When can we regather for in-person worship?

 Dear friends,

I know that this question is very much on everyone’s mind. We are so tired of the pandemic and of all the ways that it is affecting our lives, especially in terms of limiting our ability to be together in person for worship. I don’t have a specific answer to the question of when we can regather, but I can share with you one of the major considerations affecting the decision. 

 

We know that those of us who are vaccinated and boosted are still capable of getting and spreading Covid, and that the recent upsurge of the virus is taxing the health care system. A recent communication from our Diocesan Health Advisory Panel asked church leaders to monitor the capacity of local healthcare facilities to receive and treat patients. As of January 26, Riverside hospital has 7 times as many hospitalized Covid patients as it had a month ago, the emergency department is packed, and there is a severe blood shortage that is adversely impacting the hospital’s ability to provide patients with the usual level of treatment. 

 

In short, our local healthcare facility is struggling right now, and one way we can help the situation is to refrain from putting ourselves into situations that might further spread Covid. The good news—and there is good news—is that the numbers are actually getting better; Riverside has 40 fewer Covid patients right now than it did at its worst point a few weeks ago.

 

So I keep praying, as I’m sure you do, too. I pray for the Covid numbers to decrease so that our lives can return to normal; and I pray for all those affected in every way by this pandemic, especially the staff and patients at Riverside and all of our local medical facilities.

 

Blessings. - Anne

Worship moves to online only

Bishop Haynes, in consultation with the Diocesan Health Advisory Panel, has notified all churches in the Diocese of Southern Virginia that effective immediately, public worship is suspended. (Click here to read the Bishop's message.)

• There will be no Wednesday service on January 5. This service is suspended until further notice.
• All group meetings and gatherings are suspended until further notice.
• Fellowship Groups should postpone any gatherings until at least February.
• Beginning this Sunday, January 9, there will be one virtual service at 10:30 AM on Sunday mornings. You can watch the service live and the recording will be available to watch later. A link to the Sunday service will be emailed to you on Sunday mornings. 
• There will be two ways to receive communion. You can call or text Bill Wilds, 757-880-5460 weekdays between 9 AM and noon, to pick up communion kits to use while watching the service. Alternatively, a member of the clergy will be outside the River Road entrance to the church from 11:30 to 12:00 to give communion.
• Offerings can be mailed in, or placed in the mailbox outside the Main Street entrance.

As the pace of coronavirus transmission accelerates, driven by the omicron and delta variants, safeguarding public health and mitigating the risk of COVID transmission becomes a Christian imperative. Our baptismal covenant to seek and serve Christ in all persons and respect the dignity of every human being is central to our commitment as Christians and lies at the heart of our response to the threat the pandemic poses.