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Red Door Chronicles


From the Rector:
 

“Valley goes two weeks with no new virus cases,” is the newspaper headline as I sit down to write my article this month. Which is really remarkable—so far at least, Montana is just about the safest place one could want to be, to ride out the pandemic.
 
Yet even here caution remains abundant: just a few days earlier, the headline was, “Superintendents recommend remote learning continue.”
 
There is no doubt a connection between these two headlines. One reason we have no new cases, is that the public has been so careful about too much togetherness. Public health has come at a huge cost, but our caution seems to be paying off.
 
This same combination of gratitude and caution is what I heard from the members of CCE when I started asking opinions on re-opening the church for in-person worship. The Governor’s plan for re-opening the state’s economy gave permission for in-person worship to resume on April 26, provided careful planning was in place to ensure social distancing. Bishop Stebbins has given permission for Episcopal churches to resume in-person worship on May 10, provided that we take the time before that time to come up with really good protocols for safety. Yet when I asked how interested members are about re-opening, for the most part, the answer was, “No rush! We’ve got a good thing going, let’s not mess it up.”
 
I’m fine with that answer. I wouldn’t be going to in-person worship anyway, being as I am in a “vulnerable” category due to age. So the plan is to continue doing what we’ve been doing, namely worshipping online, and having our meetings and other get-togethers online also, until Phase III of the Governor’s plan is announced. Then we’ll see what can be done.
 
I do go over to the church most days, to bring in the mail and check on things. Others look in from time to time also. I can tell they are coming in, because the sanctuary looks clean, and the yard is spruced, and the bills are paid, and pledges are being deposited, etc. I really appreciate that in these low-key ways, parish life goes on! Thank you very much to all who are making contributions of this sort. Why, even the signboard gets updated every week, with a verse from the previous Sunday’s lessons. This week the message is very apt: “Love one another deeply from the heart.”
 
So it is a strange season for us all. We are learning as we go, how to make it all work. Please keep being cautious, and please keep being grateful. There is so much to be grateful for, and Easter season brings it all home. Where would we be without the hope of resurrection? In that hope, we live already in a new creation. The new creation is our real shelter-in-place, even amid all that is so strange.
 
Blessings to all,
Donnel+

 

Something new in Montana
 
Among the innovations due to COVID-19 there is one that you may not know about, but actually affects us all.
 
It is a weekly Zoom meeting every Monday night at 7:00 PM, with Bishop Stebbins and the clergy of the diocese of Montana. It is a regular gathering she has called so we can check in with each other. We find out how things are going in places like Miles City, or Helena, or Eureka, or, for that matter, in the Flathead Valley. It is a chance also to get a common sense of direction from our new Bishop, and the assurance that we are in it together, moving through tough times in a unified manner.
 
Up to now my exposure the other clergy other than those in our area of state has been pretty limited. There were quite a number I didn’t know at all. It has been instructive and helpful to get to know them, and to learn from one another. My leadership of CCE has definitely been influenced by these discussions.
 
I am also appreciative of the calm way that Bishop Marty has taken charge of the situation. Her guidance is firm but makes sense. It reflects her conversations with other church leaders and with health officials in the state capitol. She gives each of us the scope to do what makes sense in our situations, but within definite parameters. We aren’t just making it up as we go, in other words, we are a team.
 
I thought I should let the CCE community know this is happening, because otherwise you would have no idea! We really are not alone, we are part of the Episcopal community in the state as a whole, and that’s a good thing.

   


May Birthdays
 

May 2,    Marcello  Pierrottet
    
May 3,     Don Amundson

May 6,     Peg Scarff

May 7,     Jessee Newby

May 8,     Mayo Fisher

May 11,     Johanna Ward Chittenden

May 14,     Ida Fischer
        Mark David

May 17,     Hillary Willet

May 20,     Christian Pierrottet

May 22,     Ed Myers





May Anniversaries

May 13,    Bill & Patty Basco

May 24,    Maarten & Ida Fischer

May 25,    Brian & Julie Crandell

May 29,    John & MB Bertram

 

CHRIST CHURCH EPISCOPAL
Worship Committee Meeting
April 25, 2020
 

Attending via “Go To Meeting” on the internet:  Peg Stout, Marilyn Eberly, Dan and Lisa Prickett, Nancy Faure, Don Amundson, Barb Myers, Donnel and Janet O’Flynn.

Since the restrictions for group worship have occurred due to the Covid-19 virus, services have been offered through “Go To Meeting” and You Tube on Sunday mornings at 10am with coffee hour following at 11am. Liturgical ministers schedule was sent out from Marilyn Eberly and Barbara Alsbury to cover assignments for April, May and June.

