From the Rector: It is with a heavy heart but a deep sense of social responsibility that I announce that we have decided to suspend all public worship and close the church building for the next several weeks. We believe that this step is in the interest of the common good of all people in our community and in this city, in order not to contribute to the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
We will continue to offer the sacrifice of the Mass daily at 10 a.m., and we will live-stream the Mass every day on Facebook. For resources and leaflets for Mass, please visit the Liturgical Resource portion of our website.
The resident community here will continue to pray the daily offices of Morning and Evening Prayer in the church.
The Blessed Sacrament stands in exposition on the High Altar at all times during this crisis, except during Mass. The exposition of the Blessed Sacrament of the Body of our Lord in this way is our constant prayer to Jesus to be with us and with everyone in this city and beyond during a time of worry, anxiety, and danger. Simultaneously it is Christ's assurance to us that he hears our prayers and that he is, indeed, with us, and that nothing can separate us from his love.
The Saturday Soup Bowl has suspended serving food on Saturday morning.
The Food Cupboard is closed.
The Office will be staffed during the week under modified hours to be determined.
Twelve-step groups will not meet in the Parish Hall at this time.
All other meetings, classes, rehearsals, etc, are either being scheduled to take place on Zoom, or have been cancelled.
The clergy are available to you by phone and email, and in person in the case of emergencies. Contact information is on the website.
We are evaluating the situation every day, and we expect to provide updates at least weekly on Thursdays, but possibly with greater frequency. It is our prayer that we might be able to return to some semblance of normalcy by Holy Week. We will be guided by circumstances in the city.
On the basis of consultation with health professionals and others, we believe that these drastic steps are necessary in order to avoid a greater crisis. The experience of other countries and communities offers us ample evidence both of the benefits of social distancing and of the real danger in failing to do so. If it was in the public interest to stay open we would do so, as our mission would compel us to. Under the present circumstances we believe that our bravery (if we stayed open) could very easily come at the expense of others, and that is no bravery at all.
Yes, we do know people who have been diagnosed with the virus. We do know of churches where the clergy have been diagnosed with the virus. We know of local businesses that are dealing with the impact of the virus. And we know of parishioners in our own parish community whose families and work places are impacted by the virus. We are praying for them all, and we are committed to do what we can to make the situation better, not worse.
We will be praying every day, and we hope you will join us in that prayer, every day at 10 a.m. on the parish Facebook page.
And we hope that our Lord's Presence in the church will be an assurance to you of God's protection and blessing in all things and at all times.
May the Lord bless us and keep us. May the Lord make his face to shine up on us and be gracious unto us. May the Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon us and give us peace. And may the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be with us all, this day and for ever more. Amen.