We Did Stay Connected
As we look back on the start of the Coronavirus and the pandemic, things in the life of the Church changed drastically. Worship service had to move to a virtual platform and person-to-person visits to the hospitals, homebound and retirement community had to be suspended for some time.
The leadership of the Church wanted to stay connected the best way we could. So, using the example of John 15:1-8, we wanted to stay connected “to the True Vine Jesus and his father, God almighty.” The Clergy and Vestry, plus other Lay leaders and members of the Lay staff, started making dozens of phone calls to all the members of the Church, that they could contact, to find out how they were doing health-wise and spiritually during this difficult time. They also got any prayer requests that they may have.
We set up virtual worship services and the Clergy started writing “Daily Word” articles Monday through Friday sent out by e-mail, for which we have received a lot of positive response; thank you. Topics are from scripture, theology, church history, the Prayer Book and hymnal or an interesting book we have read, as well as our own faith journey. This was our attempt to stay connected to our Lord and each other in the St. Martin’s Church Family.
The early church stayed connected by meeting in people’s homes since there were no church buildings before the early 300s A.D. They stayed connected to the “True Vine” by devoting themselves to the “apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” (Acts 2:42) (BCP, page 304) St. Martin’s returned to person-to-person visits and open worship services as soon as it was safe and reasonable, and with the Bishop’s approval.
Since the pandemic, not everyone can make it back to church, so religious symbols can be very comforting, such as a special cross, a small likeness of Jesus or one of the saint’s, such St. Frances, or a favorite icon can help us feel the presence of our Lord’s Spirit.
We, as members of the St. Martin’s Family, when possible, can stay connected to one of the six Sunday services or three of the Wednesday services. There are great Sunday Bible classes, as well as others during the week. We can also stay connected to each other by texting, e-mailing and phoning fellow members to let them know we care about them. And it would also be nice, when possible, to end with the Lord’s Prayer.
Let us pray. Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with thy most gracious favor, and further us with thy continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy Name, and finally, by thy mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
