Covid19 Update Wed March 25^th 2020

Dear St. Stephen’s,

In light of our latest guidance from Bishop Reddall (see email on our website posted 3/24/2020), we regret that we will not be able to offer in home communion during the ongoing social separation directive that our National/World Health Organizations recommend.  The exception is that if your health becomes imperiled to the point of death, then I may be able to visit with you (if hospitals will allow) and offer prayers and spiritual comfort.

Additionally, I saw a news report last night that indicated the social distancing and remain at home directives seem to be having the desired affect of lowering new incidents of the corona virus.  A company called Kinsa has a smart thermometer that connects through wifi to report fever temperatures and geo-coordinates of where the reading was taken.  Using that data, the company can see where fevers are happening around the nation and can also see trends in fever reporting over time.  This has led to some data analysis that showed in several counties rising cases of fever and then a dramatic drop-off in fevers as those counties implemented stay-at-home directives.

Our Surgeon General has warned that the next week or two may be the worst we will experience.  If you have noted the news of what is happening in Italy, Governor Cuomo in New York has said that New York City is about two to three weeks behind Italy and the rest of our country is 2-3 weeks behind New York as to the impact this virus may have on us.

While our area of Cochise County still has only one confirmed reported case, we are unsure if that is due to a lack of testing or a lack of virus cases.  The Kinsa Fever Map shows our county to still be in the mild/low reporting of fevers, which could be an indicator, however, if Gov. Cuomo is correct, we also may soon see more cases in our area.

To do our part to protect and try to prevent the spread of the virus, I am making the decision for our church to limit even further our church activities.  The church office will be closed for the next several weeks.  Most of what Mark and I need to do for the church can be done from our homes.  We will have a once a week teller session to count and deposit our pledges and we will have a once a week check writing session to pay our bills.

Sunday worship will be limited to me and my laptop, probably from my home.  I will try to use Facebook Live again this coming week.  You will be able to join in watching either through the church’s facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/St-Stephens-Episcopal-Church-Sierra-Vista-142050989167098/)  or on our website by clicking on the link (text) that says “Click Here” (https://ststephensaz.org/).

I will do Morning Prayer with a homily.  Mark will continue to create a bulletin and post it to our website for you to download and use to follow along.  The lessons and collect of the day for each week can be found at http://www.lectionarypage.net/#march .  These can be downloaded in Word format also.

I am consulting with other colleagues about Holy Week and Easter Services.  It may be that we do something as a diocese or denomination?  I don’t yet know.  We will see.

I am available to talk with you even if I cannot visit with you in person.  My cell number is 562-743-3784.  My home number (only for emergencies if after 8pm or before 7am) is 520-335-2436.  You can also call the church phone and leave a message (it will automatically be sent to Mark and I).  We can still help you if you experience a shortage of something by crowd sourcing or running errands to the store or whatever we can help you with.

I am keeping each of you/us in prayer as we go forward.

Peace and serenity,

Rev. Allison +

Here are some prayer resources for your consideration,  Thanks Dottie!

SPIRITUAL COMMUNION

ATTRIBUTED TO ST. ALPHONSUS de LIGUORO (1696-1787)

My Jesus, I believe that you are truly in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. I love you above all things, and long for you in my soul. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. As though you have already come, I embrace you and unite myself to you; never permitme to be separated from you. Amen

PRAYER FOR A PANDEMIC, BY CAMERON BELIM

May we who are merely inconvenienced
Remember those whose lives are at stake.
May we who have no risk factors
Remember those most vulnerable.
May we who have the luxury of working at home
Remember those who must choose between preserving their health or making
their rent.
May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their schools
close
Remember those who have no options.
May we who have to cancel our trips
Remember those that have no safe place to go.
May we who are losing our margin money in the tumult of the economic
market
Remember those who have no margin at all.
May we who settle in for a quarantine at home
Remember those who have no home.
As fear grips our country (and the world)
Let us choose love.
During this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other
Let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbors. AMEN