All Saints’ Sunday and an Update from Bishop Scarfe
From Bishop Scarfe
Many of us have been paying careful attention to the Coronavirus numbers. Unfortunately, the observations are not promising. As of this afternoon, the State of Iowa COVID-19 dashboard shows daily high case counts this week of 3,080 on Monday and 2,083 on Tuesday—higher than the previous daily record set just last week of 1,965. As with much of the Midwest, we are caught in a powerful surge of infection, which is beginning to impact hospitals, and has caused a significant rise in reported deaths.
Two or three weeks ago I wrote that my hope was that we could make plans to move indoors for worship by All Saints’ Day. And I gave permission in certain areas where the numbers had shifted in a promising direction to start making such plans. I am honoring the plans you have made for this coming Sunday, and leave those in your hands. With this also being the Sunday before election, I appreciate that you may feel an added need for prayer in a familiar worship space. Moving forward, however, I believe that we must return to our online presence and forgo in person worship for the time being. This is a very difficult decision and one which has to be made as part of our mission of being bearers of God’s love to a suffering world.
How can we build from the good experience of Convention online; and realize together how to maximize our digital presence? At Convention I called for a diocesan-wide formation offering tailored to the liturgical seasons, which we can enjoy as one all the way through Eastertide. I am not suggesting that we will be remote during all that time but that it will be helpful to create a way of developing our communities of faith through the discipleship process that Jesus deployed—small groups of intense learning and mission practice.
In a recent consultation with leading epidemiologists and medical researchers who looked over our plans for gathering with care inside for the Winter, our Diocesan Task Force on Re-gathering were strongly advised against larger numbers gathering in person than the handful needed to broadcast weekly services, ie. teams of 4-5 members. In some ways their suggestion mirrored what the professional sports teams are doing—creating isolated bubbles of players and managers to put on a game for the rest of us to enjoy remotely. They added that they believed there could be an effective vaccine or treatment soon, and that it is a shame to give up our disciplines now.
So, I encourage us to continue to hold the line and find the courage to support one another’s health. If we take the opportunity to increase our efforts to improve communication and connection among parishioners, I believe that we can come out of this even stronger as communities of faith. After all, we are followers of Jesus, and He continues to meet us where we are. I think of the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer who wrote in his book Life Together, “It is by the grace of God that a congregation is permitted to gather visibly in this world to share God’s Word and Sacraments. The imprisoned, the sick, the scattered lonely, the proclaimers of the Gospel in heathen lands stand alone. They know that visible fellowship is a blessing. But they remain alone in far countries, a scattered seed according to God’s will. Yet what is denied them as an actual experience, they seize upon in faith. Thus the exiled disciple of the Lord, John the Apocalyptist, celebrated in the loneliness of Patmos the heavenly worship with his congregations ‘in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day’ (Rev 1:10).”
I have lived in nations where Christians learned to appreciate each other because of the distance between them created by political forces. This is our time for distancing, caused by the pandemic and out of it, if permitted, can come a new way of appreciating our fellowship. We are responding to something beyond our control, and there is no perfect answer. When our numbers once more turn downwards, we will be able to put our various plans for safely re-gathering into play.
Obviously we will continue this conversation on our Tuesday Zoom calls for clergy and lay congregation leaders who are responsible for the operation of their congregations. In the meantime, we invite you to be sustained by that same grace of God which allows us the blessing of direct fellowship, and which will eventually return us into that very same blessing.
In the peace and love of Christ,
+Alan
The Rt. Rev. Alan Scarfe
Bishop of Iowa
The diocesan worship opportunities that are available online will be found on the diocesan Facebook page, the diocesan Youtube channel, and will be available on the diocesan website. Call-in option for members who only have access to phones (participants on the phone will NOT be able to be heard but will be able to hear the service): 312 626 6799 and enter the Meeting ID as prompted: 365 765 527#
This Sunday - don't forget to set your clocks back one hour and join us for worship offered by members of Trinity Church in Carroll, Trinity Church in Denison, and St. Paul's in Harlan at 10:00am
Holding on to Hope
November 1 at 3pm Central
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will lead a live-streamed prayer service from Washington National Cathedral, Holding on to Hope: A National Service for Healing and Wholeness, on All Saints Sunday, November 1, at 4:00-5:30 p.m. EST. In the midst of a pandemic, racial reckoning, and a historic election, the live-streamed service will gather Americans for prayer, song, lament, hope, and a call to love God and neighbor. The event will be simulcast in English and Spanish.
Voting Faithfully
Faithful Voices for Racial Justice is urging people of all faiths to #VoteFaithfully this year. Visit the FVRJ website to learn more about the work they are doing, ways you can be involved, a calendar of events, as well as resources for adults, children, and youth for conversation and learning.
Bishop Search Profile
The committee has begun receiving nominations. Whether nominating oneself or someone else, names may be submitted through November 13 by emailing contact information (e.g. email address) of the nominee to bishopsearch@iowaepiscopal.org or by mailing to Iowa Bishop Search, P.O. Box 366, Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613.
Young Adult First Fridays
You’re invited to join with other young adults on Friday November 6th via Zoom as we engage with the monthly dismantling racism resources offered in the "2020 Vision for Becoming Beloved Community."
The month of October was focused on Indigenous Peoples. Join us to talk about what we have learned by engaging with one or more of the items listed under each of the headings - Learn, Notice, Engage - on the 2020 Vision October page
For Zoom login information, contact Traci Ruhland Petty.