We knew something special was going on. We knew not only because of the new clothes, but also because such a fuss was being made over us. We also knew something was happening at our home parish, The Church of the Messiah, which was the reason for the dress up. Everything felt new. It was in the excitement of the air. The day itself seemed new. There was a freshness and aliveness among the people as at no other time. I didn’t know why, but this young boy felt new as well. In fact, I knew I was new! Something was happening.

Now I know more clearly that something was happening because something had happened on that first Easter Day. It was not the resurrection of an idea, or a belief system, or a feeling, but of Jesus of Nazareth. Something happened to Jesus himself. The Scriptures are clear about this. “You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised: he is not here” (Mark 16:6). And because something happened to Jesus, something is happening amongst his people. We may not be able to explain it all nor do we need to.  Even the Scriptures don’t explain it, they proclaim it – Christ is Risen. So we too gather in a community of worshipful attention and intention, virtually or otherwise, to proclaim that something happened to Jesus. By proclaiming that truth, we look for and expect that something is happening among us.

At Easter we gather to shout God’s victory, not our own. We are raised because Jesus is raised. Out of that hope we are invited to live a life in thanksgiving for that gift with hearts bursting with joy, and thereby bring God’s transforming love to bear in all that we do. This new life takes shape as we witness for God’s peace, God’s justice, God’s embrace, and the defeat of anything that keeps anyone in the bondage of not knowing the freedom of God’s hope for her or him. It is precisely within this life that the proclamation of hope to those in need and pain takes place. Jesus’ resurrection is a radical affirmation that it is right now where eternal life becomes real in us as a people of healing for the world.

The great liturgical theologian Aidan Kavanagh said, “The Jesus of our faith died, rose, and became a people.” So we gather as a community to worship the One who is hope. As Christ is alive among us we are given the assurance that nothing can snuff out the life in us that Jesus has resurrected. Nowhere is it clearer to me than in the simple truth of God’s people struggling along with me to embrace our own gifted humanity.  We discover along the way that God’s new life is right in the midst of us. We are alive and new once again. Something is happening!

                                                                                 Bishop Skip

Thank you!
 

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Click here for this week's service bulletin.

Readings for the Second Sunday of Easter

April 11, 2021

The diocese has announced the shift back to Phase 2 of the Plan for Re-Entry.

They write, "Last month, we communicated a metric that would trigger the process of reopening and just last Monday, announced the provision of outdoor gatherings. In light of last week's new information produced by the CDC and the news that all Michigan adults will be eligible to receive the vaccine by April 5, the state-wide group has reconsidered this metric. We’ve said this all along - these decisions are made based on the available science and current realities. With this new information from the CDC and the rapidly increasing rate of vaccinations, we feel comfortable moving forward into Phase 2 sooner than expected with the knowledge that our Phase 2 precautions are effective and that we trust you, our congregational leadership, to make appropriate decisions for your population within the Phase 2 guidelines. Acknowledging the frustration of changed plans, we are hopeful that this will be welcome news. 

As a reminder, the following is included under Phase 2:

• Masks are required at all times, for both indoor and outdoor gatherings, (regardless of vaccination status).

• Regular cleaning, according to the current CDC standards. 

• In-person gatherings are permitted with capacity at 25% of your room capacity, or the maximum number of people for your space while maintaining 6 feet of distancing between households. 

• Outdoor gatherings are permitted with capacity based on the current state restrictions. At this time, this number is capped at 300.

• In-person Holy Eucharist is permitted strictly according to the processes outlined on page 10. 

• A contact log is required for all persons entering your building in case of contact tracing. 

• Food or beverages are not allowed as part of any gathering. 

• Food preparation is not allowed inside the building unless you have received explicit permission from the Standing Committee for your service ministry. 

Please review the detailed Plan for Re-Entry for Great Lakes Episcopalians for much more detail as well as other requirements and recommendations not mentioned here. Phase 2 begins on page 7."

So what does this mean for us? Both of our parishes must continue to follow our church policies that our vestries created in the Fall. You can read the current policy for St. Andrew's here and the current policy for St. Mary's here. The St. Andrew's vestry eased the restrictions for outdoor gatherings at their vestry meeting this week. St. Andrew's can now meet outdoors as long as the daily number of new cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 people is below 20. The St. Mary's vestry will also be reviewing their policy for re-opening.

This means that are move back to in person worship will happen in stages at both parishes. I will be closely watching the rates of Covid cases in both of our counties. My goal, and the goal of your vestries, is to keep every single member of our churches and our visitors as safe as possible. Our church buildings will begin reopening to visitors and Mtr. Radha will resume regular in person office hours in the next few weeks.

As we move back into in-person worship, our online offerings will change a bit, but we will continue to offer online services in some format on Sunday mornings for all those who aren't able to join us in person. We will communicate all changes before they go into effect.

                        St. Andrew's Episcopal Church                              St. Mary's Episcopal Church
                               323 South State Street                                           815 Lincoln Street
                                Big Rapids, MI 49307                                            Cadillac, MI 49601