AN UPDATE FROM THE RECTOR AND WARDENS
As we transition to summer, we pray that you continue to be well. Thank you for
your patience in our life together and for your support of Palmer Memorial
Episcopal Church. We would like to provide you with another update on limited
campus openings related to school programs and on financial support as we
begin to move slowly toward a new normal. More details about our plans for
opening the church doors for limited in-person worship will follow soon after
those plans have been approved by the Episcopal Diocese of Texas.
SCHOOL AND DAY CAMP PRESENCE ON CAMPUS
Palmer's clergy and staff, in consultation with the diocese, have worked with the
German-language preschool, Elite University summer camp, and Archway
Academy to make a safe return to campus. The German-language preschool will
resume in June with procedures that follow protocols to prevent the spread of
COVID-19 while allowing teachers and students to return to their work. Likewise,
the Elite University summer camp will begin its program on a limited basis in
June with safety measures in place. While Archway Academy's summer classes
will take place online, they will hold a limited graduation ceremony on campus,
outdoors, with social distancing.
In accordance with diocesan guidelines, decisions about school programs,
because they are different kinds of gatherings, are separate from the required
phased reentry into our church buildings for in-person worship and the opening of
the church office generally. Although the church campus remains closed for
visitors to the church office and for members and guests to gather for in-person
worship, we are looking forward to that next phase and are already making
preparations for it. The Palmer email, now published on Tuesdays and Fridays,
contains messages from the Rector as well as information about Zoom classes
and online gatherings while we remain physically distanced from one another.
We hope you will stay connected with fellow Palmers, staff, and clergy in these
ways until we can be together again in person.
The reprieve from the diocesan assessment for March, April, and May, as well as
the PPP loan Palmer received, will help us emerge with our staff payroll and our
capacity for ministry intact. Details about both the assessment and the PPP loan
are discussed in the previous update from the Rector and Wardens in April. We
encourage our members and friends to continue making regular monetary gifts to
the church or contributing toward their annual financial pledges to the best of our
individual abilities given our current financial circumstances.
Here are ways to make those financial offerings to Palmer:
More than ever, our mission remains the same, which is "to know and share the
love of Jesus Christ." On behalf of all the members of our Vestry, clergy, and
staff, we thank you for your support of our beloved church community at Palmer.
We will continue to provide updates as the need arises.
In the peace of Christ,
The Rev. Neil Alan Willard, Rector
Burdette Keeland, Senior Warden
Kristie Van Arsdel, Junior Warden
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