Bishop Santosh Marray Holy Week and Easter Season Pastoral Letter

Our beloved diocesan family,

I always write to reassure you of the love and care I have for you, more especially during this public health pandemic. The national and international community without exception is experiencing an unprecedented health care phenomenon. Every sector of human life is facing massive disruption that is testing the core of our faith, our mental, physical, emotional, psychological and financial capacity and endurance. However, God’s people are shaped and formed to be resolute, resilient and persevering. The good news is we are fortified with grace that comes from a loving and caring God. A God whose very character is distinguished by perseverance and determination to conquer any vice or enemy directed toward the beloved community.

We are in the Season of Holy Week which ultimately leads into the Season of Easter with the timeless message of new life and new beginnings exemplified by our Savior Jesus. He is ALIVE and because of this we are more hopeful. God’s reassurance of Hope is the antidote against all falsehood and fear. Ultimately this ‘invisible enemy’, COVID-19, will be conquered and at the end of it we shall emerge a stronger and better people. Hopefully, more of us will embrace the fruit of contemplative discipline and an appreciation for the importance of enjoying solitude with God. The prophet Zechariah 9: 12, describes God’s people as ‘prisoners of hope’. We are characterized by an indefatigable quality that surpasses human understanding. In order to fruitfully navigate this enemy, we must ‘dig deep’ to draw from the reservoir of patience, tolerance and self-control.

Beloved, we must address this public health crisis as a united Community of Faith, resolute in our determination, resilient in our collective approach, and fortified in our faith - with unwavering confidence and unequivocal trust in God. We shall do this together, loving our neighbor as ourselves, taking care of each other and, by observing directives issued by national, state and local authorities. I wish to re-emphasize the directive to stay at home except for critical reasons or essential purposes. 



A POEM FOR THESE TIMES

"LOCKDOWN" (Author Unknown)
 
Yes there is fear.
Yes there is isolation
Yes there is panic buying.
Yes there is sickness.
Yes there is even death.
 
But,
They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise you can hear the birds again.
They say that after just a few weeks of quiet the sky is no longer thick with fumes but blue and grey and clear.
They say that in the streets of Assisi people are singing to each other across the empty squares, keeping their windows open so that those who are alone may hear the sounds of family around them.
They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound.
 
Today a young woman I know is busy spreading fliers with her number through the neighbourhood so that the elders may have someone to call on.
Today churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples are preparing to welcome and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary.
 
All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting.
All over the world people are looking at their neighbours in a new way.
All over the world people are waking up to a new reality.
To how big we really are.
To how little control we really have.
To what really matters.
To Love.


COVID-19 PANDEMIC RESOURCES

Click here to visit the Covid-19 section of our website for resources and information. In this time of uncertainty with COVID-19, there are so many things that affect us that often we are overwhelmed by all the aspects that we must deal with. Personal and family health, accessibility to basic food and supplies, church worship, church family connections, isolation, work, and of course finances. We all are family. At our Diocesan office, we are working hard to help you through these times. Yes, our office has been closed following the guidelines given to us by the State of Maryland and health officials, but our staff is working harder than ever. Most of us are working from our homes with some small exceptions for essential operations that need to be done on site. You can still reach us by phone although it is being answered remotely. You can reach us by e-mail, and we will be monitoring this as much as possible. We are committed to help you any way we can.

NOON DAY PRAYER Please join the Diocese of Easton in daily noonday prayer. With the on-going COVID-19 pandemic and our need to stay at home for the duration of this crisis, and in response to the invitation from both the Presiding Bishop and the Archbishop of Canterbury, requesting the Anglican Communion and Episcopal Church to pray the Lord’s Prayer at noon for Lent. The liturgy has been slightly modified in order to join with the rest of the Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion as we all say the Lord’s Prayer together first. The Diocese of Easton will be offering noonday prayer every weekday, Monday thru Friday on Facebook now until April 24th. This decision includes two extra weeks than we were invited to pray it. We are encouraging clergy and deacons postulants to sign up to lead one of the days assigned for Noonday Prayers. Please join us by  visiting our Facebook page  daily at 11:55am. Please take a moment in order to join with others from around the diocese as we lift our thoughts and concerns to God in prayer.

CARES Act and OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR CONGREGATIONS Visit our website for information on provisions in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“the CARES Act”) that could possibly be of interest to church plans, ministries and plan members as they are currently understood on March 30, 2020. Updates will be added to our website as they come in. Click here for financial resources.