Father Tony’s Letter to the Trinitarians
June
2020
Rules for Re-opening?
We
have been living apart and worshiping separated for almost 3 months now due to
measures taken to stem the contagion of the Corona-virus pandemic. As the state relaxes its guidelines and we
enter into a gradual, step-by-step re-entry into our common life, I think it is
worthwhile to remember some basic things about how our faith tells us to
behave. I recite them as a reminder to
myself as much as for others.
Do unto others as you would
have them do to you (Matt 7:12). This
is the basic reason why the Church has been encouraging us to maintain physical
distancing and hygiene rules—not out of fear of getting ill ourselves, but out
of concern that we not unwittingly transmit illness to others who may be more
vulnerable than we. It is why we are reopening physical access to
the church slowly, deliberately, and with great caution. Given the fact that most of our parishioners
and ministers are in the at-risk age groups, we need to continue offering on-line
services for those who need to remain at home even as we open up opportunities
for face-to-face (masked, and at a 2 meter distance) worship and
activities.
Judge not, lest you be
judged (Matt 7:1). Different members of the
congregation will have different thresholds of feeling comfortable and
safe: while most of us feel it best for
now to remain sheltered at home, others are finding that their need for
normalcy and getting back to Church and having Communion outweighs their need
for continued sheltering. Neither group
should look down their noses and judge the others as either reckless
endangerers or timid scaredy-pants, as worshippers of Mammon or faithless
betrayers of God. The Vestry, Worship
Committee, and ministers are working with the Bishop to come up with a
step-by-step way forward that is responsible, keeping with the state
guidelines, and current science. We want
to thank everyone who responded so quickly to our Parish survey on reopening
options. This will hurt, to be
sure: it looks like at the outset of
this process we may have to give up for the duration congregational and choral
singing, handling common-use prayer books, communion in two species (wine along
with the bread), hand-shakes and hugs at the passing of the Peace, and even
uncovered faces. Even our “The
Episcopal Church Welcomes You” will be strained by limits in attendance
numbers. We should not take any of these
matters as an occasion to pick and choose and demand our personal preference at
all costs. A wholesome spirituality
demands that we remain open, and try to get through this by “bearing one
another’s burdens” (Gal 4:6).
Be Countercultural--Keep
yourself unstained by the World (James 1:6).
We
live in a world and nation divided into parties, tribes, and cliques that
affirm their own identity and enforce group conformity by flattening all
differences of opinion into short soundbites, colorful memes, and mutual
reproach. The Gospel demands that we be
counter-cultural, that we not pursue the idol of NO NUANCE, or the demon of
BLAME THE OTHER SIDE. Life in a pandemic
demands, now more than ever, that we be
honest about the subtleties and nuances in our understanding of things that drive
the decisions we make together. We may
have to metaphorically hold our noses to accept things that may not be our cup
of tea. But that is okay. The world tells us to look out for number
one, protect our own interests, and stand up for our own opinions. The Gospel teaches us, however, that
self-sacrifice is the way of the followers of Jesus. Brent McCracken wrote recently in The Gospel
Coalition Blog:
“At a time when self-idolatry is being exposed in ugly ways, the church has an opportunity to model love that places the interests of others above the self. For example, someone might find it personally difficult—even maddening—to have to wear a mask during church and stay six feet away from everyone at all times. You might think these precautions are a needless overreaction. But here’s the thing: even if it turns out you’re right, can you not sacrifice your ideal for a season, out of love for others who believe the precautions are necessary? Even if you personally think it is silly, or even cowardly, for someone to stay home even after the church is open again on Sundays, can you not heed Paul’s wisdom in Romans 14: ‘Let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother’? Or 1 Corinthians 8:9: ‘Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.’ Even if you think these precautions are a needless overreaction, can you not sacrifice your ideal for a season, out of love for others who believe the precautions are necessary? Likewise, those who think the lockdowns should continue should not pass judgment on those who question the wisdom of the government’s ongoing restrictions. Churches should strive to honor people on both sides of the spectrum. Yes, it will be costly for churches to keep offering online services for those who don’t feel comfortable attending physical gatherings. Yes, it will be a sacrifice for church members who are sick of masks, social distancing, and Zoom to continue to use these for the sake of others. But little is more Christian than a posture of sacrifice (Rom. 12:1). We should embrace it with gladness.”
I
hold all of you in prayer, and thank you for remembering me and Elena in your
prayers. As we cautiously reopen
face-to-face Church life , let’s remember that the Church never was the
building and its trappings. The Church
includes even those most separated from us, the blessed dead. And the life of caring for each other and
gently showing forth the love of Jesus goes on, inside and outside the
building.
Fr.
Tony+
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