WEEKLY RECTOR’S MESSAGE – March 22nd – Fr. Thomas
What a Lent this has turned out to be. In a season meant to prepare us for the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection, instead people are on the “edge of their seats” because of the COVID-19 virus, and not “in the seats” here at church. Is there any good news to reassure us? Well, for what it’s worth, we know what the virus is, we can test for it, and we know it can be contained, catching it is not that easy as long as we are careful and follow best sanitary practices, young people are at a very low risk, people are recovering from it, and vaccine prototypes exist. So where is God in all this? What message do we have for the world to speak to the anxiety and fear which exists as a result of the epidemic? If it’s any help, we are offering live-stream broadcasts of our regularly scheduled Stations of the Cross service on Fridays on our Face Book (which later will be posted on our website) and a special devotional on Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. https://www.facebook.com/SaintDavidsInThePines/
I’m in no way minimizing the gravity of the situation, but we survived the H1N1 virus (Swine Flu) in 2009 which killed 12,469 in the USA alone (out of a total of 60.8 million cases), SARS in 2003-04, and MERS in 2012; and God willing, we’ll get through this crisis as well. God doesn’t want people to suffer, but He gave us the freedom to do the right thing ( or the wrong things) when He created us.
So what can we do to stay connected, even while we practice “ Social Distancing?” We can worship through social media, i.e. broadcast of worship on our Face Book page. Another link is “The Daily Office” https://www.missionstclare.com/ which makes available the services of Morning, Noonday, Evening Prayer, and Night Prayers (Compline). In the event that one is quarantined, remember that God is still with us, even in those still quiet moments of our day, that sacred solitude, particularly appropriate during Lent. And how can we stay in touch with those who are living in isolation? We can send cards, bake a casserole or tasty dish to deliver, and stay connected in whatever ways are available. And most importantly, continue to say our prayers. Here are a couple below which I hope you’ll find helpful during these stressful times. God bless you all, and also, don’t forget that our church still has financial obligations. One can either mail in a check, or pay online or through your bank as directed below in the announcements.
Lord Jesus Christ , Son of the Living God, Physician of the body and soul, You restored sight to the blind, healed the lame and cured those with leprosy. Grant, we beseech You, the necessary knowledge and perseverance to all who are working on a vaccine to quickly end the spread of COVID-19. Have mercy on those who have died, and grant comfort to all who are affected in any way and those who are living in apprehension. Give us the grace each day to trust in You and Your loving mercy. We ask this in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen
Keep us , good Lord, under the shadow of your mercy in this time of uncertainty and distress. Sustain and support the anxious and fearful, and lift up all who are brought low; that we may rejoice in your comfort knowing that nothing can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
This Week at St. David’s:
Urgent Message – By order of our Bishop all services will be cancelled beginning Sunday, March 15 th and continuing until Monday, March 31 st. In case of a pastoral emergency, you can leave a message on our voice mail and someone will respond as quickly as possible. Please continue to pray for an end to the COVID-19 virus and its victims and thanks for your continued financial support (check, automated bank transfers or electronic donations via www.myeoffering.com or click on the ‘donate’ button on FB) to the life and witness our congregation in this community.
Outreach –accepting donations for the ministry outreach of feeding the homeless at St. George’s on Wednesday, March 25 th at 5:00 p.m. in Riviera Beach, contact Joyce Parker for details.
Donations – Easter flowers to adorn the altar and decorate the Church, deadline to submit is April 5 th
For your convenience, you may bookmark the links below to our new website and Facebook pages…simply click on the link below or copy & paste the URL into your browser, then you may add it to your favorites or bookmark them to your internet online top active bar for quick and easy access….
The spread of COVID-19 once again raises the question about the likely or unlikely spread of germs via the common chalice. This is not a new situation, and not the first time I’ve had to address the situation. Many others have written about the research, going back generations, which consistently shows that the likelihood of spreading germs by receiving from the chalice is slim and none, especially when compared with other forms of human contact. As far back as 1943, W. Burroughs and E. Hemmens reported, “Experiments on the transmission of organisms transferred from one person to another by common use of the chalice showed that 0. 001% of the organisms transferred even under the most favorable conditions and when conditions approximated those of actual use, no transmission could be detected.” In 1973 Dr. Edward Dancewicz of the Centers for Disease Control confirmed that the risk is miniscule. The number of bacteria on a person’s lips is small, and the chance that there are pathogens among them is not great. Moreover, “even if pathogens are present, the risk of digesting them is small.” In 1988, Dr. O. N. Gill concluded: “Currently available data do not provide any support for suggesting that the practice of sharing a common communion cup should be abandoned.” In 1997, after studying 681 individuals over a ten year period, microbiologist Anne LaGrange Loving reported that she observed no difference in illness rates between those who communed from the chalice on a daily basis and those who never attend mass. And In 1998 the CDC wrote, “The risk is so small that it is undetectable.” The CDC also said that wiping the chalice further reduces any possible risk. In general, exposure to a single virus cannot result in infection. For each disease there is a minimum number of germs (usually millions) that must be transmitted from person to person before infection can occur. Most people have a normal immune system which fights off infectious diseases. Of course, some may wish to err on the side of extra caution and have the Eucharistic Minister “intinct” for them; i.e. dip the host into the chalice. But the cynic might ask, “Doesn’t that transmit germs off the hand and into the chalice?” Moreover, one may also receive the host only, which contains the fullness of Jesus’ Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.
All physical systems, over time, accumulate debris which gets cluttered, clogged, and hinders the proper operation of machinery. It’s an unfortunate fact of life, too, that as we age, plaque builds up in our veins and arteries, which gradually restricts blood flow. Similarly, ships can become encrusted with barnacles, which slows their progress, and canals and rivers have to be dredged periodically so that the mud and silt won’t build up. Any finally, closets fill up with all kinds of interesting items. (If you look into your “wardrobe” and see a lamppost, a fawn, a witch and a lion, perhaps it’s time to clear it out!)
Now, speaking as a Christian, are we equally as loyal to Christ and His Church? In the spiritual battles of our daily life, we need to remember that it’s a team effort. We’re in the last quarter and are joined by a lineup of saints in the heavenly realm – the heavenly “Hall of Fame,” like the Blessed Virgin Mary, the apostles, martyrs, and all those who have given their all in the service of the Gospel of Christ.
YOUTH GROUP – All middle and high school students are invited to attend the first Youth Meeting and Christian Studies this Sunday immediately after the 10 am service. We will meet in the large Sunday School room and PIZZA, soda, and dessert will be served! These meetings will be held twice a month, and the lessons will involve ways that younger Christians can live out their faith in their daily lives.
