IMPORTANT MESSAGE
St. Brigit Episcopal Church
March 13, 2020
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This is God's Church and we are in God's hands and that's a really good place to be!
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This morning, Bishop Kym Lucas called for all in-person meetings of the Episcopal Churches in Colorado to halt for the next few weeks. Deacon Bookie and Fr Rick attended the conference call with other Colorado clergy and Bishop Kym Lucas this morning. Bishop Kym’s letter is as follows:
“I am therefore, after much prayer, asking all clergy and lay leaders to suspend in-person, public gatherings from MARCH 22 until APRIL 1 ( this includes outside and para-church groups). I encourage congregations with particularly vulnerable populations and those in areas where the virus is most prevalent (especially Denver, Pitkin and Eagle counties), to suspend services as early as THIS SUNDAY. “
With this in mind we are canceling all in-person services and all other activities at St. Brigit Episcopal Church starting THIS SUNDAY, MARCH 15 to protect the most vulnerable amongst us.
This means that the church is closed to ALL in-person meetings, including outside groups, at least through April 1st. The leadership of St. Brigit along with the Office of the Bishop will be reevaluating the situation prior to April 1st and will act in the best interest of all our communities.
We are also putting into place opportunities for online worship, meetings and gatherings so we can stay in touch and keep folks in our prayers.
Deacon Bookie is providing leadership for those who are homebound, sick, and already living on the margins who might need a little extra help at these times. She is developing a program to assist those who may need food, shopping, or medication pickups. We are also aware that there will be some who will be adversely affected economically and not be able to work as a result of closures. The information for contacting Bookie is at the end of this message for needs or to assist with deliveries to front doors ONLY. Please be aware there will not be any Eucharistic Visitors at this time. Fr. Rick and Deacon Bookie are available for pastoral care by calling them at the numbers listed at the end of this message.
Fr. Rick, Deacon Bookie and Eileen are working with ZOOM as the platform to have an online presence for church services during this time. There will be more information shortly on how to access this online platform and the services that will be available. We will not be ready to be online for this Sunday, however, so there are some alternatives listed below.
We plan on providing many opportunities for prayer and connection online over the next few weeks and we do hope and pray that we can gather again on Palm Sunday and walk through Holy Week and Easter together. Please keep all those who are suffering from the effects of COVID-19 in your prayers. You can request prayer for our Brothers and Sisters at St. Brigit and for others in our lives by emailing prayerchain@stbrigit.org.
Know that we take these steps not out of fear, but out of a deep desire to lead our community in doing what is best to keep one another safe. The risks of community spread are many and not completely known for COVID-19 so we have decided to act in the best interest of ALL, not just a few.
We are told in Romans 8 that “nothing can separate us from the love of God, not hardship, or distress, persecution or famine…..”. Know that God is with us in these times, know that during this time of Lent we are called to reflect on our life in Christ and to lift others up in prayer. This will be a “wilderness time” for many, but know we walk together even if separated.
Here are 3 links you can use for this coming Sunday morning and for all of the Lenten Sundays this month.
1. Streaming from the National Cathedral in Washington DC: cathedral.org
a. BEST BET: our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will preach
b. 9:00 am Mountain Time
2. Streaming. From Seattle: saintmarks.org
a. 9:30 Mountain time
3. Streaming from Lancaster, PA: saintjameslancaster/worship-care/livestream
Anyone who would like to assist Deacon Bookie in caring for our fellow parishioners, please contact her. Anyone who can help create an online presence on zoom, please contact Eileen. Future e-mails will be coming as we share ways to stay connected on line or by phone.
Blessings and Prayers for you all,
Rev. Rick Meyers, Interim Vicar
Rev. Nancey Johnson Bookstein, Deacon
Peg Nelson, Bishop’s Warden
Eileen Bisgard, Parish Administrator
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Fr. Rick Meyers phone: 720-313-3716 e-mail: rick@fwrickmeyers.com
Deacon Bookie phone: 303/918-9110 e-mail: nanceybookstein@gmail.com
Peg Nelson phone: 303/912-9770 e-mail: peggynelson763@msn.com
Eileen Bisgard phone: 303/720-394-1525 e-mail: admin@stbrigit.org
Prayer Chain: e-mail: prayerchain@stbrigit.org
Diocesan Website: episcopalcolorado.org
(further /updated information)
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