An Update from our Bishops on Coronavirus
Dear friends and members of St. Matt's,
Last week, I wrote to you with some changes to our life and some common sense preventative measures against coronavirus. If you didn't get a chance to read that note, you can find it here. Today, with an update from our Bishops, I'm writing with some more information.
At communion: In an email that went out this morning, the Bishops have asked all clergy in the Episcopal Church in Connecticut to communicate the people only in one kind. What that means is that for the foreseeable future, you will only receive bread at communion. As Episcopalians, we believe that Jesus is fully present in both the bread and the wine. So, if you only participate by receiving bread, you are still receiving all the grace of the Sacrament. To be clearer, I'll offer this quote from the Rev. Kara Slade, Canon Theologian of the Diocese of New Jersey:
Your theological fact of the day is the "doctrine of concomitance." Christ is not divisible, so no one part of Christ's substance can be divided. The Eucharist contains the entire real presence of Christ in both the bread and the wine. We do not receive half of Jesus in the bread and the other half in the wine.
I hope this will be a temporary measure, and in the meantime, the Eucharist is still the Eucharist even if you're only receiving the bread. Members of the clergy, Altar Guild, and Eucharistic Ministers are all taking extra precautions for safety as well. You can read the most recent update from the Bishops here.
Around the building: All of our cleaning and safety procedures are being evaluated and expanded. As you know, Max Gil does a very good job of cleaning the building on a regular basis. I've asked Sandy and WEPCO to work on other measures in the short-run that will help keep everyone safe. There are new bottles of hand sanitizer stationed throughout the building including in the narthex and in church school classrooms. We're evaluating safe practices around coffee hour. I am also monitoring information from the CDC very closely and continuing to talk with our neighbors in town about the safest course of action. If it's necessary to make more adjustments to our life together, to cancel or postpone events, I'll be in touch.
What can you do?
- Continue to wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. This is still preferable to hand sanitizer - but that helps, too. Sing a song or say a prayer while you wash, you'll notice your prayer life improve, too.
- Please don't hug your neighbors on the way into church tomorrow. I know this is hard - and it's important. We should avoid touching each other, so no hugs or handshakes. At the peace, you might just give a small bow or a wave to acknowledge the people around you.
- Wipe down and disinfect surfaces and frequently used items (including laptops and cell phones).
- If you have been ill or if you are part of a vulnerable population, please take extra care of yourself. And let us know if we can help (errands, groceries, etc).
- If you want to read more about what you can do for yourself and your family, keep an eye on information coming from the CDC, including their Preventative Measures.
- If you are unwell, please seek help, be in touch with me, and avoid parish activities until you are no longer symptomatic.
Remember that all of us have a responsibility to each other, so safety depends on everyone. My first priority is always to keep all of you safe, and these measures will help us do that. All of this will be temporary. The only thing that lasts forever is God's love for us made visible in Jesus, and he is always the first to tell us take heart, do not be afraid. Please pray for all those who are affected by this virus. As always, please be in touch with me if you have any questions or concerns.
Faithfully,
--Marissa +
Tags: Welcome from the Rector