Two issues to be discussed during this meeting included: 1. How things are going with the current internet offerings, and 2. How to proceed in the future as restrictions are slowly lifted for gathering for worship.
 
Current services include a rotation of one week of Morning Prayer offered by “Go To Meeting” on the internet, and the next week of in Sanctuary taping of services without communion offered through You Tube and recorded by David Reese-- (thanks so much David and all who help with the services!).   Feedback from the group is that this plan is working well and should continue until we are able to open for in-person participation in worship services.
 
Phase 1 opening considerations for future planning:  As Montana opens in Phase 1, individuals over 65 years and those with health concerns will not be able to attend services.  After May 10, Bishop Stebbins will allow churches to open for services within state guidelines.  Our priest Fr. Donnel and our substitute priests, Fr. Bill and Fr. John are all over 65, as are 5 of the regular Lay Eucharistic Ministers.  Three Ministers are under 65 (Janelle Willett, JT Taylor, and Barbara Bridges), and Dan and Lisa Prickett are licensed in Nebraska and willing to lead Morning Prayer services.  Father Donnel will work on getting their licenses approved for Montana.  If Morning Prayer was offered and open at church, the current restrictions include allowing 30 or fewer people who maintain social distance recommendations, wear a mask, etc. to attend.  Godly Play leaders have decided they will not meet in person, due to the inability to maintain necessary separation with their current format.
 
It was decided that more input from younger members of the congregation should be obtained about their preference for future services.  It was suggested that in the future we could offer an 8am in church service, and a 10am service on line each Sunday.  Also, we may be able to aim for larger participation for Pentecost Sunday on May 31, and hold a service on Ascension Day, May 21.  We also reviewed the coffee hour and wondered if this should be offered at an earlier time on Sunday.
In the meantime, as everything is in flux, we will continue with the present plan to offer a Sunday 10am service—alternating Morning Prayer and In Sanctuary every other week online, with virtual coffee hour Sundays online.
 

Submitted by:  Barbara Myers

 

Christ Church Episcopal Vestry Minutes

April 16, 2020

 
Present:  Hillary Willett, Peggy Stout, Jay Flynn, Don Amundson, Jay Flynn, Pat Sylvia, Holly Ward, Julie Crandell, Larry Taylor, Father O’Flynn, Sam Detweiler, Kurt Larson, Janelle Willett
 
*This meeting took place online due to the COVID-19 Pandemic
 
Opening Prayer
 
Reports
Clerk’s Report: March 2020 Minutes.  Father O’Flynn suggested an edit, changing the phrase “tithe” to “donations” for our online giving. Also, John’s name was misspelled. Both will be changed. Pat moved to accept the amended minutes. Peggy seconded the motion. Minutes were accepted as amended.
 
Treasurer’s Report:  The loan CCE applied for from the Payroll Protection Plan is already in our bank account. Sam shared that it was a lot of work, but he’s glad it’s done, and we have the funds to continue paying the staff. There will be paperwork to show where exactly these funds went. We must report to the diocesan council at the end of the loan period. The funds will go towards paying the staff. Vestry thanked Sam for his work on this. The CCE budget is just a little behind, year to date, overall $5200 behind on pledge and plate through March. Our year to date bottom line is $3900 in the hole. Father O’Flynn thinks that these numbers aren’t too bad considering the state of the world and economy right now. Sam wanted us to know that the April utility bills were pre-paid in March so those numbers will be lower in April. We currently have $61,000 in our bank accounts. Overall Father O’Flynn feels comfortable and positive with where we are at financially. Pat pointed out too that April is not over yet so more pledge and plate may still come in. Peggy moved to accept the treasurers report. Hillary seconded the motion. Treasures report accepted.
 
Jr. Warden’s Report:  Peggy has continued to be a busy bee! She had Central Heating come and look at our furnaces and boilers. They are all in good shape. However, one of them (the Lennox) needs a new filter. She suggested that we get on an annual customer care plan. That would consist of them checking our furnaces and boilers, replacing the filters (and giving us an extra one), us receiving a discount on service calls and having emergency priority. The cost of this would be $700. Don said we should check in with Denning (the company that put the Lennox in) because he has suggested getting on an annual plan before and he thinks they would be cheaper. Father O’Flynn echoed that getting a 2nd opinion is always wise. Peggy agreed to contact them and get back to the vestry with this 2nd quote. She also reported that the bricks that Julie ordered have arrived and fit. She’s also begun raking out the flower beds.  Finally, the memorial plaque on the signboard has been repaired for $100 and will be put in place later this year.
 
