Dear St. Matthew's Family,
After much discernment, prayer, research, and consultation with St. Matthew's leadership and the Bishop, I have made the hard decision to suspend worship services at St. Matthew's at this time. Please read
Bishop Nicholas's Pastoral Letter allowing for this change.
We are a people of love, and right now perhaps the holiest way to love the most vulnerable in our midst is to not gather together, even if that gathering is to praise God. Please know that I do not make this decision lightly, in fact it breaks my heart not to share this time on Sundays together. But it would break my heart even more should someone get sick from our common worship.
For now, Sunday morning activities, including the 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. services, Sunday School, fellowship, and Book Group, will be canceled. Please watch your emails for updates on when we will resume Sunday worship, and how various groups may gather via Zoom.
Although we will not meet together in person, there are many ways to pray at home. The Diocese has provided this helpful resource:
https://www.episcopalri.org/worship-at-home/
Included in this link is a way to watch the streamed version of National Cathedral's service. There are also links to the Sunday readings and Morning and Evening Prayer.
Created by a colleague Rev'd Jo Kershaw, here's a
booklet about praying from home.
I have created a YouTube Channel to pray with you all. I will update it this afternoon with a video, and hopefully regularly during this time. Expect a sampling of Morning Prayer, Noonday Prayer, Evening Prayer, and Compline.
Click here to watch.
The Thrift Store is closed until further notice. The Jamestown Community Piano Concert for this month is canceled. The building will remain open for our renters should they choose to keep meeting.
I will send out another update as I have more information. Thank you for your grace and patience during this time.
I will end with a prayer adapted from the New Zealand Prayer Book:
