Third Sunday of Easter
With a growing number of Iowans receiving vaccinations against the coronavirus, our thoughts have turned towards in-person worship and activities in our Church buildings. For several weeks now, most of us have seen a reduction in infection rates in our counties allowing for gathering at Phase 2 or even Phase 3 levels. The guidelines provide for gatherings in person at 25% for Phase 2, and at 50% for Phase 3, and are linked with new infection case rates below 25 in 100K of population (Phase 2), and below 10 in 100k (Phase 3). Also, a number of congregations actually have almost all of their members fully vaccinated, which is good news even as it reinforces the older nature of our demographic.
The Task Force on Regathering is beginning to think through the question: So, after vaccination, what has changed? Some things remain the same—wearing masks during worship, continuing to pattern physical distancing and simplifying liturgical choreography as much as possible (still no processions, no acolytes), no active embracing at the peace, and no indoor socializing. Some musical leadership has begun to re-appear in small choir groups, or well-distanced placement of a reduced number of choir members singing with singers’ masks. Although congregational singing is still not allowed, during Holy Week I found it powerful to softly say the words to the cantor led hymns out loud to myself just a half line ahead of the singers.
We are thankful that the vaccine’s ability to prevent serious illness and death for persons who have received it is clear. It also seems that vaccinated individuals can still contract a mild or asymptomatic infection that may still be transmitted to others; and that more infectious strains of the virus may make this problem more acute. In addition, it will be at least six months before youths ages 12-16 are vaccinated and potentially a year or more before children under 12 are vaccinated. Children and others who are immunocompromised or who have other underlying health conditions remain at risk for severe illness. It will take an unknown amount of time to vaccinate marginalized communities (undocumented immigrants, the homeless, and anyone without access to health care); and so, for some time to come, the most vulnerable among us remain at risk for severe illness. For all of these reasons, we will continue the risk reduction measures that have been in effect for much of the past year as we continue to demonstrate our loving care for the most at risk in our communities.
We see a strong role for us as Church in addressing vaccine hesitancy. And we urge Episcopalians to be among those who as loving members of our community encourage people to get vaccinated. Each congregation might do this differently. Clergy could talk about our roles as leaders in educating on the vaccines, their origins, and effectiveness. Some have real fears of needles, or of doctors and nurses. How can we help the community work through this? Maybe there are medical personnel in your congregation who could help in this process. In one congregation, they have used the call list to get the word out as to where appointments are available locally, and offered to set up the appointments for those having difficulty navigating the online system. Churches could partner with health departments and hospitals to offer vaccination clinics for the public.
I know that there are many things that I have been learning to do in communication and gatherings with people online this past year that will continue on into the future. I doubt that our diocesan staff meetings will become in-person, along with a number of other planning or intermediary “touch base” meetings, including most of the Board of Directors meetings. There is always a need for one or two in-person gatherings but I think they will be those of particular significance or strategic importance. Some churches are continuing bible studies online, and I imagine many of the daily or weekly Office prayers may well continue to be offered online. We may simply find we have come to adjust our use of time and way of seeing things.
When we do meet in person beyond worship services for small groups or meetings, even if all members are vaccinated, the Task Force thinks that we would do well to heed the practice on airlines where the pilot turns off the seat belt sign, and announces that even if we are not walking around the plane, it would be a good thing to keep the seat belt sign on. We encourage wearing of masks and other safety practices for such encounters inside the church building, and especially when walking or moving around the building.
This week the judicatories (other denominational leaders) across Iowa met for our quarterly check-in, and the major topic of discussion was the issues related to re-gathering. All of us were cautious in our directives and sense of timing. Some have national guidelines that are not permitting events until after Labor Day. We are looking at the beginning of July for holding some diocesan in-person activities, chiefly related to the bishop election, but also a reduced summer camp offering. The key to the latter will be the ability to have all our counsellors vaccinated. One exceptional event in July for the diocese will be a virtual revival on July 22-23 with the Presiding Bishop. Planning has begun for this event which will also launch a nine-day prayer action running up to the Special Convention for the election of the Tenth Bishop of Iowa on July 31st at the Marriott in Des Moines.
