March 26, 2020
Welcome to Resource Roundup, COVID-19 edition

How are you and your congregation adapting to these unprecedented times of shutdown, sequestration and what Bishop John Harvey Taylor calls #holydistancing? How will your congregation observe Holy Week and Easter? Please share your innovative ideas and your stories of how you are carrying out your ministry by emailing to news@ladiocese.org.

For the duration of the coronavirus emergency, occasional special issues of Resource Roundup — usually a newsletter for clergy, wardens, administrators and lay professionals in the Diocese of Los Angeles — will replace the Episcopal News Update. The Episcopal News Monthly bulletin insert will also be suspended until churches of the diocese return to their regular in-person worship.

More resources are here.
F rom the bishop
At left: Downtown Pasadena on Wednesday evening, March 25. At right: the road to Needles in December. Photos: John Taylor
For When We’re Really All In This Together

By John Harvey Taylor
Bishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles

Among our deepest cultural divides are the socio-economic and geographic ones. The pandemic brings them into sharp relief. And it's getting a little scary.

News reports on both coasts reveal that people seeking isolation are fleeing LA and New York for long-term rentals in the high desert and their summer hangs in New England. Some are inevitably bringing the virus along.

Locals in Twentynine Palms worry about medical services being overwhelmed by elite infected refugees. A member of our family who lives year-round in Cape Cod expresses similar concerns. On Facebook, some of her neighbors called on authorities to close the bridges from the mainland. Getting from these reports to B movie scenes of dystopian social upheaval doesn’t take a terrific leap of imagination.

The repeated proclamation that “we’re all in this together” notwithstanding, we people of privilege have mobility and flexibility many others don’t. Unlike the 3.3 million filing for unemployment this week, we tend to have jobs we can do at home. News report suggest that from Washington to Hollywood, the rich and powerful have access to testing that others lack. Senators briefed secretly on the looming crisis told their stockbrokers but not us. These public servants were definitely not in it together with the rest of us institutional and personal investors.

By the same token, privilege is doing its bit. Researchers at so-called greedy drug companies are working around the clock to defeat the virus for all our sakes. Though big data has a lot to atone for, it’s enabling us to be informed and in touch, and together in worship, in ways that would have been inconceivable just a few years ago. Every time we press “Live” on our phones to share the word of God with our people or order something from Amazon to help us livestream or plan worship, a prayer of thanksgiving for Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos' creativity and ambition would not be out of order.

If we like, we can lift them up as Isaiah did Cyrus, as unwitting servants of God’s glory. But we lift them up nevertheless. People of faith lift up everyone. We actually share the virus’s egalitarianism. It is nothing if not equal opportunity. In the laboratory of God’s creation, we are all the same in vulnerability and capacity for love.

Right now, we care for one another by staying apart. May we soon have a chance to care for one another by coming together as never before. When it’s all over, may social synthesizing replace social distancing.

May we use these COVID diaspora days to learn more and pray harder about our radical relatedness. To atone for our sin of pretending we’re immune to interdependence. To resolve to tear down every barrier of prejudice, hatred, privilege, resentment, injustice, and misunderstanding that prevents us from really being in this together, in good times and bad.

A core gospel virtue is self-sacrifice. Putting others first. That means thinking about the consequences in the lives of other people of almost every decision we make, action we take, and word we speak. This is the way of the cross. We take ours up, for Jesus and one another. Biologically and in Christ, we are all branches of the vine. We are one body. As in any family, when anyone is hurt, everyone hurts. And everyone wants to help them heal.
News
Seeds of Hope responds to COVID-19 crisis with food distribution, online classes

As the Southland hunkers down to mitigate the spread of Coronavirus, Seeds of Hope, food justice ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, is stepping up its efforts to ensure access to healthy, nutritious food by providing fresh fruits and vegetables to families struggling with food insecurity – especially during this crisis, which has made their circumstances even more dire.

While the ministry has had to make changes in the shape and scope of its work, Seeds of Hope continues to distribute fresh fruits and vegetables at sites across L.A. County. For all those who are stuck at home due to the Safer at Home initiative, the team is releasing video versions of the healthy-cooking and nutrition classes that it typically offers as hands-on instruction to address the prevalence of diet-related illness and obesity in Los Angeles.

Read more here.
Episcopal Relief & Development webinar addresses isolation, quarantine

By Steve Nishibayashi, M.D.

Last week, Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) conducted a superb webinar, "Addressing Isolation and Quarantine." As we all cope with the ramifications of self-quarantine and social distancing, let us keep in mind how such isolation may precipitate issues such as domestic abuse, substance abuse, and other mental health issues.

