A Letter from our Interim Rector
Letter to the Congregation
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
He is risen indeed!
Easter blessings to all! Keep your decorations up at home, Easter is a season of 50 days! I know, I never did find the box with my decorations; however, I knew exactly where the decorations were that were my mom’s; so it was special to have those sitting around.
My special thanks to Bill, Phillip, Catherine, Fay, Victoria, John and Alfonso! I know all of you put hours and hours into bringing the beautiful worship that was offered from St. John’s from Palm Sunday through Holy Week and Easter! I found that there was a beauty in the simplicity that brought us back to what the Easter journey actually is in our lives. The chapel looked absolutely beautiful! Thank you, Catherine! In the midst of the Corona virus, our chapel has experienced an incredible revival and become an anchor for all of us!
I’m writing this message on Monday, April 13. I really can’t believe it has been a month since one of Bp. Andy Doyle’s early memos to the clergy and leadership of the Diocese. He shared then, “When we gather we share the virus. Dr. Peter Pisters, president of MD Anderson Cancer Center and Dr. David Callender, president of Memorial Hermann, were very clear: ‘This is not about the food, nor about the bread and wine, and not about the pews and plates. This virus is spread from human crowds and gatherings.’” And so it has spread and we keep learning more about this virus. We also keep learning more about ourselves, as a worldwide community now, for the most part, socially distanced from one another. And, as we begin this Easter season, I believe we have learned and will continue to learn, God is in our midst and, indeed, we are His children. His children for whom he loves and cares for incessantly.
This letter and e-blast will probably come out on Wednesday, April 15. A date always marked with civic responsibility as the income tax deadline. Even that has been postponed until July 15! I always remember the date as the anniversary of my Baptism which was April 15, 1956 at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Louisville, KY. Much more pleasant connection with the date!
So, as we move through the season of Easter, and do our best to abide by regulations; may we be reminded that when we were baptized, commitments were made with the response, “I will, with God’s help”. We will be paced and prepared with God’s help. Those of you who have a Book of Common Prayer at home, I invite you to go to the Daily Offices of Morning Prayer, Noonday Prayer, Order of Worship for the Evening, Daily Evening Prayer, Compline, and Daily Devotions for Individuals and Families; found on pages 37-144 in the BCP.
Beginning this Sunday, April 19, our Sunday morning worship will be The Daily Office, Morning Prayer. Why the change you may ask? Cradle Episcopalians and those that have been in the church a long time will remember when Sunday morning services were Morning Prayer. Holy Communion was offered every other week, or once a month, or in some churches whenever there was a fifth Sunday. This all changed with the introduction of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer.
On April 6, the clergy and leadership of the Diocese received an abstract from Bp. Doyle to define what is The Episcopal Church’s Eucharistic Theology. I have tried to summarize in a couple of paragraphs a 22-page document obviously written after a great deal of prayer, thought, research and processing. I thought it was important to share this with all of you so you too know the thoughts and beliefs of our Bishop Diocesan. May you, too, take time to pray and reflect over these thoughts and beliefs.
The essence that challenges “‘Who is praying the Eucharist?’ and “The Eucharistic prayer is reunion theologically—a coming together of people who have been apart” is enlightening in this time of physical separation of the body of Christ. “The summary of ‘liturgical voices’ imply, infer, and assume that the body of Christ is present in the making of the eucharist through the gathered community…It is a prayer made by all together and has been from the beginning…We are gathered virtually, but we are not reunited…This [all] brings into question the motion of virtual Eucharistic life…We are meant for each other, and we are meant to be together…What I mean here is that the Eucharist itself is not meant for individuals alone…What we do in this moment matters because it matters how we do it at all times.”
Bp. Doyle goes on to say,”I believe that the most appropriate act of worship given physical distancing is the Daily Office…Meeting together virtually where we can hear each other’s “real time” responses and voices is the very best form of such virtual daily prayer…Let us long for reunion. Let us pray together for our return to our churches and missional communities.”
As your Interim Rector, I believe we at St. John’s have been very compliant. Worshiping the first half or the Liturgy of the Word is still acceptable; however, worshiping the liturgy of The Daily Office is not only more fitting at this time but is an opportunity to “learn and live” this beautiful service; and for longtime Episcopalians to be “reacquainted” with our beloved Daily Office.
All of our virtual services have been “live time” except one, the Good Friday service in Spanish at 7 pm, which incorporated a beautiful Stations of the Cross actually using the stations from inside the church with voices across the country. By the way, check our webpage; you, too, can walk the Stations of the Cross in English, using our own Stations.
Thank you all for your patience, prayers, and perseverance. May God continue to bless and keep each one of you healthy and safe in these challenging times. Please feel free to call, text or email me if you have any questions, or if I can be of assistance.
Faithfully,
Ann+
The Rev. Ann McLemore
Interim Rector
Email: mclemore.a@gmail.com
Cell: 769-257-2377
