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Cathedral’s response to Coronavirus: Love your neighbor, the time to act like a community is now
03.13.2020

Click on the links below to read

the latest updates on Covid-19 from:

 

Bishop Jennifer’s Diocesan Response can be read here.

 

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s Response can be read  here.

 

The Response of the CDC is here.

 

A Message from Dean Mary Slenski:

Building Rest

March 17th, 2020

 

Beloved Cathedral Community,

 

These are extraordinary days, each one different from the day before.  Today, out of an abundance of caution, I closed the cathedral building at least through Saturday, Mar 21.  Staff will work from home.  Our answering service will forward phone calls.  We’ll let the building rest. 

 

Worship is happening daily, on-line, with Morning and Evening Prayer on Facebook.  Sunday worship will continue to be virtual, through website and Facebook, at least through Easter. 

 

Again, we’re planning to offer a take-out Sunday morning Community Breakfast with enough volunteers.  Contact April Culbertson here for more info.  We will re-open our doors to our daily 12-step groups as soon as we can.  Our Tuesday Utility Assistance ministry/Human Needs, is working on an on-line procedure. 

 

Vestry and others are calling parishioners, starting with those over age 60.  Please, reach out, whether to your next door neighbor or your pew neighbor. Make sure your information is updated in our Directory. You can verify your information or let us know of a change by emailing our communications team.

 

Padre Hipolito Fernandez is at work reaching out to Latino parishioners and contributing to clergy and staff ministries, even as he prepares to move here from Florida.  He shared earlier today, if the building is closed, “the Church is not closed – it is just ministering differently. The need for the Church’s presence, pastoral care, and outreach is especially necessary.” 

 

As we’ve been moving through this series of events, I’ve noticed how each of us reacts differently, makes adjustments and decisions at different paces.  I’m reminded of Paul’s advice to the church at Ephesus, “… be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.” (Eph 4:32 NRS)  We absorb change only at the pace our psyche’s allow.

“  Sed más bien amables unos con otros, misericordiosos, perdonándoos unos a otros, así como también Dios os perdonó en Cristo.” (Ephesians 4:32 LBA)

 

This is the extraordinary Lent that is before us.  Our Easter Alleluia’s will be all the more real for it.

 

Questions? Concerns?  Prayer requests?  Email Dean Mary

 

Faithfully,

 

 

The Rev. Mary Slenski
Dean and Rector (ai)

Christ Church Cathedral

 

A Message from The Very Rev. Mary Slenski

March 13th, 2020

 

Beloved Cathedral Community,

These are extraordinary times.  So much of our Christian faith is captured in the mystery of God in human flesh, first in Jesus Christ and then living within the bodily community of believers. So many of our practices that ground us are based upon being near one another, greeting one another by touch, sharing a common cup.  This virus is a real threat to our well-being. We can and must work together to “flatten the epidemic curve” — which means slowing down the rate at which people are infected and spreading it out over time so that hospitals can keep up with the demand for life-saving health care. 

Our cathedral response to Coronavirus is rapidly evolving. We will strive to live out our mission of living into God’s embrace: continuing to worship, protecting those who are most vulnerable in this crisis, and staying connected.  

WORSHIP

Sunday, Mar 15

Weekdays Mar 16-20

PROTECTING THE VULNERABLE (including ourselves)

  • Sunday 7 AM Community Breakfast will be take-out.  For additional information contact April Culbertson here.

  • Parish Life programs:  No nursery. Formation is either suspended, postponed or moved to a digital platform like Zoom. No Choristers and volunteer choir.  No dinners.

  • Tuesday Human Needs Program: Expected to be held Mar 17 with additional social distancing protocols.  Extra volunteers needed. For information contact Pat McConnell here.

  • Weekday 12 Step meetings: Expected to continue in the weekdays with additional social distancing protocols.

  • Sanctuary (Mental Health Program): Expected to be held Mar 18.  No nursery.

  • Meditaciones en los hogares is moving to Facebook Live beginning tonight at 6:30 PM

  • Lenten Quiet day postponed until after Easter

  • Tuesday Lenten Study postponed until after Easter.

  • Spiritual support:  watch for offerings on our Facebook page.

STAYING CONNECTED: Here’s what we can all do:

  • Stay connected as a community of faith: (by phone, Church Life App, Social Media channels, Text Opt-in) Make sure your contact information is updated. 

  • Worship online.

  • Reach out to check on others.

  • If you or a loved one is sick, please let our clergy know.  If someone you know is in need, let us know. If this crisis is affecting you in ways unexpected, call the Cathedral and the message will be forwarded 24/7 to the clergy on call. 317-636-4577

  • Maintain your giving commitments.

  • Give thanks and pray without ceasing. 

Our new Canon for Latinx-Latino Ministries, the Rev. Hipolito Fernandez,  accepted my invitation to begin his pastoral ministry, starting today, engaging by phone and over social media.  

The vestry has committed to making phone calls, beginning with those, in our directory, who are over age 60.  Please, reach out to one another. I can’t say that one enough. There are no good answers to the why of these events.  We will meet God in our response. Nothing, nothing, even a virus, can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.  

One last thing, I’m finding the discipline of singing a favorite hymn while washing my hands to be calming.  My favorite is Be Thou My Vision.  Such an ordinary thing to do, and yet so powerful in these extraordinary times.  I pray you find your own ordinary thing to bring respite to your day.

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. Bring hope that you will make them the equal 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. This we pray, in Christ ,our Lord. Amen.  –A New Zealand Book of Common Prayer

Faithfully,