An Update on Life at St. Matt's
Dear friends and members of St. Matt's,
Know that in the midst of everything swirling around us that I am praying for you. I know that you are hearing about coronavirus from every angle. I know that it's an anxious time and that there is much to be concerned about. Know in the midst of all the noise around you that God is with you, longing to lead you to rest. And know that the staff and I are praying for you. Even if we aren't seeing you, we are very much in this with you, and our first priority is to care for the life of this whole community - and that means you.
We are in the process of evaluating the next few weeks of our life together. Together with our staff and lay leaders at St. Matt's, WPC staff, and the WEPCO board, we are charting the safest course possible. Like you, I wish that these conversations weren't necessary. However, we are prepared to continue preventative measures as necessary in order to safeguard the life of the whole community. We are actively seeking out ways to connect and explore together in the midst of this changing landscape. All of these preventative measures are designed to keep you and the community safe. Our hope in following these preventative measures is just that - safety.
Here's what I can tell you now:
Given the closing of the schools, we will temporarily suspend all activities at St. Matt's except for our worship on Sunday morning. We will continue to evaluate the situation and make the safest decision possible. The staff and I are already exploring online options for programming, gathering, and connection. We will translate as much as we can into an online forum and explore some new options. We will continue to communicate regularly with you as these things unfold.
WEPCO is working hard to make the whole campus as safe as possible. I'm grateful for their dedication and their leadership.
Our children and youth programming will pause as well. Parents will hear from Samantha and Scott in the coming days, but for now please plan on keeping your kids home. There are plans in the works to keep kids connected and support them through this time. Keep an eye out for updates on that.
The staff and I will not be in the office regularly until further notice. We are all still working and reachable. And we are here to support you. Please be in touch if you need anything.
More specific information about programming and ways to connect online will come out tomorrow in our enews.
On Sunday mornings...
We will continue to worship together unless our Bishops tell clergy not to hold services. It's important to the life and witness of the church that our worship goes on. It may be that our worship changes shape, and I'll keep you updated on that as we go. For now, please continue to wash your hands, avoid contact with others, maintain social distance (3-6 feet between you and other people), and sit apart from each other in the sanctuary. We will continue to only receive the bread on Sunday morning; clergy and all participants in worship will continue to be extremely cautious. If you would prefer not to receive at all, that's okay. The church has long believed that you can participate in worship and know the grace of Jesus simply by being gathered together and in the presence of the Sacrament.
Lastly...
If you are part of a vulnerable population, please take the precautions the CDC is recommending. If you need to stay home, please do that. You can listen to our sermons online and we are working hard to make other pieces of our life translate online as well. We will continue to connect with you as much as possible while you do what you can do to keep yourself safe and healthy. If you need help with errands or groceries, please let me know that.
If you are ill or showing signs of being ill, please seek help. You should separate yourself from others, and be in touch with me.
If you are feeling anxious or isolated, if you need to talk about any of this (or anything else), send me a note and we'll set up a Zoom call. We'll find a time to be together - virtually.
This is a time when we will be physically apart as we try to prevent the transmission of this virus. There's good reason for that physical distance. It does not have to be a time when you are separated spiritually and emotionally from God or from the church. We have many ways of connecting and we will find ways together to worship, grow, and love through this time. Please be in touch if I can do anything for you.
God loves you and so do I.
Faithfully,
--Marissa +
Tags: Welcome from the Rector