News from “The Father”

Lent 3 – The Third Sunday in Lent

Readings: Exodus 17:1-7 and John 4:5-42

Shared on March 14 and 15, 2020

On March 14, 2020 our bishop wrote a letter to the clergy of the diocese that said, in part, the following:

“Because the virus is now here, I am requesting all clergy to announce this Sunday that those who are at risk for serious infections should now refrain from attending church and other large gatherings until Easter to protect their health.  Our parishioners will have the freedom to decide for themselves if they wish to stay home as a Lenten practice.”

From Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services Website:

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses, you can take simple steps to protect yourself and your family. 

• Stay home if you’re sick
• Avoid contact with sick people when possible
• Cover your cough and sneezes with the crook of your elbow or a tissue
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth and wash your hands frequently
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe

Call ahead to a healthcare professional if you develop a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as cough or difficulty breathing, and have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 or if you live in or have recently traveled to an area with ongoing spread. Tell your healthcare professional about your recent travel or contact. Your healthcare professional will work with your state’s public health department and CDC to determine if you need to be tested for COVID-19. 

From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

Who is at higher risk?

Early information out of China, where COVID-19 first started, shows that some people are at higher risk of getting very sick from this illness. 

This includes:

• Older adults
• People who have serious chronic medical conditions like:
  • Heart disease
  • Diabetes
  • Lung disease

Take actions to reduce your risk of getting sick

If you are at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19 because of your age or because you have a serious long-term health problem, it is extra important for you to take actions to reduce your risk of getting sick with the disease.

• Stock up on supplies.
• Take everyday precautions to keep space between yourself and others.
• When you go out in public, keep away from others who are sick, limit close contact and wash your hands often.
• Avoid crowds as much as possible.
• Avoid cruise travel and non-essential air travel.
• During a COVID-19 outbreak in your community, stay home as much as possible to further reduce your risk of being exposed.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, 

Let me first begin with a prayer: 

O Most mighty and merciful God, in this time of grievous sickness, we flee unto thee for succor.  Deliver us, we beseech thee, from our peril; give strength and skill to all those who minister to the sick; prosper the means made use of for their cure; and grant that, perceiving how frail and uncertain our life is, we may apply our hearts unto that heavenly wisdom which leadeth to eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (“Prayer for Time of Great Sickness and Mortality” from The Book of Common Prayer 1928)

A week ago, I wrote to all of you to share some basic guidance and some thoughts about the spread of the COVID-19 (aka corona virus) in the United States.  That message was mostly intended to be a reminder about basic practices such as washing of hands, alternative options for the peace and communion options.  As we all know, things have changed a lot in the past week.  

On Thursday, Montana’s governor declared a state of emergency statewide because of the virus.  It is important to note that this was done as a preemptive measure.  There are no confirmed cases of the virus or disease in Montana as of late Thursday.  However, this is likely due to the fact that only 55 people have been tested in the state as of that time.  For the latest Montana-specific details, visit the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services website. But this situation will likely change in the near future.  Now, we must look to and plan for the future with the expectation that the virus will be identified throughout Montana.  

You might have heard that a number of dioceses in The Episcopal Church have stopped offering the chalice during the celebration of Holy Eucharist.  More recently, the Dioceses of Virginia and of Washington announced that all of their churches would be closed for at least the next two weeks.  Those decisions were made because of the known and active spread of the virus in numerous communities in those dioceses.  That is not the case currently in Montana.  Therefore, St. Stephen’s will not be implementing such measures at this time. However, we must make some adjustments to help slow the possible spread of this virus.  

Our bishop sent out what is known as a pastoral letter to the clergy of the Diocese of Montana on March 12, 2020.  She said that she expects congregations to continue to hold their usual worship services for the time being, but to prepare for alternative options.  To that end, there are no immediate plans to alter our service schedule.  I am preparing to test out options for sharing liturgy electronically for those unable to join us in person or, in a worst-case scenario, if we must cancel services.  

The bishop also encouraged considering some adaptations to communion practices and I agree with her wisdom.  So, for the time being we will be using “communion by stations” instead of the kneeling at the altar rail.  This minimizes the physical contact that each of us has with a common surface.  If you are confused, do not worry, we will walk you through this during the liturgy.  The chalice will continue to be offered to people. If you are hesitant about receiving from the chalice, I encourage you to simply hold onto the base of the chalice when offered as a form of receiving the Blood of Christ, instead of intinction.  There is no requirement to receive communion in both forms.  

In my email last week, I encouraged people to not shake hands or hug during the peace.  Now, I would like to say that it should not be done at all.  Exchanging the peace can be done verbally or through hand gestures of various sorts, but for the time being, we should abstain from physical contact.  Unfortunately, this also extends to shaking hands at the end of the service.  

