Dear Friends,
I just wrote to you this morning, but events are moving quickly
and I need to update you. As of this afternoon at 2:00pm, Bishop Susan Goff has
officially closed down all public worship in the Diocese of Virginia for the
next two weeks. She also strongly urges all churches to exercise caution about
holding any other church gatherings. So I am canceling all worship services for
the next two weeks. That includes two Sundays, March 15 and 22, and two
Wednesdays, March 18 and 25. In addition, I am canceling all other church
gatherings for the same period of time. That includes WAC, Men’s Bible Study,
Exploring the Word, Refresh, Conversations in Faith and the March Vestry
meeting. All choir rehearsals will also be canceled. This is effective through
Wednesday, March 25. The bishop will give us further direction by that point
about how to proceed.
In the meantime, the church office will remain open. Mo. Kathleen,
Emily, and I will be available for emergency pastoral visits, phone calls, and
emails. We are also investigating ways to offer a digital presence for the
parish on Sunday mornings while we move through this time of social distancing.
The goal of this, of course, is to help slow the spread of
COVID-19, protect people who are most vulnerable to it, and help keep our
hospitals from being overwhelmed. This is an extraordinary time and it requires
extraordinary measures. It also reminds us that we are truly a community,
deeply connected to each other and dependent upon each other. As we go through
this together, I pray that a spirit of love, patience, good humor, and hope
will prevail. In other words, I pray that the Spirit of Christ will flow freely
among us. And I know she will.
With love,
David +
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