Senior Warden’s Report:  There’s not too much to report on currently. Julie is pleased that the loan to continue paying staff has arrived. She reported that the online services have gone well. The vestry echoed that sentiment.
 
Rector’s Report:  Continuing the discussion about our current online church services, Father O’Flynn pondered if there is a “best” way to host our church services. We’ve done live Morning prayer, and we’ve also done pre-recorded church services. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. He asked for feedback from the vestry. People like being able to see and visit with each other in the live version, but also like the flexibility to watch and share the pre-recorded message. It was decided that for now we will continue to go back and forth, as will Godly play.
 
Old business
The Warming Center had to close due to the pandemic, but the Samaritan House is opening an Emergency Housing Collaboration. Our space is no longer needed, and they’ve begun to clean their things out. We are pleased we got to provide an important space for them.
 
Handicap Lift:  Father O’Flynn has some new developments to report. The vestry had previously approved hiring A Plus to do our lift repairs. Upon further inspection Father O’Flynn realized that their contract states that before they can begin their work, we need to get a variance. Julie is finding out if the city would be willing to grandfather us in. Father O’Flynn was also concerned after talking to the state elevator inspector and he had never heard of A Plus. Further research revealed that they are a licensed company, but a new one. We also need to find out if their employees are licensed to do work in Montana. It was previously discussed that perhaps the competing big from Big Sky was so low would not follow ADA compliances. Father O’Flynn learned that they are a mom & pop company and therefore don’t have to pay union fees which would explain their much lower bid. After some discussion regarding which company to use and how to get a variance, it was agreed that Father O’Flynn would do some more research and get back to the vestry when he has more information.
 
New business
Greg Scarff is stepping down as our webmaster in May so need to look for a replacement.
Each vestry member shared with how they are handling the self-isolation. Everyone is in good spirits but is growing weary of the isolation.
 
Announcements
Next Vestry:  Thursday May 21, 7:00 PM
Closing:  The Lord’s Prayer

Worship in May

 
Our pattern of Sunday worship currently alternates between live Morning Prayer online, “house-church,” and ante-Communion, pre-recorded in the sanctuary and posted on Youtube.
 
Liturgical assistants, please look below for your names on the schedule. I have drawn from the schedule Marilyn made up a few weeks ago, and am trying to involve as many people from that as possible.
 
 

 
May 3: Four Easter,                            Morning Prayer online at 10:00AM
Good Shepherd Sunday                      Lectors: Barbara Bridges and Catherine Flynn
                                                            Prayer Leader: John Faure
 
 
May 10: Five Easter,                           Service recorded in the Sanctuary, posted on Youtube
Mothers’ Day                                      Eucharistic Minister: Janelle Willet
 
 
May 17: Six Easter,                             Morning Prayer online at 10:00 AM
Rogation Sunday                                 Lectors: JT Taylor and Colby Wood
                                                            Prayer Leader: Peggy Stout
 
Thursday May 21: Ascension Day       Evening Prayer online at 5:30 PM
                                                            Lectors and Prayer Leader TBA
 
May 24: Seven Easter                         Service recorded in the Sanctuary, posted on Youtube
                                                            Eucharistic Minister: Marilyn Eberly
 
May 31: Day of Pentecost                   Morning Prayer online at 10:00 AM
                                                            Lectors: Don Amundson and Sharyn Curtis
                                                            Prayer Leader: Patty Basko
 

Online Donations


The church is now able to accept donations online on its donation website: https://ccepiscopal.square.site

You can go to it directly or there are links to it on facebook and on the news blog tab on the church website. Just click the donation plate. It requires a credit card and works like a normal online purchase. Click on 0.00 to enter the amount you would like. It works well on a computer or on your phone and accepts all types of cards. There are credit card processing fees for the transaction. They are 2.9% of the donation amount plus $0.30 per transaction. For example, if a $100 donation is made the church will receive $96.90.

Several people have been asking about recurring donations. Unfortunately, we do not have an option for this via the Church’s website. You can however set this up through your own bank. It depends on the bank, but you may be able to setup recurring direct deposits, ACH transfers, or person to person to transfers. Talk with your bank about the best way to do this, often it can be setup through online bill pay. You may need the church’s account and routing number, if so just let us know and we will get you the information. You can often avoid the processing fee with this kind of payment.

As we all get acquainted with our new realities please let us know if there are other platforms you would like to use to make donations to the church. Currently the church does not have a Venmo, CashApp, or other similar services. If there is interest, we can look into offering that as well.

Finally, if you would prefer, a good old fashioned check mailed through the postal service still works just fine.

Regards,
John Bertram
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