Finally, I wanted to reiterate that I will continue to use hand sanitizer frequently and ensure that I am keeping safe when leading worship.  I encourage you to do the same.  I will continue to drink from the chalice at the end of the liturgy until told not to so to reassure those who also continue that practice.  However, I do not want anyone to feel obligated to do anything that they are uncomfortable with.  

If you are sick, please seek medical support and stay home.  If you have questions about any of this, please do not hesitate to reach out to me or the church office.  We are in this together and I encourage all of us to remain hopeful, while also being prudent.  

Yours in Christ,

Father Stephen

A message from Presiding Bishop Curry related to worship changes during a public health emergency

Statement of the Presiding Bishop to the House of Bishops

Thursday, March 12, 2020

Day #3

“Opportunity is always to be given to every communicant to receive the consecrated Bread and Wine separately.”  (BCP p. 407)

“The Rector or Priest-in-Charge shall have full authority and responsibility for the conduct of the worship and spiritual jurisdiction of the Parish, subject to the Rubrics of the Book of Common Prayer, the Constitution and Canons of this Church, and the pastoral direction of the Bishop.”  Canon III.9.6(a)(1)

Neither the rubrics of the Book of Common Prayer nor the Canons of the Episcopal Church address a public health emergency such as the one we are facing. My message to you sent last evening, which is being made public today, is designed to send a signal to the Church that the Presiding Bishop is supporting bishops who make decisions to suspend the common cup because of this public health emergency. My hope is that this will obviate or mitigate any effort to take canonical action directed at any bishop for these actions in these circumstances. This is to help uphold the good order of the Church in this context in which the moral primacy of Jesus’ command to love thy neighbor must guide us.

The next 30-60 days at the least are simply going to be unlike anything we have experienced in recent history, even including 9/11. The dilemma of what we know and what we don’t know will continue to complicate our decision making and our lives.

In an email to me last night our brother Mark Van Koevering of the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington spoke of the decision to honor the Kentucky Governor’s request of religious leaders to suspend public worship with these words.

“I am loathe to cancel services, but I do support the Governor’s recommendation and think that I must humbly ask our faith communities to practice a Lenten fast of public worship this week as a sign of love for one’s neighbor especially the most vulnerable.”

Obedience to the moral primacy of love for the neighbor must direct us. My hope is that this will enable us to do that while maintaining the good order of the Church for the sake of following Jesus in God’s mission for God’s world.

God bless you and keep the faith.

+Michael

On Sunday, March 15, 2020, we will be discussing the above painting and the following passage:

John 13:1 – 20 (NRSV)

Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So, if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But it is to fulfill the scripture, ‘The one who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ I tell you this now, before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am he. Very truly, I tell you, whoever receives one whom I send receives me; and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.”

https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2020/03/09/quarantine-urged-for-parishioners-of-washington-dc-church-after-rector-found-with-coronavirus/

Lent 2 – Second Sunday in Lent

Readings: Genesis 12:1-4a, Romans 4:1-5, 13-17, John 3:1-17

Shared on March 7/8, 2020

First, I would encourage all people to read what our wonderful bishop had to share in the diocesan newsletter, which I have also shared on our website regarding this virus.  

Second, while there haven’t yet been any confirmed cases of this illness in Montana, it is likely just a matter of time until it is among us and to that end, we should take some minor precautions.  To that end I think that the following practices should be considered:

– Passing the peace is about acknowledging our neighbors and as “a sign of reconciliation, love and renewed relationships in the Christian community (An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church).” But, nothing in the BCP tells us that we must shake hands or hug others as a sign of this peace.  So, for now, I would encourage non-touching signs of exchanging the peace to minimize possible contamination.

– Please wash your hands regularly and use hand sanitizer

– The chalice is not likely to be a source of infection.  As our bishop said, “the common communion cup has never been implicated in a disease outbreak and has been laboratory tested with a variety of infectious agents provided the chalice is silver (plate is fine), wine is used (especially port, which has a higher alcohol content) and the chalice is wiped and rotated between receiving communicants.”

The bigger risk when it comes to the chalice, is from intinction (or dipping) the host/communion wafer into the wine.  That increases the chances of contamination of other sorts. So if you choose to intinct, please be very careful to not dip a finger into the liquid.  Above all, please remember that communion in both kinds (bread and wine/Body and Blood) is not required and isn’t even the historical standard, so please do not feel obligated to partake.  

– The number one item is that if you feel like you are sick, please stay home and consult with a healthcare professional. As a side note, Father Stephen’s sermons are available on our website if you miss church.  

As events and circumstances change, we might need to adapt further, but for now take care of yourselves and let us strive to live in hope, not fear.  If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me or our office.

Peace,

Father Stephen

On Sunday, March 8, 2020 we will discuss the painting above and Mark 11:1-11.

Mark 11: 1 – 11 (NRSV)

When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’ ” They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields.

Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,

“Hosanna!

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!

Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.