An open letter from Rev. Clarence, 5/16/20

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Dear People and Friends of St. James,

In addition to sharing with you my thoughts on this sixth Sunday of Easter [see tomorrow’s post], I draw your attention to two correspondences which have come my way and which you should have received as well.

bishop clipart2rightcolorsThe first is a pastoral letter from our diocesan bishop, the Rt. Rev. Alan Gates. As our chief pastor, he has the responsibility for the care of our diocesan, and in that capacity he has announced that in-person worship, i.e. gathering in our respective parish sanctuaries, has been furthered delayed. The new date has been announced for 1 July 2020. As you will well know and understand, such a decision was reached in consultation with his fellow bishops and others who advise him. Of course, even this new hoped-for date is subject to information to which we are all privy: CDC, federal and state guidelines concerning our present pandemic.

Notwithstanding my obligation as a priest to obey the instructions of the bishop having jurisdiction over me, I am in total agreement with our bishop. Because of information from my own family in Hong Kong and Germany, Bishop Alan’s announcement did not take me by surprise, however much I desire that we gather, sooner rather than later, for in-person worship. As accustomed as we all have become, thanks to modern technology and scientific discovery, to expect instant solutions, I plead for patience and forbearance, as those qualified continue to investigate, research, and develop a vaccine against a virus which affects all of us. Remember the old, perhaps no longer cited axiom “haste makes waste?” I assure you, as I participate in weekly ZOOM meetings with fellow clerics, that all of us long for a restoration of in-person ministry, but are grateful that, again thanks to modern technology, we are able to remain in communication and in communion with you all and one another.

The second is likewise a pastoral letter, but from Bishop Suffragan, the Rt. Rev. Gayle Harris. She, too, makes a recommendation which we should consider seriously. During a recent ZOOM conference with ecumenical religious leaders in our area and listening to her counterpart in the Methodist Church, she recommends that we lay the term “social distancing” to rest and replace it with the phrase “personal distancing.” Interesting enough, a former undergraduate advisee of mine, now a licensed social worker and head of his department, had suggested three weeks ago to me during a telephone conversation, the same phrase. His and Bishop Gayle’s thinking is clear: we are not distancing ourselves from society. Rather, our lives remain intertwined socially, but circumstances dictate that we observe a personal distance.

Finally, be forewarned: the homily, which I today send your way [see tomorrow’s post], bends toward the personal. That is to say, even though I have been with you just over two years, you have been to me an inspiration of dedication, open-mindedness, and compassion. As I have said/written previously, I pray that we lose not faith in ourselves nor in God, for with God’s help, as evidenced through in the patient and tenacious dedication to knowledge and scientific discovery of capable and gifted women and men in our society, we shall emerge from our current circumstance a better people. Let us not cease in our prayers for them and for all those who daily place themselves, for ourselves and others, in harm’s way.

May the God of Peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with every good thing to do his will: and may the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit be with you and those whom you love this day and forever more. Amen

You fellow traveler in The Way
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