This Journey is Long but the Destination Great

As more businesses reopen in Rhode Island next week during Phase II of the state plan, the Governor is permitting churches to open for in-person worship at 25% capacity with all physical distancing precautions in place. As St. Paul wrote, “while something may be lawful, it is not necessarily beneficial.” Many faith communities are not in agreement with the Governor. Yesterday our Bishop Knisely joined seven other interfaith leaders in declaring their denominations will practice a slower, more cautious timeline in accordance with our responsibility to safeguard the most vulnerable and best serve the common good.  

In consultation with the Vestry and our Reopening Advisory group, we have determined Epiphany will continue solely with virtual worship and fellowship until at least August 1. We will consider the feasibility of an outdoor worship service in August based on the circumstances at the time. Even if there is an outside service, we will maintain virtual worship for those who cannot or should not attend. 

Our decision is based on the fact that the COVID-19 virus is primarily transmitted through respiratory droplets and tiny aerosolized particles that remain in the air sometimes long after people speak, breath, sing, cough or sneeze. Worship services are one of the highest risk activities for virus transmission because they occur indoors for an extended period of time with recycled airflow and are shown to have increased aerosols from speaking. Numerous studies and statements from the CDC and other scientists warn against holding church services. To hold indoor services, all of the social distancing safety precautions would need to be implemented. This would require a minimum of six foot distancing maintained in all aspects of the service from entering to seating to exchanging the peace to exiting. Everyone must wear masks and singing will not be allowed. Finally, Eucharist could not be shared safely. The precautions required to increase safety would make church not feel like church and certainly not our church. The picture this paints induces anxiety and is not the kind of grace, peace and fellowship I believe Jesus showed us how to practice in the Gospels. We all feel much sadness in continuing to be apart, in losing the familiar of what we have known and what has nourished our faith for many years. We will return to in-person gathering, just not yet.

It is our firm conviction that the best expression of our love and care for God and each other is to refrain from gathering in buildings until it is safe for all while maintaining worship and fellowship virtually.

Let me be clear that the church has never been closed. Our building may be closed, but the essential life of the church in worship and service has continued. The Holy Spirit knows no boundaries. We are the Body of Christ in the world who are practicing being the church not only going to church. “Behold, I make all things new,” declares God in Revelation. It has not been perfect and surely there are things we’ll keep working on and adapting, but God always takes our best efforts and works through them. I trust the Spirit will continue to spark our creativity toward making us new. 

Every social institution is being re-imagined right now, including church. We are connecting with more people online than we could in-person and that is a blessing. We are serving the hungry and reaching out to the lonely. We are working on rebuilding and refreshing our online presence across platforms (website, Enews, social media, etc…) so we can nourish souls and spirits more easily with God’s message of love. We are developing flexibility with worship expression through our videos. We will keep bravely following God into the development of what has to be now and what will be yet to come in the future.

Please make it a point to join Virtual Coffee Hours on Sundays (by video or phone). Watch worship and midweek prayer pauses. If you need help with the technology, please ask, many of us are happy to offer tutorials.

We need to know how you’re engaging with us currently, what’s working, and how you’re feeling about all that is happening. May our Lord bless and keep you.

Ever Yours in Christ, Rev'd Jen