Greeting All, 

It is with heaviness and prayer that I write to you about suspending our common worship together in person.  I hope that we all understand this is not about us as individuals; it is about us as a community.  We should remember that there are vulnerable people all around us and consider what might be in their best interest.  Do unto others better than we expect to have done unto us.

This means sometimes we must sacrifice for their sake and their safety.   This does not mean we will not be in prayer and worship together.  We will join together virtually on Saturday Evening at 5:30 and on Sunday Morning at 10:30 on Facebook Live to share our common prayer in the form of Evening and Morning Prayer.  

This situation will be re-evaluated after the end of the month.  Please watch your email, St. Barts Facebook page and the Website for current information.

As we are reminded that our common worship and faithfulness is not celebrated only in the spaces between the walls and under the roofs of our buildings, I want to share the following with you.

Barton Hindley shares this with me:

Thought you might find the following excerpt from “Morning Brew” soothing during this trying time:

In all seriousness, we found comfort in these words from Rabbi Yosef Kanefsky as we head into the weekend:

• “Every hand that we don’t shake must become a phone call that we place.”
• “Every embrace that we avoid must become a verbal expression of warmth and concern.” 
• “Every inch and every foot that we physically place between ourselves and another, must become a thought as to how we might be of help to that other, should the need arise.” 

God is present with us at all times and calls us to be faithful to God and each other.  Thank you for your understanding during this time of different worship and your continued support of our ministries, especially in this time of need.  In this time God and Our Community of Faith are the constants in our lives.

Blessings and Peace

Fr. Michael