Parish Update on COVID-19

PARISH UPDATE ON COVID-19 

Dear faithful parishioners & friends,

I’m reaching out to you regarding the coronavirus pandemic and precautionary measures we will take in the upcoming weeks to keep our community members safe. The safety and well being of our parishioners & friends is of high priority for us.

Due to the rapid transmission of the virus we will postpone all non-liturgical gatherings in our community at least until Easter to limit the exposure of the virus.

We will not offer a prayer service this Sunday, March 15, however the Church will be open from 10am-11am for individual prayer & reflection. Fr. Tadeos is out of town this weekend. We will wait for further instruction from the Diocese regarding the Sunday Service on March 22.

Please consider the precautionary measures mentioned below before attending the service.  Here are some suggestions as we go through this Lenten period:

1. If attending the Sunday service may constitute a risk to your health & well being, a concern of your families and society at large, we emphatically urge you to stay home.

2. For the next few weeks we will not serve food or beverage at the fellowship hour.

3. We will not conduct “Kiss of Peace”, Holy Communion or Kissing the Gospel during Badarak until Palm Sunday.

4. We suggest to refrain from handshaking or any in person interaction before and after the service.

5. If you have cold or flu symptoms, please stay home.

6. Last but not least please pray for all those affected, for the world and for the cure to be discovered for the virus.

If you are in need of Pastoral care or ministry please contact Der Tadeos.  If you are in need of a visitation, please let Der Tadeos know in advance if you or anyone is ill or exhibiting symptoms so that he can come prepared to minister to your needs while protecting himself, his family and our Church family.

Please know that we are implementing these measures for the safety of all of you and particularly for the most vulnerable among us. Our Primate Bishop Daniel issued a pastoral message to the public, on the Eastern Diocese’s response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Click here to read the entire pastoral message.

Let us pray and ask the Lord for His mercy & protection upon us.
Our faithful, particularly those who are unable to attend church, are encouraged to offer the following prayer:“Lord our God, enthroned among the angels, as you gaze here below from your holy heights, look down on all of us, your servants, who are suffering through the fear, uncertainty, pain and death surrounding the current pandemic. Take away every sickness and pain, and restore health and hope to all those who are ailing. Glory, lordship and honor to you, now and always and unto the ages of ages. Amen.”

With prayers,

Fr. Tadeos
Pastor