COVID-19 Update from The Rev. Jacob A. Smith

Dear Calvary-St. George’s,

In times like these, we need as much clarity as possible, therefore I have waited to send something out in order to avoid rumors and having to back-track, which only leads to more confusion. In this e-mail, I want to share with you how we, as Christians, have handled pandemics in the past and, in light of that, how we as a congregation will handle our current COVID-19 pandemic for the time being.

In an age of accessible antibiotics, Urgent Care, people just “passing,” and pandemics being things that happen on the other side of the globe, a situation like this can bring us face-to face-with the finiteness of life in an anxiety-producing way. The notion that you are going to die can all of sudden become very, very real. The church historically has faced pandemics, such as leprosy and other plagues, with tremendous faith and courage. As a matter of fact, it was the churches’ willingness to wisely and faithfully care for the sick and not panic in the shadow of death that became a powerful witness to the pagan world. 

The Book of Common Prayer articulates the reason behind the church’s courage:

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“For to your faithful people, O Lord, life is changed, not ended; and when our mortal body lies in death, there is prepared for us a dwelling place eternal in the heavens.”

We believe the Gospel! The Gospel tells us that our deaths are already behind us as a result of being baptized in Jesus Christ. Never forget, you are already buried with Jesus in his death and will be raised with him in the resurrection from the dead (Romans 6 and Colossians 2). Anyone can trust God with their lives; as Christians we trust God with our deaths.

Hence, with the reality of COVID-19 in our city, we can receive each day as a gift from God and—with and despite our anxieties—offer ourselves up to serve Jesus in the face of our neighbors.

Therefore, we at Calvary-St. George’s will face the challenge of COVID-19 with both wisdom and courage. We are canceling all non-worship activities in the parish, including Sunday School, Devotion Groups and the Muhlenberg Lenten Reflections. However, our Common Table will continue to operate in limited capacity so that we don’t ignore those most vulnerable and we will be in contact with our A. A. communities and assess our capacity to host on a week-by-week basis.

Ben will live-stream a Devotion Group talk and Chelsy will live-stream our Sunday School lessons, which will also be available on our Facebook page and Youtube channel. Our Sunday services will also be streamed on the same platforms.

It is important for us to gather on Sunday and worship God, whether it is at church or at home. This is when the rubber hits the road. So we will still have Sunday services, however, we will be offering Morning Prayer, instead of Holy Communion. Morning Prayer was the principle service in most Episcopal Churches, including both Calvary and St. George’s until 1979. We encourage everyone to share the peace with a nod or a wave, and before you come to church, remember James 4:8,  “… wash your hands, you sinners.” As a staff, we will reevaluate everything after Lent V and keep you posted as we move forward.

In regards to prayer, please join us in praying for the following:

• The Lord’ intervention in this outbreak

• The total healing of those infected with coronavirus

• The Lord’s protection for those most vulnerable

• Wisdom, guidance, and protection for healthcare workers and government officials

Finally, it is becoming more difficult for the clergy to get into hospitals—nevertheless, we will do all that we can. In the meantime, if you need prayer for healing and/or would like to schedule an appointment for prayer and counsel, please do not hesitate to call the church office. Ben and I would be happy to schedule an appointment.

Pax,

The Reverend Jacob A. Smith