An audio recording of the webinar is on Episcopal Relief & Development's webinars page, along with a link to an upcoming webinar on "Institutional Support Systems During COVID-19," scheduled for Friday, March 27, 12 p.m. PDT. Information about disaster resources that we should all keep at our disposal for our pastoral use are here. Please remember that COVID-19 is a dynamic challenge, with new and up-dated information evolving seemingly hourly. The principles discussed in the webinar, however, are useful now and for future crises. Be healthy! Wash your hands! Pray!

Canon Steve Nishibayashi, Secretary of Convention for the Diocese of Los Angeles, is a retired pediatrician.
6 Kaiser Permanente medical offices in Orange County temporarily close

Kaiser Permanente Orange County has temporarily closed six medical office buildings, according to a release from the healthcare company shared with the diocese by Church Pension Group. "These measures are being enacted to ensure we have capacity and equipment to care for the more critically ill patients, and to guide members to telehealth options," Kaiser's announcement said. The shuttered offices are:

Aliso Viejo Medical Offices
Anaheim Hills Medical Offices
Foothill Ranch Medical Offices
La Habra Medical Offices
San Juan Capistrano Medical Offices
Yorba Linda Offices

Members who were scheduled for appointments have been notified. Both Orange county urgent care locations remain open. For further information, call Kaiser Member Services.
Resources and ideas
Using Zoom to connect with friends
By Diane Jardine Bruce
Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of Los Angeles

Friends of ours were on the phone with us and suggested we get together via Zoom for an hour. We scheduled that, made snacks and “shared” our time together. We checked in. We laughed. We “showed” each other pictures of our grandchildren. My best friend learned of this and she set us up for a social hour with she and her husband for this Friday. It’s a great way to be with friends and family.
Making an Altar for Home
By Sharon Ely Pearson

We have experienced that the Church is not a building but a community gathered in prayer. We’ve also realized that our homes can also be places of prayer. So as we near the end of our Lenten journey and prepare for Holy Week, perhaps it’s time to create a prayer space at home that is available anytime of day or night to anyone in your household. In the midst of the chaos of homeschooling and worries of this world right now, working together as a household to build a home altar or sacred space may be an excellent way to create order and peace. Read more here.

h/t The Rev. Susan Bek, rector of St. Paul's Church, Ventura
More about masks
The mask-making ministry at St. Stephen's Church, Hollywood, is in full swing to help fight the coronavirus pandemic. To take part in their efforts, click here. An additional resource is JoAnn's Fabrics, which is donating mask-sewing supplies and has also posted a how-to video on YouTube to support efforts all over the country. (Note: Not all hospitals accept homemade masks: for a list of facilities that do, visit the St. Stephen's mask ministry page linked above or contact the Rev. Jaime Edwards-Acton, rector, at hopeinhollywood@gmail.com.
PSA: Safe grocery shopping in the COVID-19 pandemic
In this YouTube video, Dr. Jeffrey Van Wingen, M.D. (pictured in the screenshot at left) shows how to use "sterile techniques" to help prevent infection when dealing with groceries from the market or takeout food.
Van Wingen practices family medicine in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with 20 years' experience.
Requiescat in pace
The Rev. Christopher Scott Rubel
February 10, 1933 - March 7, 2020
The Rev. Christopher Scott Rubel, priest of the Diocese of Los Angeles and psychologist, died March 7. He was 87. Rubel served several congregations in the diocese, but was most closely associated with Grace Church, Glendora, where his father, the Rev. Henry Scott “Heinz” Rubel, once served as rector (1936 - 1946), and where Chris was an associate priest from 1979 to 2000. The chapel at Grace is named in honor of the Rubel family. Survivors include his wife, Katherine Hauser Rubel, their sons Scott and Clarke, and his sister, Dorchen Rubel Van Dyke. His brother Michael - builder of the famous Rubel Castle in Glendora - predeceased him. Service arrangements will be delayed due to the COVID-19 shutdown. Read more here.
Prayer and inspiration
COVID-19: A message from global Anglican leadership
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby (pictured at left), Bishop Paul Kwong, chair of the Anglican Consultative Council, and Secretary General Josiah-Idowu-Fearon of the Anglican Communion on March 24 wrote a joint letter to the communion about the Covid-19 pandemic, calling on Anglicans and Episcopalians to continue in worship despite the suspension of public worship; to place their trust in God; and to heed the advice of medical professionals and adhere to instructions from their respective political leaders.They also offered prayer resources, including the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, found here. Read the full letter here.
Additional prayer and inspirational resources are on the COVID-19 Resources page of the diocesan website.
COVID-19 crisis: Ways to help
Thank you cards for hospital staff
A request from Michael Bell, director of pastoral ministries at Good Samaritan Hospital
Church colleagues, friends with kids stuck at home, educators with classes online, leaders of other groups: If you're looking for something helpful to do right now that doesn't cost much more than time and some creative love, consider writing/creating thank-you notes, cards, pictures, banners for our hospital staff. E.g., "Thank you, Good Samaritans" - signed by you, children, students, members of your club or community. The more the better. Imagine how you'd feel - how your spirit would be nourished - if you saw hundreds or thousands of thank notes greeting you as you face another challenging day at the hospital during this crisis. Package them up and mail them to my attention (see below). I'll get them posted around the hospital to help boost the spirits of our staff who are and will be working round the clock throughout this COVID-19 pandemic for the well being of our neighbors here in downtown Los Angeles. Blessing to all for safety and wellness at this time. Thanks to all who act on this invitation.

