FROM THE RECTOR – May 15, 2020

Let me follow up on last week’s question…”Are we there yet?”. The simple answer is “No”, and I’m not sure when we will be. I believe this is the most honest answer any of us can give right now. We all want to get there, but when and how we’re not sure.

On May 1 our governor lifted the stay at home order and began easing temporary restrictions due to the novel coronavirus. While this order allows individuals to attend religious services, I believe we should not begin our phased regathering in church buildings for the foreseeable future. Like other dioceses and parishes across The Episcopal Church, as well as many denominations and faith traditions across the country, we will continue the suspension of in-person public worship that we began in March for a while longer.

This decision is clearly rooted in scripture. In 1 Corinthians 10:23-24, we read, “All things are lawful, but not all things are beneficial. All things are lawful, but not all things build up. Do not seek your own advantage, but that of the other.”

Regathering under very specific guidelines is now lawful, but it is not beneficial for our whole population when at least 32 people died of COVID-19 in Georgia the day before yesterday. We are bound by Jesus’ law to love our neighbors as ourselves. We sacrifice worship in our church buildings for the sake of people we love in our congregations and for the sake of people in our communities whom we will never meet.

Experience shows in this time of pandemic that worship is a “superspreader” of the virus. When we go to the grocery store or to a restaurant pick-up window, we accept the inherent risk. When we gather for worship at church, however, we produce the risk. As people morally bound to live the way of love, we choose not to produce such risk. Instead, we choose to protect others and ourselves until the time when we can worship together safely.

I understand this is not what we want to hear but I equally understand our need to be mindful and caring for one another. During this time apart we are developing plans on the “how” we will gather again. A group of parishioners and staff will be looking at suggestions from the CDC, the Diocese and other parishes about how we can, most safely, gather within the walls of Saint Paul’s Church. When the time comes we want to be ready.

Until such time I urge you to invite others to join us on Sunday mornings via Facebook. Engage in conversation and welcome in the comments and continue to know that we are blessed to have the means to gather, although virtually, with one another.

If you have questions, or simply want to chat about this or anything else, please reach out to me, your Vestry and staff. We continue to be about the work to which we are all called.

Finally, as we may be physically separate, we have come together in powerful ways to serve those in need within our community. Yesterday I delivered a check for $15,000 or almost 50,000 meals to Golden Harvest Food Bank. The good work we do in and through our parish continues to give life and hope to those around us.

Let us pray:

Almighty God, you have called us together to be the body of your Son: Give us the wisdom to see and know that our unity comes not from gathering within walls but from the indwelling of your Holy Spirit within us. May that same Spirit work within us to make us heralds of your love; sharers of your bounty and partakers in the mission you set before us. When we are uncertain grant us hope, when we seek answers let us see you; and finally, when we are in despair help us to see new life. All this we ask in the name of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ who is continually making all creation new.  Amen.