THE CATHEDRAL WILL BE BROADCASTING A “VIRTUAL” SUNDAY LITURGY AT 11:15 AM WHICH MAY BE FOUND ON LINE AT CATHEDRAL.ORG OR ON THE CATHEDRAL FACEBOOK PAGE
To the People of Trinity Church, Upperville,
Bishop Goff, following consultation with neighboring dioceses and with medical advice concerning the COVID-19 virus, has directed that all corporate worship in the Diocese of Virginia be cancelled for the next two Sundays, March 15 & 22, and other midweek activities, until March 25. We recognize that this puts some important meetings and decisions on hold, and that it will be an irritation to some. Sr. Warden Johanna and I have been in conversation and have determined that out of concern for the most vulnerable members of our community - people over 60 and any with medical issues - we will fully comply with Bishop Goff's directive. No classes or choir rehearsals, no LEM visitations, no committee meetings. Until we get advice, we will even close the Food Pantry. We will permit AA/CoDA meetings, with the provision that no food be served; for the moment we will permit those organizations to make their own other decisions, expecting that utmost care will be exercised in using sanitizer and maintaining maximum practical distance between participants.
Parish Staff will be allowed to come to the offices in Peard House for essential work, mostly communications about the current situation.
For those who wish to take advantage of online worship services, there are three parishes in the diocese that stream their services. I do not know how the current situation will affect their offerings. The parishes are St. James, Richmond; St. Matthew's, Sterling; and St. James the less, Ashland. Google their websites.
Thank you for your understanding and co-operation with this policy. We will do our best to maintain our own lines of communication and keep all of you informed. I will continue writing the sermon that I have started and will trust that I can get it to you via some medium.
Below is a letter from the Sr. Warden that covers a lot of the same territory that I have addressed in this letter. Also below is the record of a diocesan policy discussion, edited for relevance to our situation.
Blessing and peace,
+Martin
From the Senior Warden
Dear Trinity Parishioners,
This afternoon Bishop Goff suspended all worship activities in the Diocese of Virginia for two weeks. This follows the World Health Organization declaring Coronavirus a global pandemic. The last time the Diocese of Virginia suspended church services was in 1918 during the Great Flu epidemic. This gives an indication of the seriousness of the current outbreak of Coronavirus.
After consulting with Bishop Townsend, our Interim Rector, I have decided to extend this suspension to all Trinity church activities. I know this will be a disappointment to many and an inconvenience to some, but in the interest of the health of our church community I prefer to err on the side of caution.
To the best of our knowledge no Trinity members have contracted the virus, but other parishes in the region have not been so blessed. I think it’s only realistic to assume that some of our members will come down with it. We don’t want to exaggerate the risk nor do we want to be complacent.
We still remain a community that cares for one another. Unlike in 1918 when telephone service was just making its way into rural Virginia and there was no internet, the Trinity community has ways to stay in touch with one another, to lend support to one another. I encourage all parishioners to communicate with each other, especially with those who may not have family nearby. We are our brother’s keeper still.
Johanna Vandoren-Jackson
Sr. Warden
_____________________________________
Diocesan Zoom Meeting on COVID-19
(March 11th, 2020 at 2PM)
Notes:
• Worship is canceled in the diocese for the next 2 Sundays/2 weeks. All worship. Not just Eucharist. The 2 weeks end on March the 25th (2 weeks from today). Diocesan leadership will reassess at the end of this period.
• The mathematical models are showing exponential growth of virus. We cannot stop this pandemic but by practicing social distancing we can slow the spread.
• The Diocese of Washington has made a similar decision with respect to worship over the next 2 weeks.
• Funerals - would recommend trying to delay large celebrations of life. Grave side services in small groups are probably ok.
• You can stream an unattended service.
• As of Wednesday, there is no guidance about food pantries or meetings of AA/CoDA. We’ll have to wait for more information/research on that.
• Rectors can still permit staff to work on church property for critical purposes unless of course a person tests positive for COVID-19.
• We would encourage people to continue their pledges even if they are not at in person worship. Or to double their plate offering from when they were not there. If online worship takes the place of in person worship, clergy staff are still working to make the service happen.
• Sunday School should not take place as well.
• We encourage small mid-week services to be Morning Prayer if you still have them. (At Trinity for at least this week, we will not hold such services.)
• Clergy are instructed not to make at home visits without calling ahead.
+Martin
NOTE: There will not be an E-Genesis this week