Notes for the Week Second Sunday in Lent March 8 2020
Dear friends,
There is much for us to contemplate this Lent. We are not only preoccupied with our inner thoughts but with what is going on around us in the world: continued war, continued hunger, continued discord, hate and racism and now a world-wide virus that has the power to stop the world in its tracks. We are viewing the possibility of non-movement, of losing our grip on our norms, witnessing the very real power of a cell too small to see, to create immense change in the way we live our lives. One thing is certain, we are on a track to the unknown.
The change is not gently gradual, benignly allowing itself to be contained or compartmentalized in faraway places. It is unpredictable, popping up where we least expect it to appear, and, I suppose, we should be grateful that it is sending warning shots over the bow to effectively seize our attention. These warning signs are not to be ignored, and we like so many others who gather for like reasons, must re-think how it is we will conduct ourselves and our ways of being, until the danger of contamination passes. We can be sure, that when it does, many of our ways of being together will have changed completely, leaving old worship traditions behind, as newly created traditions take their place in history.
So, we keep on. After much prayer and consideration of our congregation, and thinking of how we like to conduct ourselves and our life together at St. Aidan’s, and through conversation with priest colleagues in our diocese, I am asking us to follow the practices set forth in Bishop Greg Rickel’s message to the Diocese of Olympia, This is an updated message following his words from last week.
I urge you to read it carefully, and know that we will be following much the same path as Bishop Rickel is outlining, by immediately incorporating and adhering to three important practices:
Beginning immediately, we will not be using the chalice for Holy Eucharist. The chalice will remain on the altar, holding a very small amount of wine for the priest and to remind us of the sacred significance it holds for us all.
The Sacrament will be administered in the following ways:
I will offer the wafer by dropping it into a paper cup which you will pick up as you approach the rail. I am asking you to then eat the wafer. Prior to this, I will wash and sanitize my hands.
The Lay Eucharistic Minister will come behind me, as usually, this time s/he will pour a very small amount of wine into your cup. After you have received the Sacrament, I am asking you to drop your empty paper cup into a waiting receptacle. I will then take these and dispose of them by burning.
At the time of passing the Peace, we will greet each other with love without touching, hugging, etc. It’s time to be creative!
The font will be emptied, as will all vessels holding holy water. The only time we would use the font will be for baptisms, when fresh water and cleaned vessels are used.
Hand sanitizers will be made available at each end of every pew, in the narthex and in the chancel.
All Lay Eucharistic Visitors have been directed to curtail visits until the epidemic has passed.
I urge all to curtail visits to hospitals, assisted living facilities, etc. unless absolutely necessary.
Please do not come to church for worship, meetings, events or activities, if you are unwell. If you feel you have symptoms, please seek medical attention as soon as possible to determine if you are free of the coronavirus. If you have been exposed to the virus, I ask you to alert us as soon as possible.
If you are feeling free of symptoms, come to church! We worship and pray together, we laugh and cry together, we play together, and we are used to fighting off all that would plague us!
We journey together,
Mother Esme+
