Notice about the Coronavirus
Dear Rez Family,
As you are all not doubt aware, serious public measures are being taken to avoid spread of the Coronavirus in order to protect the most vulnerable in our communities. These include banning events with more than 250 people, and public school closures lasting at least through early April. We at Rez want to do our part to keep our community safe and respect the orders of our public authorities, and we encourage you to do the same. In that spirit, we are reorienting our ministry toward on-line services and means of connection, and we are discontinuing Rez group gatherings of any kind. As you decide how you will informally engage with each other over the coming weeks, including the extent of your in-person contact, we encourage you to prayerfully consider how you might best serve others in the community and put their needs above your own.
The vestry, staff, and I have decided that it was best to cancel all in-person community gatherings, table groups, Wednesday evening prayer, and others through the rest of March. This means, as of now, our first service gathering will be on Palm Sunday on April 5.
As critical as it is for us to worship together and share in Christ’s presence in Word and Sacrament, loving our neighbor looks like doing our part to prevent the spread of this virus. Not only that, the lack of in-person meetings does not mean that we take a break from being the Church. Rather, we are faced with a unique missional opportunity to serve others. Pay attention to what God is doing in the midst of this, and discern ways you can join in.
What we’re doing:
A Virtual Food Drive: We’re aware that school cancellations leaves many low-income students without regular meals that they receive at school. As a parish, we are conducting a virtual food drive with the Austin Food Bank and we encourage you to chip in. You can give on Rez’s food drive link here.
We’ll be working to send you updates, resources for prayer, and other communication to keep you connected. As we learn more about the pandemic, we will keep you informed about its impact on our parish life.
For the rest of March we’ll be working to provide online streaming worship services and sermons on Sundays at 10 AM.
What you can do:
Pray with us for the health and safety of our neighbors, especially the elderly and weak in health.
Avoid large gatherings and wash your hands a lot.
In the words of our bishop, "be kind to yourself. It’s normal to feel confused and scared. The situation is indeed serious, but I invite you to commit to practicing the 'sacrament of this present moment'; find the goodness of God in this era, neither longing for the past or worrying about the future. The ‘present' is the only space in which we have to love God and neighbor
Consider joining us in giving to the Austin food bank.
Our vision is “Life together in the Goodness of God,” which doesn’t just apply when things are easier, or when times are less concerning. We are an outpost of the Kingdom of God that is never shaken, even in moments like this. Let us continue to live into this vision by relying on God’s goodness to lead us not into panic or worry, but into the safety we have in His care. This means that even in the toughest situations, we do not have to live on a diet of fear, confusion, or anger. I invite you to fast from all of this, and feast on the presence and promise of God. When we do, we will find that our lives are freed up to participate in the work God is doing for the sake of others.
Lastly, take a moment to pause now and pray this prayer with us from our friend, David O. Taylor:
Oh Lord, you who are the refuge of the poor and needy, we ask that you would save us from the pestilence that stalks in the darkness and the plague that destroys at midday. Be our sun and shield. Be our fortress. Be our comfort this day. May we not fear any evil but rather trust in your might to save and your wisdom to guide, so that we may rest always in the shadow of the Almighty. In the name of the One who heals our diseases. Amen.
Peace,
Fr. Shawn McCain
Rector
