The Episcopal Asset Map invites churches who are
live-streaming services to update their worship information on the map
as soon as possible. Update your page to share what services you are
live-streaming, whether those offerings are regular, semi-regular, or
occasional services, and in what language they are offered. Click here for step-by-step directions. You do NOT need a log-in to add information.
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Habits of Grace: An invitation for you, from Presiding Bishop Curry
As we learn how to adjust our lives given the reality of the
coronavirus and the request to do our part to slow its spread by
practicing social distancing, I invite you to join me each week to take a
moment to cultivate a 'habit of grace.' A new video meditation will be
posted every Monday through May. Click here for more info and to watch the videos.
New resources added to diocesan website
The diocesan website has a wealth of resources to assist churches
and their parishioners in being the Church during the coronavirus and
new resources are being added.
Messages from Bishop Susan
Messages from Bishop Susan, including her lectionary reflections
and video, Being the Church during the coronavirus are all available on
our website here.
Communications
Free Conference Call enables you to hold conference calls for free
Center for Lifelong Learning at VTS
offers numerous video tutorials on the use of digital media like Zoom,
Facebook, etc. It also offers recordings of two webinars on Holy Week,
Triduum and Easter services that honor social distancing.
Beyond Livestream Worship: What we learned from our experiment with online worship is a series of blog posts by Episcopal Church Foundation
Worship and formation at home
Creating Sacred Space at Home a video by Canon for Formation Lynn Farlin
Lectionary calendar Find the collect and readings for each day
Bedtime Prayers for Children a video from All Saints, Virginia Beach
Rule of Life songs for children
(videos) from Anne Zobel, Director of Christian Formation, and Rev.
Robert Foxwell, Organist/Choirmaster, at All Saints, Virginia Beach. Click here for the lyrics to the songs so you can sing along.
Virtual Spirituality Room at All Saints, Virginia Beach
Bruton Forum Lecture series with topics range from Scripture, and Science & Faith to the Doctrine of God
Other resources
COVID-19 Resources for Churches from Episcopal Church Foundation, updated regularly
Church Fundraising in a New Normal a webinar recording from The Episcopal Network for Stewardship and the Consortium for Endowed Episcopal Parishes
Don't Feed the Beast: Trusting the Gospel in Trying Times a webinar recording from The Episcopal Network for Stewardship and the Consortium for Endowed Episcopal Parishes
10 Guidelines for Pastoral Care During the Coronavirus Outbreak article from Christian Century
Recommendations for Food Pantries & Food Ministries a very helpful guidelines from Diocese of Virginia
Assistance for individuals and small businesses
Being the Church during the coronavirus
"We can still be the Church. The Church is open even if we aren't able to come to their buildings right now."
Join Bishop Susan as she
begins sharing suggestions for how we can worship in our homes,
especially during Holy Week and Easter. Click here or the screenshot below to watch.
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Message from Bishop Haynes: Holy Week, Triduum and Easter during coronavirus/COVID-19
On March 12, we directed Episcopal communities in our Diocese to
suspend all church activities including gatherings for public worship
for a period of two weeks in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19
disease caused by the now pandemic coronavirus. At that time that we
promised that would re-evaluate by March 26. I think it is safe to say
that even with March 26 still a few days away, we all realize that our
time of social distancing will extend far beyond that date. The Centers
for Disease Control and the World Health Organization have suggested a
period of up to 8 weeks. Sadly, these 8 weeks encompass our most sacred
times of Holy Week and Easter, a time when more people gather to receive
the Eucharist than at any other time. How can we NOT gather, we wonder?
And yet, our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has asked us to do just
that and to encourage and engage online and in-home resources for
worship. (See the Presiding Bishop's statement here)
In
light of Bishop Curry's advice, the advice of health professionals
monitoring the pandemic and the directions of government officials,
public gatherings for worship continue to be suspended in the Diocese of
Southern Virginia until further notice - a time frame which regrettably
includes the liturgies for Holy Week and Easter.
While
I deeply appreciate the enthusiasm and creativity of priests from
different parts of the Diocese who have proposed alternative ways of
celebrating the Eucharist which might, if very carefully employed, still
observe the requirements of social distancing and sanitation, I am not
able to authorize those at this time. My reasons are two-fold. First,
even though the risks of disease transmission might be mitigated, at
least in part, in a "parking lot Eucharist," where the Sacrament is
delivered to opened car windows, the risk of transmission would not be
eliminated. Likewise with consecrated hosts that are left on the
doorsteps of shut-in parishioners. Because we do not yet completely
understand the extent of that risk, health officials are cautioning
against it. Secondly, as Christians, we are called to attend to the
well-being of our neighbor - essentially the good of our communities.
Our community officials have asked us to observe a policy of social
distancing. As Christian citizens, it behooves us to model adherence to
those policies rather than look for exceptions that would enable us to
circumvent them, or ways to be excused from them, however
well-intentioned our efforts.
Likewise,
I cannot authorize any electronic consecration, or consecrating of
elements over the internet. We live an embodied faith which means
physical presence. Our current practices require the actual laying on of hands, not a virtual laying on of hands.
These
are all painful, difficult decisions. Since the Liturgical Reform
Movement of the 1970's, we have been a church centered on the Eucharist.
We believe that Christ is powerfully revealed present to us in the
breaking of the bread. However, I would encourage you to consider and
remember that Jesus is revealed to us in other ways as well - in
Scripture, in the kindnesses and loving actions of others, in our
reaching out in whatever way we can to the poor and marginalized.
Perhaps God is working through this crisis to reveal to us additional
ways to connect to Him and the saving work of His Son. Perhaps our task
now is to explore and create new ways to live our Baptismal Promises
even in the face of this coronavirus.
