Dear Parish Family,
Coming onto our campus early each morning, I find myself both spiritually fed and helpfully grounded in the essential reminders inscribed upon the banner in front our of church. Two short declarative statements: Christ is alive and We’re all in this together, provide for me the simple and concise framework for the work that we engage together here at St. Edward’s. And on a gloomy and an unseasonably cold day, I trust that the warmth and the light generated from our shared commitment to being Christ’s Body alive in the world clothes us in the power of a Spirit that truly provides us with all the tools that we need to thrive during this season of pandemic.
The first reminder, that Christ is alive, orients us toward the appropriate joy that we are invited to rest in when circumstances challenge us. And it feels meet and right that something of the blessing of God’s own incarnation in Christ Jesus can be comprehended in the celebration of the nurturing and creative forces that have given birth to each of us. As we wish those who have loved and shaped us a Happy Mother’s Day this weekend, we inherently acknowledge that the creative force at the root of our being IS indeed…LOVE. Though many of us will feel the sting of sadness, not being with our own mothers on this physical plane any longer, our Gospel assures us that nothing (not even death) separates us from the love that has given us life and to which we return as God’s own. Just as Christ has conquered the grave, the connections that we share with those who no longer travel with us in physical form, transcend the mortal domain. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love. (I Cor 13:13)
In the second reminder, that We’re all in this together, I take profound comfort in the knowledge that we ARE doing church and faithfully engaging our senses of call as disciples. From our robust stewardship and outreach to our online worship and virtual gatherings, the inter-connectivity and the relationships that define St. Edward’s appear largely unfettered by our circumstances. Yes, we long to be face-to-face together in our sanctuary. Yet, in every phone conversation and through each selfless gesture of ministry, I can feel the presence of our living God in the Christian character of our parish. And as we approach relaunching in-person worship here this summer, I trust that we will move forward non-anxiously together through what may feel, at first, a bit restrictive and inorganic for many of us.
Just yesterday, our diocese released a detailed, eighteen-page document penned by The Task Force on Operations with the specific protocols that we will need to comply with in order to gather again in our churches. In conjunction with the phased plan for the re-opening of businesses issued through Governor Wolf’s office, we will be able to meet in groups of 25 for in-person worship after the Governor has lifted the stay at home order for our county. While we have no clear indication of when this will take place, we are making preparations now for obtaining the supplies that we will need in order to ensure that our sanctuary is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after each and every gathering and that we’ve got the masks and sanitization stations necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our parish.
As we continue to exercise patience in our wait, I give thanks for the Spirit-filled life and energy steering innovation, cooperation and collaboration here at St. Edward’s. In the following weeks, we’ll be leaning into our sense of inertia through an enhanced rhythm of community life through a virtual program including: Wednesday Evening Bible Study, Friday Evening Prayer, Weekend Worship, and Sunday Morning Virtual Coffee Hour. In conjunction with our daily communications, it is our heartfelt prayer that this pattern of worship, formation, and fellowship will continue to sustain us as we rise to the call to serve as ambassadors of Christ in challenging, new, and exciting ways. May the blessings of our loving and merciful Lord blanket each of you this weekend. Happy Mother’s Day,
Father Rick+
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Join us for worship this Sunday, the Fifth Sunday of Easter, online! Please check your email tomorrow, Saturday, May 9th in the afternoon for the link to the service and the bulletin to download. There will also be a link in the post, if you choose to give via online donations, to enable you to do that.
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After you worship, join us for our VIRTUAL COFFEE HOUR:
Consider joining the virtual coffee hour, hosted by Joe and Christina McLaughlin. Here are the NEW details (We are now hosting on the St. Edward’s Zoom account so that our time will be unlimited – SO PLEASE NOTE NEW LINK AND DETAILS IN YOUR FRIDAY DAILY MESSAGE):
Don’t forget to join Christina and Joe McLaughlin, hosting a weekly “Virtual Coffee Hour.” This is all new to us, so take a chance, set up zoom and see how it all goes! It will be fun to connect and whether you want to stay on for 5 minutes or the full session, grab your cup of coffee or tea, pull up a chair, and say hello to your fellow parishioners.
Here is a link of step-by-step instructions to set up zoom, that Christina put together.
https://sainteds.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/St-Eds-Coffee-Hour-Invite-and-How-To.pdf
And, if you have any questions, Christina has offered to please give her a call and she can help! Her number is 717-415-7043. DATE: SUNDAY, MAY 10TH
TIME: 10 – 10:45 am
PLACE: Wherever you are comfortable with your computer in your home environment!
WHAT TO BRING: Your coffee and something interesting to share with others!
** This join code and passcode will not be posted on the public website of Facebook.
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Please visit our website and on the home page under “News and Posts” you will find, on Fridays, a video message from Bishop Scanlan. We encourage you to take the time to view these weekly messages of prayer, encouragement, and sharing of ideas and diocesan resources you may find interesting to connect with.
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If you are engaged in connecting with a “buddy” – the system that Meredith Westgate had initiated back in March, this is a gentle reminder to keep reaching out! Everyone is very appreciative of the connections. Even if you are not assigned a “buddy” it would be great to give a fellow St. Edward’s parishioner a call to say “hello!” Thank you! As Father Rick says, “We are all in this together!”