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Dear Christ Church community,
In conversation with staff and the lay executive team, I have come to the difficult conclusion that Christ Church will suspend all physical worship and ancillary activities through the end of the month. We do this as an expression of solidarity with the wider city community to mitigate the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus. This helps maintain robust medical assistance for those who need it most. There is a rising chorus of agreement that social distancing remains our most potent weapon in this regard, especially at the front end of the contagion. In addition, we seek to protect the most vulnerable members of our community. For further information, I am attaching several articles in order of ascending complexity.
What a confounding situation! And difficult. At a time when spiritual community feels so profoundly important, we are instructed to keep our physical distance from one another. Spiritual distance is another matter entirely. To that end, we are developing on-line methods of engagement on Sunday mornings and other times in order to maintain a close communion during turbulent days. Be watching for further information about these opportunities.
Also, please know that Dr. Lee and I remain available for pastoral counsel and support as do the other members of our excellent team. Nicole Armstrong, Steve Pilkington, Roseann DeGennaro, Brandon Batson, Jake Nelson, and Amelia Acerra are all in on transforming these trying days into an opportunity for deepening our love with God and one another.
The Duke room (directly off our courtyard) will be made available for prayer during the week where a candle can be lit. In this way, though our sanctuary remains filled with scaffolding, we continue to send the message that our doors are open for the spiritual seeker. We will also continue our weekly prayer call. Please feel free to submit any prayer requests to amelia@christchurchnyc.org.
Please hold one another in prayer and remember that God remains steadfast in love for each one of us. This Sunday’s reading from Romans includes this powerful affirmation from Paul: “We also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” Live into this truth. And remember that grace abounds.
In gratitude for you,
Stephen
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/03/13/opinion/coronavirus-trump-response.html
https://medium.com/@tomaspueyo/coronavirus-act-today-or-people-will-die-f4d3d9cd99ca
Rev. Dr. Stephen P. Bauman is the Senior Minister at Christ Church.