From the Vestry of St. Clare’s Church: A message on our efforts to provide spiritual support while protecting our clergy, staff and parishioners from the risks of contagion during this pandemic.
You should all be aware that, at the direction of Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, St. Clare’s has cancelled all worship services and in person committee meetings through May 10, and directed that office staff should work from home where possible.
In response, Maryjane, Kelly Scheu and John Goodell are providing an online Sunday sermon with music via the church website. John is planning to hold virtual Children’s Choir rehearsals and Suzanne, who has blessedly been cleared to return to work following her recent knee surgery, is working to provide the parents of our Children & Youth program with lessons and activities that they can do at home.
To enable virtual parish activities, John Goodell has obtained a church license for Zoom, an application that allows participants with computer access (PC, laptop, tablets, smart-phones) to login to scheduled meetings and use their devices’ microphones and cameras to hear and see each other. An option to just join via phone for audio participation is also available.
Using Zoom, there will be a 9pm Night Prayers (Compline) service on (new date) Thursdays (see Events on the church website for details) and other activities (staff meetings, commission meetings, Lenten bible study, cell groups, and even the recent Vestry meeting) are transitioning to virtual. Participants have observed that, given the absence of human interaction outside the home for many of us, it was refreshing to be able to communicate interactively.
As the situation has progressed the Genesis Board and staff have been working to ensure everyone’s health and safety by minimizing the number of people who are in the building, minimizing interactions, and keeping the building clean. With all but critical activities cancelled, all doors to the building are being locked. Anyone requiring access should have an door code and enter by the backdoor, where sanitizing wipes are available. We ask that anyone who must use the building, please access only those areas that are absolutely necessary and to wipe down surfaces that they use. Minimal Genesis staff will be on duty, working very restricted hours. They will be performing deep cleaning in areas usually in use and wipe down surfaces in areas used by those in the building. The only restrooms that will be open will be the ones on the sanctuary level as this will minimize the cleaning that has to be done. But the situation is fluid and things may change.
Regretfully the Backdoor Food Pantry leadership has decided that, for the safety of their volunteers, patrons, the building staff, and all who have contact with them, they must suspend their direct distribution of food. It was found too difficult to maintain safe distances among the clients and with the volunteers. Additionally, Food Gatherers has closed their warehouse where BDFP volunteers were getting items for distributions. Food remaining from last Thursday’s distribution was transferred to the Bryant Community Center and we are hopeful that we can be a helpful partner with them while our pantry is closed.
As always our first concern is for our parishioners health and well-being. Anyone needing spiritual or logistical assistance should contact Maryjane (revmaryjane@saintclareschurch.org.) Volunteers have signed up to maintain contact with specific members of the congregation who may be elderly and/or isolated (see the “Ways You Can Help” button on the church website), but others should feel free to contact them as well or anyone else whose company you may be missing or for whom you feel concern.
And if we can’t (BCP Baptismal Covenant) continue in the “fellowship [and] the breaking of bread” at this time, we can at least continue in “the prayers“, particularly for the health professionals on the front lines, our clergy and staff working to comfort and support us, and any others who may be at risk or in distress.
Please continue to support our common life by paying your pledge and otherwise contributing to the church, perhaps to the Discretionary Fund Parish Match (https://www.saintclareschurch.org/2020/03/18/rectors-discretionary-fund/).
In these times of stress and uncertainty, it is good to remember a quote from Desmond Tutu, “You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them”.
In God’s Grace,
| The Rev. Maryjane Peck | revmaryjane@saintclareschurch.org |
| Linda Klimach Sr. Warden | LKlimach@comcast.net |
| Kathy Daly Jr. Warden | kthdaly@gmail.com |
| Linda Henny Jr. Warden | linhenny@umich.edu |
| Mary Lu Barth | barthrm@comcast.net |
| Chris Cook | ccook19b@comcast.net |
| Barry Fuller | barryfullermd@gmail.com |
| Ed Happ | ed.happ@gmail.com |
| John Little | jlittle42@att.net |
| Michael Meyer | meyer.esquire@gmail.com |
| Eliza Nuxoll | eliza.nuxoll@gmail.com |
| Julia Smith | smithjms@umich.edu |
| Jennifer Wolf | jwolf2000@gmail.com |
| Ed Happ | ed.happ@gmail.com |
Image by enriquelopezgarre from Pixabay