The "Say A Prayer For All Those In Need!" Story

It was a ordinary day.  Just received my online mailing from my church, St. James Episcopal, in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  The mailing that arrived covers just about everything going on at St. James from the time of services offered to information about speakers who will give presentations during the month on important church issues.  

The newsletter is titled "Headlines and Happenings" and always includes an article from our rector, Fr. David Peck.  The latest issue's "A Letter From Fr. David", dated March 13, 2020, is somewhat different than most letters he sends to the parishioners of the church.  He began the letter with "Dear People of God, Again I begin my letter to you with the words of Jesus: "I am the vine, you are the branches." (John 15:5) Please memorize this verse and make it a common prayer with me.   He then added that his letter handed to the congregation last weekend needs to be amended, since the Bishop has issued a directive to close churches beginning this weekend.  So he writes: I HAVE MADE THE DECISION THAT, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, WE WILL WORSHIP TOGETHER ONLINE ONLY because of the size of congregations at Saint James.  PLEASE DO NOT ATTEND SERVICES AT CHRUCH UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.  

Fr. David Peck, St. James Minister

He then continued saying: As far as technology and staffing allow, Saint James will put as much of its ministry online through Livestream as possible.  Beginning this weekend Saint James will provide a choice of two beautiful livestreamed liturgies, a contemporary one Saturday night at 5 PM and a traditional liturgy Sunday at 10:30 AM.  We will also Livestream some midweek programs such as our Tuesday night teaching series, the urban Well's Mercy Seminar and the March 23d 275th Anniversary Lecture, among others.  In addition, we well support CYF ministries by ensuring that families, children and youth have access to formational material.  He also talked about the Coronavirus and said: Most generations in human history have had to deal with times of epidemic.  That we also have an easy means of accessing times of worship, meditation and study that bind us together in a great blessing.  He pointed out that Lent is exactly the season we need in which to meditate on where our treasure is; what we value most; and to free ourselves from anxiety by remembering the reality of Ash Wednesday that we are dust and dust shall return.  From here, we look with joy all the more to an Easter that will more surely come and for which we must more surely long.  He ends with, Thanks be to God!  Yours in faith, hope and love.  It seems that worldwide Coronavirus has affected all of us in our lives, with schools closing, sports being canceled and now church services being called off.  But, We Will Overcome!  So be it!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.