be exploring these new ways of thinking about how to be the Church, I am certainly grateful to be doing it in partnership with all of you. Our challenges of the particular moment may be new, but the love, compassion and grace of our great God are surely not!
May that love and grace be with all of you now.
Yours in Christ,
Debbie+
For additional information, please be sure to read our regular weekly e-Bulletin.
God of the present moment,
God who in Jesus stills the storm
and soothes the frantic heart;
bring hope and courage to all
who wait or work in uncertainty.
Bring hope that you will make them the equal
of whatever lies ahead.
Bring them courage to endure what cannot be avoided,
for your will is health and wholeness;
you are God, and we need you. Amen.
(Adapted from A New Zealand Prayer Book, p. 765)
When You Cannot Attend Worship:
In union, O Lord, with your faithful people at every altar of your Church, where the Holy Eucharist is now being celebrated. I desire to offer you praise and thanksgiving. I remember your death, Lord Christ; I proclaim your resurrection; I await your coming in glory. And since I cannot receive you today in the Sacrament of your Body and Blood, I beseech you to come spiritually into my heart. Cleanse and strengthen me with your grace, Lord Jesus, and let me never be separated from you. May I live in you, and you in me, in this life and the life to come. Amen.
Prayer Book for Armed Forces (Episcopal, 1988)
_______________________________________________________________________
Resources for Accurate and Updated Information:
For general COVID-19 information from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), click HERE.
For Colorado-specific information from The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, click HERE.
For local LaPlata County information, click HERE.
Dear People of God at St. Mark’s,
It is a strange moment that we are living through! The coronavirus is beginning to disrupt daily lives in unprecedented ways and is creating lots of anxiety for all of us. I spent most of yesterday in touch with San Juan Basin Public Health, Episcopal colleagues from our region, and local clergy colleagues here in Durango, as well as pouring over the ever-changing news and announcements from other dioceses about the choices they were making in their contexts. I was grateful for a wonderful video/statement from Presiding Bishop Curry, HERE, reminding us that we are all in this together, literally and globally, and I realized that a deeper understanding of this profound truth could be one of the good things to emerge in the midst of all this suffering. I encourage you to check it out, as well as his statement yesterday, HERE, that the moral primacy of love trumps any other consideration as we make decisions.
My constant questions were, “How can we best respond from St. Mark’s? What are the options that will be responsible to the needs of the most people - our own folks at St. Mark’s, so many of whom are in high-risk groups, but also of all our neighbors? Where’s the balance between precautions in the midst of unclear data, and not creating disruptions that could turn out to have been unnecessary?” No one could tell, exactly, where that line was, which is why this is all so crazy-making for everyone! I consulted with various parish leaders, noted decisions other churches were making and said lots of prayers for wisdom! As the day developed, I learned two new things that made the decision even more complicated: we had a parishioner now in self-quarantine who’d been at church the other day (very likely unnecessary, but it’s the “unlikely” that makes these decisions hard!), and Durango now had an unconfirmed case of COVID-19.
Quite literally as I was opening email last evening to begin this note, a letter arrived from Bishop Lucas that gave updated directives. I am very grateful for the considerations and prayer that went into her decision-making and I hope you will take a moment to read her words to all of us, HERE. The bottom line is that she has asked of us two things that are difficult, but I believe wise and necessary. She is asking that:
- Anyone over 60, or anyone who has heart disease, lung issues or diabetes, stay home from all church activities, beginning immediately.
- Every parish, beginning on March 22, suspend all public worship and other gatherings (for both parish and outside groups who use our buildings), continuing through April 1. She will give us updated guidance on March 31.
She knew this would be hard, disruptive, even painful, in very many ways. But I firmly believe that she has made the right call, and I am grateful for her leadership.
This made things sparkling clear beginning Sunday, March 22nd. But it was less clear regarding this coming Sunday. Here were the two key issues: While I am not yet 60, I do have Type 2 diabetes, and thus am directed not to be at worship or meetings beginning immediately. These age/health factors are also true of all of the clergy who can normally take my place on Sunday morning. Secondly, most of you are in one of those age or health categories, as well. This would leave us without clergy leadership (though we could do Morning Prayer), but also with a very tiny congregation present!