The Rev. Michael S. Bell
Spiritual Care Services
PIH Health Good Samaritan Hospital
1225 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles CA 90017
Episcopal Relief & Development's COVID-19 Response Fund
"Join us in prayer and action. Help us be there in times of uncertainty.
Your gift enables us to prepare for emergencies around the world — including the recent outbreak of the coronavirus. With your help, we can equip our partners on the ground with crucial support to assist local communities and meet the changing needs as this crisis unfolds." Click here to contribute.
From the wider Episcopal Church
Take action for the 2020 Census
A message from the Episcopal Public Policy Network (EPPN)
“The two most important things you can do for our community this week are: maintain social distancing and take the 2020 Census as soon as you can. Census data are critically important to determining: representation in Congress, allocation of federal funds for the next decade, and valuable information for state and local community officials, service providers, and private businesses. An accurate census count means resources will go to the communities that need them, and government programs and services can be more responsive. Filling out the census is easier than ever. You can go to 2020census.gov today to fill it out online, you can fill it out by phone, or you can respond to the paper questionnaire you will get in the mail. For more information, you can go to The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations website here."
Church Pension Group issues statement regarding effects of pandemic
CPG (Church Pension Group), which manages insurance, pension and healthcare for many churches, clergy and lay employees of The Episcopal Church, issued a statement on March 23 concerning its response to the COVID-19 crisis.
Topics include:
  • Clergy pension assessments
  • Healthcare out-of-pocket expenses
  • Publications
  • Property Risk Management
  • Conferences
The full message, with links to other resources, is here.
Webinar on stewardship during crisis available on demand
CEEP (Consortium of Endowed Episcopal Parishes) and CCS Fundraising recently presented a webinar on stewardship during the COVID-19 pandemic. The panel discussed what has been learned, how the church is responding, and way to engage parishioners in the "new normal. The webinar is now online for viewing on demand here. Panelists are: Kate Kile - director of Finance & Stewardship, St. John’s, Tallahassee, Florida; Kris Kuhns, assistant vice president, CCS Fundraising; Caroline Marak, stewardship manager, Saint Michael and All Angels, Dallas, Texas; and David Rocchio, director of Stewardship & Gift Planning, Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta, Georgia.
Applications open for Episcopal Church Constable Fund Grants
Deadline: March 31, 2020
The application process is now open for the 2020 Constable Fund Grants. The Constable Fund provides grants to fund mission initiatives not provided for within the budget of The Episcopal Church, as approved by General Convention 2018, with a stated preference for work in the areas of religious education. In 2019, Constable Grant awards ranged from $20,000 to $60,000 with $209,000 distributed among five grant recipients. Applications may only be submitted by:
  1. one of the Provinces of The Episcopal Church;
  2. one of the interim bodies of the General Convention of The Episcopal Church; or
  3. a program office of The Episcopal Church.  
Please note that individuals, congregations, and dioceses must submit their grant proposals to their Province. Each Province may approve one grant application for submission to the Constable Fund Grant Review Committee. Read more (in English, Spanish or French) here.
Episcopal Migration Ministries offers a new resource: Supporting Asylum Seekers: A Toolkit for Congregations
Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM) is offering a new resource for individuals and congregations who wish to welcome and support asylum seekers. Supporting Asylum Seekers: A Toolkit for Congregations is a free resource designed for congregations interested in supporting people seeking asylum. The toolkit will be updated as new resources, case studies, and information become available. Click here to request the toolkit; additional information and resources will be emailed to you. Read more here .
Updated church business manual available
An updated version of The Episcopal Church's Manual of Business Methods in Church Affairsmay be downloaded here and here. A simple print version may be ordered by contacting the Finance Office at nduverseau@episcopalchurch.org. The cost, including postage, is $20.
REMINDERS
Diocesan website offers resources for congregations
A page on the Diocese of Los Angeles website titled " Responding to COVID-19" lists various resources for congregations and individuals as they cope with church closures and self-isolation. It includes information under the following headings:
  • Resources for Virtual and Remote Worship and Meetings
  • State & County Resources for Addressing Coronavirus Concerns
  • CDC (Center for Disease Control) website links
  • Stewardship
  • Coping with Social Distancing
  • Children and Families
  • Additional health information
  • Recovery resources (12-step programs)
  • Managing work in a time of isolation
  • How to help
The list is updated as information becomes available. Send additional resources for consideration to news@ladiocese.org.
Information and directives regarding COVID-19 from diocesan leadership
Bishop Diocesan John Harvey Taylor, Bishop Suffragan Diane Jardine Bruce and Canon to the Ordinary Melissa McCarthy have issued several letters to the diocesan community outlining actions taken in response to the rapidly developing COVID-19 crisis. These letters may be found at these links, or on the Episcopal News website or the COVID-19 Resources page of the diocesan website.