We
will be working with you in the next days and weeks to gather resources
for use in the homes of all those associated with your parishes to
offer ways to observe Holy Week, the Triduum and Easter in their
individual homes, rather than in large worship gatherings. We will also
continue to make online resources available. Please
do not hesitate to contact us. While we all want to help you, in
particular, Canon Lynn Farlin (Canon for Formation) and Ms. Ann Turner
(Diocesan Communications Officer) are especially equipped to assist you
in staying connected with your parishes and each other.
I
do realize that none of this is news that you wanted to hear today. I
did not want to deliver it. I do want to remind you, however, that in
this time when social isolation might cause us to feel disconnected and
separate, there is nothing, absolutely nothing that can separate us from
the love of God in Christ (Romans 8:38-39). Not even the coronavirus! And if we all make our life in Christ, from whom we are joined, then we cannot be separated from one other either!
With love and every blessing,
Bishop Susan
Saturday, March 14, 2020
Using Sparkhouse Christian formation curriculum in digital space
For Christian formation leaders and churches using Sparkhouse curriculum, here is information about how you can use that curriculum in virtual space.
Sparkhouse recognizes
with the spread of COVID-19, churches are moving towards a virtual discipleship
method. Here are proposed solutions for distributing materials to your
students:
If you are
a Sparkhouse Digital Subscriber:
- You may add an unlimited number of users to your Sparkhouse Digital account
- My Account – Leaders – Add New Leader
- You may download the materials and upload them to a temporary, password protected site
- Click here for instructions on how to create a password protected Dropbox folder
If you own
the content in physical form:
- It may be duplicated and distributed internally either through physical copies or a temporary, password protected site, including learner leaflets.
- 1517 Media cannot provide assistance with anything outside of our own products (duplicating DVDs, Dropbox, Windows/Mac programs, etc.)
- Consult local IT professionals in your area or conduct your own research online
Any posting online must be to an internal group, i.e. not
public.
Certainly if any of your congregations have questions on
this topic, they can call us 8AM-4:30PM Central Time Monday through
Friday: 877-702-5551, and also at 800-328-4648.
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
A message from Bishop Haynes - more news on the coronavirus
"But as for me, I have trusted in you, O Lord*
I have said, "You are my God.
My times are in your hand*
Rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me.
Make your face to shine upon your servant*
And in your loving kindness save me"
(Psalm 31:14-17)
The Psalmist reminds us that in all things, our times are in God's hands. In this time of evolving uncertainty around the coronavirus, the reminder that we are in God's certain hands is a timely reminder. As the situation evolves, we are gaining more information at the diocesan level that we are using to help us make decisions about our communal life together. Because there is so much about this virus that we don't know, our decisions and responses are also evolving and we do ask for the patience of everyone as sometimes we have to make decisions that are disappointing and unsettling.
Because we are learning that the transmission of this virus can happen as easily as that of the common cold, we are beginning to think about the ways in which we gather and how we ought to interact with one another. After consulting with epidemiologists and health officials as well as other church leaders, we have had to make the disheartening decision to cancel a few diocesan-wide events in the coming weeks. We will continue to evaluate this evolving situation beyond the next few weeks and keep you informed. The events which have currently been canceled are:
The Psalmist reminds us that in all things, our times are in God's hands. In this time of evolving uncertainty around the coronavirus, the reminder that we are in God's certain hands is a timely reminder. As the situation evolves, we are gaining more information at the diocesan level that we are using to help us make decisions about our communal life together. Because there is so much about this virus that we don't know, our decisions and responses are also evolving and we do ask for the patience of everyone as sometimes we have to make decisions that are disappointing and unsettling.
Because we are learning that the transmission of this virus can happen as easily as that of the common cold, we are beginning to think about the ways in which we gather and how we ought to interact with one another. After consulting with epidemiologists and health officials as well as other church leaders, we have had to make the disheartening decision to cancel a few diocesan-wide events in the coming weeks. We will continue to evaluate this evolving situation beyond the next few weeks and keep you informed. The events which have currently been canceled are:
- Safe Church Training scheduled for March 14
- Happening, scheduled at Camp Chanco for the weekend of March 27-29
- Clergy/Vestry Day scheduled for March 21
- Clergy/Vestry Day scheduled for March 28
- Clergy/Vestry Day scheduled for April 4
Information will be forthcoming about refunds of deposits paid for the Clergy/Vestry Days.
We realize that to some, this decision is distressing and
disappointing. We too are distressed and disappointed; but given the
lack of information we have on many levels about this virus, we are
erring on the side of caution.
Please stay tuned to electronic communications from the Diocesan Office as we try to offer ways that we can stay connected with one another. Our challenge during this uncertain time is to continue to be the Church in times which challenge us. God has us in God's certain hands.
Prayer for People Critically Ill or Facing Great Uncertainty
Please stay tuned to electronic communications from the Diocesan Office as we try to offer ways that we can stay connected with one another. Our challenge during this uncertain time is to continue to be the Church in times which challenge us. God has us in God's certain hands.
Prayer for People Critically Ill or Facing Great Uncertainty
God of the present moment,
God who in Jesus stills the storm
and soothes the frantic heart;
bring hope and courage to all
who wait or work in uncertainty.
God who in Jesus stills the storm
and soothes the frantic heart;
bring hope and courage to all
who wait or work in uncertainty.
Bring hope that you will make them the equal
of whatever lies ahead.
of whatever lies ahead.
Bring them courage to endure what cannot be avoided,
for your will is health and wholeness;
you are God, and we need you.
for your will is health and wholeness;
you are God, and we need you.
-Adapted from A New Zealand Prayer Book, p. 765
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