Putting those factors together with a deep concern for our responsibility to others in our community, Senior Warden Marcy Jung and I decided late last evening that the wisest course was to begin our “fast from public worship” NOW. This means WE WILL NOT HOLD WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY MORNING, MARCH 15th, though other meetings could happen at church next week, if attendees meet the age/health guidelines. Most will not, and some groups who use our space have already decided not to gather. I am especially pained at not having a chance to see all of you one more time face-to-face, but that is where this strange and new situation has called us!
There is a dismissal at the end of worship that many of us love. The deacon says to us: “You have BEEN to church, now go BE the Church.” That is exactly what this odd season will help us to explore. How can we BE the church, in new and creative ways, even in the midst of a season when we can’t GO to church? We are still the Body of Christ, connected one to another, whether in person or apart. My deep prayer is that we will begin to understand this in new ways, and that it will bear fruit in our lives together at St. Mark’s. I have a hunch all of this will impact our prayer and thinking as we continue our journey toward a new mission statement; we are going to learn new ways to understand our bonds in Christ, and new ways to love the world around us.
I know that many of you may have questions about all of this, and I encourage you to contact me HERE or the office HERE. Please also continue to check our website HERE, and our Facebook and Instagram accounts for ongoing updates. We will of course continue to explore what all of this means in practical terms over the next couple of days, including on Monday evening when the Vestry will meet “virtually” to discuss creative ways to continuing caring for one another. In the meantime, though, please know that I am praying for each one of you, as well as for God to lead us to new, creative, even fun ways to be St. Mark’s for the world around us. I am so grateful for the ways I know we will rise to this occasion, faith intact and even strengthened. Please continue to pray for our world in the midst of these uncertain times. I offer two prayers below for your possible use, both of which I find powerful ways to focus my intentions. The second, from a prayer book our military members use, asks God to provide for us all the spiritual benefits of the Holy Communion, even when we cannot be there in person. We had planned to print up nice copies and include it in notes to those who had to be at home, but now its wisdom applies to all of us!
I also invite all of you to join me this Sunday at 9:15 a.m. local time for “virtual” worship with the Presiding Bishop from the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. (where parishes have also been directed to close). We’ll keep you posted as we explore ways to worship in the following weeks.
If I have to be exploring these new ways of thinking about how to be the Church, I am certainly grateful to be doing it in partnership with all of you. Our challenges of the particular moment may be new, but the love, compassion and grace of our great God are surely not!
May that love and grace be with all of you now.
Yours in Christ,
Debbie+
For additional information, please be sure to read our regular weekly e-Bulletin.
God of the present moment,
God who in Jesus stills the storm
and soothes the frantic heart;
bring hope and courage to all
who wait or work in uncertainty.
Bring hope that you will make them the equal
of whatever lies ahead.
Bring them courage to endure what cannot be avoided,
for your will is health and wholeness;
you are God, and we need you. Amen.
(Adapted from A New Zealand Prayer Book, p. 765)
When You Cannot Attend Worship:
In union, O Lord, with your faithful people at every altar of your Church, where the Holy Eucharist is now being celebrated. I desire to offer you praise and thanksgiving. I remember your death, Lord Christ; I proclaim your resurrection; I await your coming in glory. And since I cannot receive you today in the Sacrament of your Body and Blood, I beseech you to come spiritually into my heart. Cleanse and strengthen me with your grace, Lord Jesus, and let me never be separated from you. May I live in you, and you in me, in this life and the life to come. Amen.
Prayer Book for Armed Forces (Episcopal, 1988)
_______________________________________________________________________
Resources for Accurate and Updated Information:
For general COVID-19 information from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), click HERE.
For Colorado-specific information from The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, click HERE.
For local LaPlata County information, click HERE.