Credit Union will provide emergency loans to churches, institutions at reduced rate during COVID-19 crisis
[The Episcopal News - March 18] The Episcopal Community Federal Credit Union has set aside a $500,000 emergency cash fund to assist churches and other institutions of the diocese whose cash flow has been adversely impacted by circumstances caused by the Covid-19 virus pandemic. The program will offer, for a limited time, a 50% reduction to its published rate for church loans. Read more here. (Esta historia aparece en español después del texto en inglés.)
Online giving: Options to explore for use in congregations
Any congregation seeking to add an online giving feature to its website can begin by reviewing and comparing available options such as the following which are among various systems in use around the Diocese of Los Angeles and wider church. The following list is only a sampling and comes with no official endorsement by the diocese. Additions to this list are welcomed and may be forwarded to media@ladiocese.org.

Vanco — Fees are said to be reasonable and an app is available for donors to download. Interfaces with CDM database. Can be viewed in place on website of St. James’, Los Angeles.
Square (Cash App)
Givify - As used by All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Vista, Calif. (Diocese of San Diego)

Featuring Tithe.ly, EasyTithe, Givelify, PayPal, Pushpay.
Online conference will consider mental, spiritual, physical care during COVID-19
Claremont School of Theology and Coloring Mental Health Collective (CMHC) will host an four-week online Community Care Series conference on Thursdays from March 25 to April 16. The purpose of the series will be "to care for the mental, spiritual, physical, and material well-being of people amidst the COVID-19 pandemic," says Nicholas Grier, assistant professor of Pastoral Theology, Counseling, and Culture at CST (pictured above). CMHC, according to its website, "advocates and organizes for the mental wellness of Black and Brown people; it also seeks to dismantle oppressive ideologies and behaviors that cause emotional suffering." Each session will be on a Thursday, 5:30 - 6:45 p.m. Dates and topics are:

Session 1: Thursday, March 26 - Mental Well-being
Session 2: Thursday, April 2 - Spiritual Well-being
Session 3: Thursday, April 9 - Physical Well-being
Session 4: Thursday, April 16 - Material Well-being

There is no charge for the online conference. More about the program and presenters and a registration link are here.
Is your congregation live-streaming Sunday or weekday services? Let us know!
If your congregation is live-streaming services on Facebook, YouTube or other social media, please send us a note and let us know:
  • Day(s) and time of services;
  • Date if a one-time offering;
  • Type of service (Eucharist, Morning Prayer, Evensong, etc.);
  • URL for anyone wishing to log in:
  • Language(s) in which the service will be held.
  • Information about the celebrant or other participants, or about music or other aspects of worship (optional)
Send listings to news@ladiocese.org. They will be included in a list (also available on the diocese's COVID-19 Resources webpage) for the benefit of all who wish to take part in worship.

In addition, The Episcopal Church has launched a Digital Church Guide. You can upload your service information there (click here). You also can add this information to the Episcopal Asset Map (click here.) More information about both these resources is here.
Clergy: Keep count of online participants in worship
As the wider Episcopal Church determines how to determine Average Sunday Attendance numbers during the COVID-19 crisis, Bishops Taylor and Bruce and Canon McCarthy request that clergy in charge of congregations keep count of how many people are taking part via Facebook, YouTube, Zoom or other forum in worship services offered at your church. The information may be needed for parochial reports. Add the numbers to your red register with the notation LS (live-stream) to capture the history being made at this time. Please refer to the March 19 letter to clergy for more information.
Checks to the diocese
The bank used by the diocese will only accept checks made out to: “The Protestant Episcopal Church” or “Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles.” Checks may no longer be made to Treasurer of the Diocese, etc. This is due to the Bank Secrecy Act and accompanying regulations ("Anti-Money Laundering rules").

P.O. Box closed
Please note that the diocesan post office box has been closed and will no longer receive mail. Please use the street address for mail addressed to offices at St. Paul's Commons (formerly The Cathedral Center): 840 Echo Park Avenue, Los Angeles 90026. Mail addressed to the post office box will be returned to sender.
Links
Resource Roundup is an occasional release for clergy, wardens, church office staff and lay leaders of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. Items for inclusion may be forwarded to news@ladiocese.org.