A Message from the Rev. Eric Zile
5:30 pm The Feast of Saint Patrick
Dear Friends in Christ,
Moments ago, your Vestry and the leaders of the Historic Apalachicola Home and Garden Tour voted unanimously to
cancel this year’s Tour of Homes
. Out of an abundance of caution and in keeping with the Center for Disease Control’s guidelines we felt this was both the right and necessary decision. We look forward to returning to offering this experience to our friends and neighbors in 2021.
This decision comes on the heels of one made earlier this week by the Board of
Penny’s Worth to close for the foreseeable future
.
Below, you will find a letter from Bishop Kendrick wherein he has
suspended ALL services and group meetings at every church in this diocese until Easter Sunday
(subject to the coronavirus conditions)
. Within his letter he has given certain leeway to Rectors to provide for the Sacramental needs of each congregation. With that in mind, I am making the following commitment to you:
- I will celebrate the Eucharist later this week along with another member of the congregation in order to have a valid celebration.
- I will strive to record a sermon each week and have it uploaded to our Facebook page and in a Trinity Special News.
- I will make the holy Eucharist available to every member of the congregation as they so desire in the following manner. We have ordered individually wrapped communion wafers and one-ounce disposable plastic glasses to contain wine. I will be on my front porch from 8 am to 11 am each Sunday until this crisis passes so that you may continue to be nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ.
- During the week I ask you not to come by the office before calling so that Shannon may be prepared for your visit and I ask that you practice safe social distancing and hygiene when you are there. Due to my recovery and urging from the bishop I will work from my home office, but I am still available 24/7.
- Remembering that the government has requested that meetings of more than 10 persons be suspended, I suggest that the Foyer groups be open to following the CDC’s suggestion; however, I also ask that you remain in contact with one another so that we do not lose that sense of community. Also, since I cannot call everyone every day, I ask the leaders of the Foyer groups to keep me posted on the health and well-being of its members. Again, this is how we can still be the Church so that very few of us have to walk in this wilderness in solitude.
- AA and other recovery programs may still meet at Trinity, in accordance with the Bishop's guidance to sanitize surfaces in the meeting areas.
As this calamity plays out I am certain things will change and we
must be willing to live a sacrificial life which includes checking
on your family and friends by phone, giving up our church
community for a while (truly a Lenten practice), and as we
will not earn income from the Tour of Homes, continue to send
your tithes and offerings to the church.
I cannot add any more appropriate words than Bishop Kendrick’s words regarding the Church in the time of St. Augustine. Remember that God is always reaching out to us in God’s love. In this time of uncertainty, reach out to the one who gives us life, hope, and peace, and He will touch your heart.
Eric+
