A Letter from our Interim Rector
Holy Week
Greetings to the people of St. John’s,
As we come into the last days of Lent; walking on this path of Holy Week that is so different from years before and years to come; we are given moments to pause. We may be “tired” of
all the pauses in our lives right now; however needed each might be for our well-being. I sense a rustling, an urgency, a hope that we would have been on the “other side” of all of this by now—our isolation, self-quarantines, hospital ER’s full of people, temporary medical stations, morgues; and fear of so many things haunt us all. From where does our comfort come?
We all long for the day we are back together and able to celebrate the Eucharist together as a church family. Until then, we are on a sabbatical. Not the one we planned; but, we are on a sabbatical. Zoom meetings, waving to family through glass windows, dinners at home with family, books read that have been sitting on nightstands for months, yards are mowed, gardens tended to, and a yearning for “church” for worship, for our friends, for all that embodies “church”.
I would like to share a poem from
A Prayer Book for The Armed Forces 1988
, p.55:
A Prayer for Communion with Christ
In union, O Lord, with our faithful people at every altar of your Church, where the Holy Eucharist is now being celebrated, I desire to offer to you praise and thanksgiving. I remember your death, Lord Christ; I proclaim your resurrection; I await your coming in glory. And since I cannot receive you today in the Sacrament of your Body and Blood, I beseech you to come
spiritually into my heart. Cleanse and strengthen me with your grace, Lord Jesus, and let me never be separated from you. May I live in you, and you in me, in this life and in the life to
come. Amen.
Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday are all taking on a different look; but the essence of the worship is alive and well in our devices, electronics, webpages, Facebook and our hearts. Invite others to join you in our virtual services! Worship together as a family no matter where you live! In this long season of “waiting and watching” know that there is “the other side” and in the meanwhile, we are called to pray and to be patient.
Pray for those who have lost their lives, for those that are sick, for those that are sick and don’t know it, for the hospitalized, for the families, and for all the medical, first responders,
funeral homes, and so many that are as a world, pulled into this pandemic without much choice.
No, we will not wash feet on Thursday; but may we ALL continue to wash our hands incessantly!
“To Christ our Lord who loves us, and washed us in his own blood; may you be ever at our side, holding our hands.
Faithfully,
Ann+