Thursday's Announcements,March 19th, 2020

SPECIAL COVID-19 VERSION

Father Mark's Announcements
  

1. So, what's new? Anything going on in your lives?? Hahaha. Dumb joke. Of course EVERYTHING is upside down for now and for the immediate future! We are living through something unprecedented -- something future generations will talk about and study. That makes us special. I hope you are feeling special :) OK, had to get that snark out, but we're all getting a little punchy I think. It may in fact get worse before it gets better, but IT WILL GET BETTER. Our job is to do what the experts say -- practice good and frequent hand washing, keep 6 feet away from others when you encounter them, and eliminate all unnecessary gatherings. 
2. I have to say this -- three weeks ago I made a flip remark in church that I was not worried about this virus. That was wrong, I was wrong, and I 100% apologize and take it back. This thing is NO JOKE. 
3. The church continues to operate at a minimal level inside the walls, but we are actually doing more than usual in some areas. We are trying to keep in contact with each other, and I have heard many great stories of our people taking care of each other in wonderful ways. Here are things we can do:

• Contact shut-ins and folks most at-risk and offer to run errands. You don't even have to go in, you can drop your deliveries of groceries or prescriptions on the porch. This might be super helpful in terms of physical health, but also emotional well-being. Who do you know in our church who might be isolated, and how might you reach out to them?
• A phone call is a great thing at this time. I am in the process of calling all of our households and checking in -- beginning with those my age and older.
• Imagine how you might help financially at this time. Someone you know, people in our parish, people in your friend or family group -- someone will be suffering from loss of wages as this unfolds. We may be called on to be generous to the marginally employed, as they will be hardest hit. Yesterday I was on a conference call with local pastors and challenged them to consider donating any stimulus money we receive to start a fund for this purpose. That idea may come to fruition. 
• THIS IS  MAYBE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING -- IF YOU HAVE A COUGH AND FEVER, CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER, AND EVEN IF YOU ARE HEALTHY, DON'T SPREAD THE VIRUS.

5.  I expect to hear from the Bishop tomorrow about his directives regarding public worship and Holy Week/Easter. It would be a dramatic step to cancel our worship during the highest season of our church year, but if it is necessary, we will do what we can to be creative and respond to my need and your need to worship in ways that bring us peace, comfort, hope, and joy.
 
6. In the meantime, this Sunday we will again offer live-streamed  worship at 10:00 A.M., which you can follow in real-time or watch anytime at our Facebook page "Saint Francis Episcopal Church." I know not everyone uses Facebook, so I am trying to figure out how to make it available on our website. If anyone knows how to do that (capture the Facebook video and export or link it to our webpage) please email or call me and help me out. 

7. We will hold our first "Zoom" video vestry meeting next week, and after that I will be working on doing more using that online platform, including bible studies and catechism (those kids are out of school -- let's make 'em WORK!)

8. So -- that's what I know for now. If you have any questions or concerns or ideas, please don't hesitate to text, email, or call me. This is a time of great innovation and experimentation with new ways to be church, and nothing is off the table at this time. 

Do know that I love you dearly and am praying for you daily and we are all doing our best to serve God and our neighbor. This is a chance for us to make our faith real. This is the stuff God is really good at. 

GINA’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
This Week’s Schedule     March 16-22
 
ALL IN-PERSON SERVICES SUSPENDED FOR NOW
SUNDAY’S 10 A.M. SERVICES WILL BE LIVE STREAMED ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE – ST. FRANCIS ESPISCOPAL CHURCH
 

EASTER FLOWERS 
The sign-up sheet for Easter Flowers is on a clipboard in the Narthax. Please sign up by Palm Sunday if you want someone remembered at the Easter Service.
UNTIL IN PERSON SERVICES ARE RESTORED, PLEASE EMAIL GINA  TO SIGN UP FOR EASTER FLOWERS. 
EMAIL: STFRANCIS@ALLOPHONE.COM
 
Gina’s Hours
Please note that during this time, I will be working regular my regular hours of 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday’s only.  Wednesday and Thursday, I will be working from home.  
 
 
For Guidance 
Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with thy most gracious favor, and further us with thy continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy Name, and finally, by thy mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.