Schedule Changes
Dear St. Paul's:
This afternoon, our bishop asked all of the parishes in Arkansas to suspend in-person gatherings until March 31. That is a significant step and a real loss to many, but it seems like the right decision. As we learn more about COVID-19, we are discovering that limiting social contact is a crucial way to prevent the spread of the disease, which, in turn, helps prevent our medical system from becoming overwhelmed. We can, however, continue to be the church—the body of Christ. Here is how we at St. Paul's will do that.
Sunday Mornings
Although there will be no in-person worship services, you may join us for worship through our YouTube channel. We will live-stream the service at 8:45am, and you can come back at watch the service anytime after that. There will not be any breakfast or Sunday-morning classes, but we will live stream the Adult Forum through that same YouTube channel.
Sunday Evenings
We will not have any of our concerts or Evensong services, but we will offer spoken Evening Prayer through a Facebook Live broadcast at 5:30pm. Check our church's Facebook page to participate. We will also not have any youth activities.
Wednesday Nights
We will not be offering Wednesday-night dinner or programs, but we will live-stream a service of Evening Prayer at 6:15pm. There will not be any choir rehearsals or other Wednesday-evening programs.
Weekday Eucharists & Daily Office
We will not gather for Ancient Roots or the Wednesday-morning Eucharist, but we hope to offer Morning and Evening Prayer through Facebook Live. Check the church's Facebook page to participate.
Community Meals
We hope to continue to provide meals on Mondays and Wednesdays to those who are food-insecure in our community, but we will need to provide those as to-go meals. We will ask a small group of volunteers to gather at the church on those mornings to prepare those meals, but we will not serve meals in person.
Other Weekday Meetings
Recovery groups will be the only groups invited to continue to meet in person at St. Paul's. Weekday classes, Bible studies, centering prayer sessions, rehearsals, outside groups, and other gatherings will not meet. The Rector's Bible Study will be shared through Facebook Live at 10:00am on Mondays, and we hope that other groups may develop ways to use online resources to continue their work.
Pastoral Visits
Our clergy are continuing to make pastoral visits, but, in the interest of keeping people safe, we are beginning to limit those visits. Additionally, hospitals are beginning to limit access to patients. If you are in need of a pastoral visit, please reach out to the clergy by calling the church office.
Special Services and Events
We will continue to have funerals and weddings but will ask only families to gather for those events. Other special events will be postponed or cancelled.
Church Building & Office
The church will remain open every day for prayer, and our office plans to stay open.
We are still the church, and our continued prayers in this community are as important as ever. Worship with us online. Say your daily prayers using an online resource like Forward Day by Day or pull out your prayer book and give it a try. Open your Bible and read through the Book of Psalms or Mark's gospel account or the Book of Ruth or something else that interests you. Stay connected with one another. Support those who are at risk, ask neighbors if they need any help, and take steps to keep yourself and others safe.
Throughout all of this, God is still God. God is still present in and among us. In ways big and small, bear witness to your hope and faith. In this season of Lent, as we all journey into an unknown wilderness, keep an eye to the resurrection, which is always on the horizon.
Yours Faithfully,
Evan