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Dear People of Grace,


As Christians and ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ one of our most important tasks is caring for our people and taking care of the vulnerable. Grace is a parish with many elderly people. During this time of the Coronavirus some of our people are more vulnerable than the general population with regards to possibly contracting the virus and exhibiting symptoms. Our first concern is to establish guidelines to follow to keep everyone safe.

With that as our guiding principle and using abundant caution, Doug McClellan (Sr. Warden), Pat Walters (Jr. Warden), Fr. Bob, Dn. Jeanette & Fr. Gary have consulted and have come up with the following guidelines and practices:
  • We will have Sunday services as long as it appears healthy to do so. We will celebrate the Holy Eucharistic and administer only bread to the congregation. The wine will be consecrated and received by the Celebrant on behalf of the congregation. The Church’s understanding throughout the centuries has been that Christ is fully present in just the bread.
  • We will bless the water at the beginning of the service with the words that remind us of our baptism, however, immediately after blessing the water, the wooden cover will be placed on top so no one dips their fingers in the water as it has been noted that the virus can spread via water touched by others.
  • We suggest refraining from hand-shaking in general and especially as part of the passing of The Peace. Our hands are certainly the greatest vehicle of transmission. We ask that the Peace be conducted with a smile, a bow, a wave, the peace sign or the time-honored Eastern tradition of placing your hands in a prayer position and bowing to your neighbor as you say, “The Peace of Christ be With You.”
  • We ask that you be intentional with your gifts and place them in the alms basins located in the back of the church and at the front by the Baptismal font.
  • Alterations to our schedule:
    • Sunday Morning breakfast postponed until further notice
    • Sunday morning Adult and Youth Formation postponed until further notice
    • 3rd Sunday Taizé postponed until further notice
    • Monday morning Bible Study postponed until further notice
    • All Lenten programs postponed until further notice
    • Bell & Choir practice postponed until further notice
    • EfM postponed until further notice
    • Mary Hayes, Nancy Remmers funerals & possibly Maria Mason’s funeral postponed until further notice
    • OSL meetings postponed until further notice
    • Grace Episcopal Ministry meetings may be postponed. Please contact your ministry leader
Rest assured that your leadership at Grace is acting intentionally, carefully and faithfully to ensure all of our parishioners are safe. These are the policies, guidelines and changes as of today. Future changes may be necessary due to the changing situation and we may have to, once again, adapt. Further changes may include the canceling of being physically present for worship services.

Know that worship to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in whatever form is practical, will continue as it has for thousands of years. Nothing will change that. With the new technology available at Grace we hope to have this Sunday’s service available live streamed and available on the web for any person who cannot attend. May all these changes to our spiritual life remind us of our Lenten journey as we show with joy the love of our neighbors, especially those who are most vulnerable.

Finally, I want to end by sharing from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s reflection to the House of Bishops and the Church:

 
“We are part of the human family of God. Jesus came to show us that his way of love is the way of life. It’s God’s human family. We are in a time when remembering that may be important for all of us. We are in this together. What affects some directly affects all indirectly. We are part of a family. The human family of God. So look out for your neighbors, look out for each other. Look out for yourselves. Listen to those who have knowledge that can help to guide us medically and help to guide us socially. Do everything that we can to do this together, to respond to each other's needs and to respond to our own needs. Walk together children, don't get weary, because there’s a great camp meeting in the promised land.”

Peace in Christ,
Gary+
 
Fr. Gary Butterworth
Grace Episcopal Church | 871 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, NC 28804

graceavl.com | 828-254-1086  

Office Hours:  
Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

 
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