Changes in St. Dunstan’s Events:
Wed. Eucharist and Bible Study cancelled until April 2.
Dear Friends,
I am canceling the Wednesday Eucharist and Bible Study until after Easter. I love these groups, I love worshipping together and studying together with all of you, but given the current situation and the age of most of our group, I think we need to be cautious. I will assess the situation weekly and if we can start again sooner, we will.
In the mean time, please take care of yourselves. If you need anything, if you need help in any way, please let me know. We will continue to take care of one another through this corona virus situation.
Yours in Christ,
The Rev. David Marshall
Tuesday Dinners are being served in to-go containers. Entry to the building is restricted to staff only.
Book Group March 17 cancelled
St. Dunstan’s Worship Plans During Corona Virus
Saturday, March 7
Dear friends,
The situation with the corona virus continues to develop. Today we received guidance from King County asking us to cancel or postpone gatherings of 50 people or more.
At this time, we are planning to hold worship services at St. Dunstan’s Church. The 8:00 AM service usually has about 12 people, so we should be fine there. The later service is likely to have fewer than 50 people, given the new directions. Having said that, we need you to be wise about your participation.
Please stay home if you are in one of the higher risk groups. People over 60, those who are immune-compromised, and/or those with underlying chronic medical conditions are at higher risk of having serious complications from novel coronavirus.
Please stay home if you are sick. If you have had a fever or cough in the last few days, stay home.
If you need help, call the office at (206) 363-4319, contact our Care Teams (cktynes@yahoo.com) or contact me at rector@sdchp.org or (206) 334-0175.
As Bishop Rickel said in a recent message: We can and will get through this. Our actions now are not taken out of fear, but out of the common good, and a hope of being part of the solution, and not part of the problem. Let us be about our work, in a new way.
We will take care of one another with love and compassion. We will get through this with God. You are all in my prayers.
Yours in Christ,
The Rev. David Marshall
Rector
With Christian Care
Throughout history, Christians have gone to great lengths to take care of one another and their neighbors in times of disease. Our faith and our calling lead us to care for each other and for those in need, especially at times like this. We will respond now with love, compassion, and appropriate caution. We are the Church that Feeds People.
Bishop Rickel’s Directive
The situation with COVID-19 in our area has become more serious since we worshipped together on Sunday.
Our Bishop sent out new guidelines for worship. These include:
- No common cup. The cup may be on the Altar, but we will not share the wine.
- We will share communion with bread alone. This is full communion.
- We will drain the baptismal font (we already did this for Lent).
- We will not shake hands or hug when sharing the peace, but will simply bow, place a hand over one’s heart, or wave.
- We are suspending sending Eucharistic Visitors to people’s homes with communion.
- We will not pass the offering plate from person to person but will put it in a central place where people can make their offerings.
Our Congregational Response
We will continue the procedures we started last week:
- Wiping down all the pew surfaces with a disinfecting wipe before services,
- Providing hand sanitizer, and
- Having the ministers of the table sanitize their hands frequently during the distribution of communion.
- Anyone who is sick in any way should stay home.
- Anyone who is in one of the high-risk categories should stay home from church. This includes those with a compromised immune system, heart or lung issues, those with any other health issue that makes them vulnerable, and those over 60. Please make the choice that is right for you and your health.
I will be at church, leading worship for those who can be there.
We are running low on hand sanitizer at the church and there is none to be found in stores. If you have a bottle you could contribute, please bring it to church on Sunday. The same is true for Clorox Wipes. If you have a supply you would be willing to donate, please bring them in.
Caring for One Another
Please let the church know if you need any support during the restrictions and isolation of this corona virus situation. We have healthy volunteers available to deliver groceries or help with simple errands. Our Care Teams will be checking in with everyone in the congregation weekly. Let’s take care of each other, and please do let us know if you need help. Contact me at rector@sdchp.org or our care teams at cktynes@Yahoo.com if you need assistance or if you would like to help, or call the church office at (206)363-4319.
If you have loss of income because of quarantine or isolation, and need assistance, please know that the Rector’s Discretionary Fund may be used to assist financially in certain situations. Contact one of the clergy if you would like to discuss this. The fund is limited, and for one-time use, but exists for circumstances such as this. This aid is confidential.
We Are the Church That Feeds People
Tuesday Dinners: We are putting plans in place to continue feeding people on Tuesdays in new ways. We hope to be able to serve the same excellent food in to-go boxes distributed at the doors of the church. We need to avoid having groups of people standing in line together, sitting at crowded tables, and serving themselves at a buffet line.
Sunday Coffee Hour: We will no longer be accepting food prepared at home for our Sunday Coffee hour offering. Our commercial kitchen allows us to control the safety of food we serve. Commercially packaged food from the supermarket is fine too.
Encouraged by Faith
God is present among us, for us, and through us for the world, here and now, in this moment, even in the midst of this community health crisis. We know God through our prayer, worship, and loving care for those in need. I pray that you will all be encouraged by the presence of God, literally, as in, given courage by your faith.
Finally, I offer this prayer that was adapted by the Dean of our Cathedral, Dean Thomason:
A Prayer for Coronavirus Healing
Jesus Christ, you traveled through towns and villages “curing every disease and illness.” At your command, the sick were made well. Come to our aid now, in the midst of the global spread of the coronavirus, that we may experience your healing love.
Heal those who are sick with the virus. May they regain their strength and health through quality medical care.
Heal us from our fear, which prevents nations from working together and neighbors from helping one another.
Heal us from our pride, which can make us claim invulnerability to a disease that knows no borders.
Jesus Christ, healer of all, stay by our side in this time of uncertainty and sorrow.
Be with those who have died from the virus. May they be at rest with you in your eternal peace.
Be with the families of those who are sick or have died. As they worry and grieve, defend them from illness and despair. May they know your peace.
Be with the doctors, nurses, researchers and all medical professionals who seek to heal and help those affected and who put themselves at risk in the process. May they know your protection and peace.
Be with the leaders of all nations and all public officials. Give them the foresight to act with charity and true concern for the well-being of the people they are meant to serve. Give them the wisdom to invest in long-term solutions that will help prepare for or prevent future outbreaks.
Whether we are home or abroad, Jesus Christ, stay with us as we endure and mourn, persist and prepare. In place of our anxiety, give us your peace.
Jesus Christ, heal us. Amen.
—adapted from a prayer by Kerry Weber, American Magazine, March 3, 2020
You are all in my prayers. Take good care of yourselves and one another.
Yours in Christ,
