March 13, 2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I write to you from Denver, where I’ve been on retreat and visiting my daughter, Emily.  During this time, the situation with the coronavirus has escalated significantly.  After a conference call with the Bishop this morning and consultation with our Senior Warden Jackson Ellisor, here is what we’ve decided to do.

We will continue our Sunday worship schedule, but we ask that you follow these guidelines:

1. If you or someone in you household is not feeling well, or if you’ve been in contact with someone who is sick, please stay at home.
2. If you are in one of the “at risk” categories (over age 60, existing health issues such as heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, or compromised auto immune system), please consider staying at home.
3. If you stay home, you can watch the service “live” on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/staugmet/. You do not need a Facebook account, but you will need access to the internet. You can also watch the service from Christ Church Cathedral by tuning into WGSO 990AM at 10 am, or online here: https://wgso.com/. 
4. If you attend, please be particularly conscious of hand-washing.  Your clergy and Lay Eucharistic Ministers will as well.  Toni Kawash and our Altar Guild are working diligently to sanitize surfaces before and after each service.  You will also see additional hand-sanitizers in the Church.  Please use these before receiving Holy Communion.
5. During the Exchange of the Peace, in keeping with the guidelines to maintain “social distancing,” and out of respect of other people’s choices, please bow or wave.
6. To receive Holy Communion, please receive the wafer in your hand (not placed on your tongue).  We will continue to share the chalice, but intinction (dipping) will not be an option.  
7. If you choose not to receive the Chalice, please be assured that you have received the full grace of Holy Communion when you receive either element of the Eucharist. Not receiving the chalice does NOT mean you have only received half of the sacrament.
8. If you would like to receive Holy Communion at your home, please call Fr. AJ at 504-887-4801. For emergencies, he can be reached at 504-723-9852.

As you have probably already heard, both the Bunko Night, the March Break Bread Together, and the Parish Fish Fry have been cancelled.  Technical arrangements are being made to host a “virtual” (online) Bible Study in place of our regular gathering on Tuesday at 1:00 pm.  The same will be done for the Vestry Meeting on Monday, March 16th at 6:00 pm at our Wednesday Lenten classes.

This is not the Lenten fast that any of us would have chosen.  Nevertheless, here we are in a situation that, I for one, am not experienced in nor prepared for, except through my faith in the God of Jesus Christ who always leads us from death to life; who always accompanies us through the wilderness to the promised land; who never leaves us to face our troubles alone.  We don’t know what lies ahead.  Different decisions may be necessary in the days to come.  Some of these actions may in hindsight be an overreaction or an under reaction.  Lord, have mercy on us.

So for today, let us use this unchosen fast to pray for those in authority, those treating the ill, those who are ill or particularly at risk—financially, emotionally, spiritually, or physically.  Let us use this time to read our bibles and say our prayers.  Let us spend time quietly with our Lord and those we love.  Even when we are alone, we are not alone.

Have no fear for tomorrow.  The same God who loves and cares for us today, will love and care for us tomorrow.

Peace,
​
AJ