Church of the Redeemer family: 
 
May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all in the midst of this incredible season in our world, in our country, and in our lives. 
 
As we did last Sunday, we will be broadcasting Morning Prayer live through our Facebook page at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow. If you don't have a Facebook account you can go to our website www.redeemerlives.net , click on the link, say 'no' to setting up a Facebook account, and you will have access to either the livestream, or to all of our recorded videos. There is a link to download the liturgy on our website homepage.

The ACNA has specifically declared that there are to be no gatherings of more than 10, and that Holy Communion is not to be celebrated over long distances through telephone or the internet. Therefore, we will not be including Eucharist in our services until the situation changes. An excerpt from the Bishop's letter explaining this decision is located at the end of my letter. 
 
We are, however, working on a way to offer communion for those who want it. This would be communion of one kind (bread only) to be taken at home; an instructed liturgy will be included in the packet. Contact Jeanne Higgins via email elvish999@yahoo.com or text 904-866-9068 if you would like to learn more about this or if you would be willing to help with this ministry.
 
While there is truly no way to know what is next, or how long these unprecedented circumstances will last, our faith can be a source of deep encouragement to us as we remember that " Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. " (Hebrews 13:8) .  
 
Remember to seek the Lord first, to pray for and reach out to one another regularly, and to seek to gather together through video conference and social media as often as we can. As the Lord brings friends and Redeemer members to mind, I encourage you to call and check in on them. Listen for the Lord's voice, follow where he leads you. Please remember to continue your giving to Redeemer as well, as we continue in the work God has given us to do.
https://redeemerlives.net/giving/
 
I continue to pray for each one of you, and I look forward to seeing how the Lord uses this season to bring forth fruit for his kingdom, to the glory of Jesus Christ. 
 
Fr. Bill 
 
“ You are one in whom Christ delights and dwells. You live in the strong and unshakeable kingdom of God. The kingdom is not in trouble and neither are you. ”  James Bryan Smith

Excerpt from the Bishop's letter dated 3-19-20

Let me tackle the questions that I have already received in light of both the bishops’ conversation and my own reflections.

Can a priest consecrate elements long distance, for people who are watching a Eucharist live and have bread and wine at home?
No. The elements must be in the presence of the celebrant.

Can we take communion into homes, people gathering in groups of ten or less?
This is a tough question. The consensus was that neither priests nor lay eucharistic ministers should go into homes in this season for home communions (and I would include other pastoral calls). Because half of those with the virus are asymptomatic, it is very possible that visitors could be carrying the virus and infect a group, or vice versa. And please remember that CDC’s limit of ten to a group is not a protection against the virus, it is only a way to slow down the rate of contagion in the population. 

If that is the case, what are the alternatives?
There were many options discussed but here are the two I want us to employ here.
  1. Encourage the concept of Spiritual Communion. While this is a concept that honestly I only vaguely knew about, I think it should be considered seriously.* It is evident in two places in the BCP 2019. It is based on the assumption that the grace of the sacrament can still be received whether the elements can be received or not. In the Ministry to the Dying rite, an additional direction says, “If he or she desires to receive, but by reason of extreme sickness is unable to consume either element, the minister is to assure the person that all the benefits of Holy Communion are conveyed, even though the elements are not received with the mouth.” (BCP 2019, p. 242.) Along the same lines is prayer 106. “FOR SPIRITUAL COMMUNION,” p. 677. 
  2. Consecrated bread may either be brought to a home’s front door and left outside or picked up at church or elsewhere, with the clergyperson or eucharistic minister saying appropriate prayers at some distance. We encouraged communion in one kind for many reasons, including hygiene. If they watched the online Eucharist when the elements were consecrated, say “The Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.” After the person has received the bread, the rite would be closed with the blessing or the grace (p. 230-1).

If we are leading an online service, what are the restrictions?
There should be no more than ten people leading, with significant social distance. Many of you are leading Morning Prayer services, which is certainly appropriate. If you are leading a Eucharist, the celebrant should partake in both kinds. I will leave it to you decide if those present receive bread only, or by intincture.