Finally, I invite you to the May 1st virtual gathering which we are calling “ACTS: After Covid Telling Stories of the Spirit.” Thirteen or fourteen congregations are prepared to tell their stories of this past year—in three categories: successes, struggles, and senses about the future leading of the Spirit. We will have a chance to share more personally in break out groups; and I think it is a wonderful opportunity to review this past year, and assess with others where we are and where we are being led.
In the peace and love of Christ,
+Alan
The Rt. Rev. Alan Scarfe, Bishop of Iowa
Diocesan Online Worship
Join St. Paul's, Grinnell for Morning Prayer at 10:30am.
GILEAD Campaign
Spread the word!
Share information about the campaign with your congregation.
Materials can be copied into your congregation's newsletter, bulletin, website, or social media (and can be customized upon request).
Download here:
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GILEAD Grant Spotlight: St. Stephen's, Newton
St. Stephen's received a "Strengthening an Existing Ministry" GILEAD Grant for their "Blessing Box."
The “Blessing Box” was crafted by one member and located at the home of another, and for the past several years has been stocked with food, personal care and safety items, with the addition of protective clothing and shelter items during winter months.
This ministry, and “Connections” – a Peer Drop-In Center for homeless and those suffering from mental health issues - grew out of a focus group of Newton residents who came together to discuss the needs faced by homeless people in their midst, including food insecurity.
“Connections” is across the street from St. Stephen’s, and the two are partnering together to keep the project sustainable by moving the box to the “Connections” grounds, which will allow for additional storage space of goods and give “Connections” clients a sense of value and purpose as they will aid with stocking and maintenance. Grant funds are being used for supplies to stock and reopen the Blessing Box at its new location.
Help make grants like this possible with a donation to the diocesan GILEAD Campaign. To learn about the other grants funded last year from your generous gifts, click here.
ST. STEPHEN’S WEBSITE
ST. STEPHEN’S FACEBOOK
CONNECTIONS WEBSITE
CONNECTIONS FACEBOOK
COVID-19 Vaccine Information
A tool to help you track down COVID-19 vaccine appointment openings at Iowa pharmacies. Updated every minute - keep refreshing the page or clicking "Check for New Appointments"
Now tracking 400+ locations around Iowa. Find a location close to you that has appointments available, then click the 'Book an Appointment’ link.
Resources:
on Twitter, follow @IAVaccineAlerts
#StopAsianHate
Online Training Opportunities
Offered by Hollaback! in partnership with Asian Americans Advancing Justice
BYSTANDER INTERVENTION
Thursday April 29 at 2pm
CONFLICT DE-ESCALATION (BYSTANDER INTERVENION 2.0)
Wednesday April 21 at 3pm
Sacred Ground Circles
Sacred Ground is a film- and readings-based dialogue series on race, grounded in faith. Small groups are invited to walk through chapters of America’s history of race and racism, while weaving in threads of family story, economic class, and political and regional identity.
The 11-session series is built around a powerful online curriculum of documentary films and readings that focus on Indigenous, Black, Latino, and Asian/Pacific American histories as they intersect with European American histories.
Circles will meet every other week for 11 sessions via Zoom:
Mondays 6:30-8:30pm beginning 5/24
Tuesdays 6:30-8:30pm beginning 5/25
Thursdays 6:30-8:30pm beginning 5/27
Sundays 1:30-3:30pm beginning 5/30
Dismantling Racism Training
Register for online training
Grounded in The Episcopal Church's commitment to dismantling racism as essential to our formation as Christians, this ONLINE training is open to all persons who would like to deepen their understanding of racism, prejudice, and privilege.
The training will consist of 2 sessions from 10:00am-12:00pm and 12:30pm-2:30pm, with a break for lunch.
Earth Day, Every Day: Meet Dawson Davenport
APRIL 18 - 3:00PM
EPIC Diocesan Summer Camp: July 5-9, 2021
The EPIC planning team is doing all we can right now to have an in-person camp this year. EPIC will look different for a number of reasons, partly because we will be at a new location, the Christian Conference Center in Newton, and because of COVID protocol. We are also working on an online option for those who might not be comfortable with in-person camp this summer.
EPIC is for youth entering 4th grade through 12th grade. Registration information will be sent to families and posted on the Children and Youth Ministry page of the diocesan website soon.
Episcopal Service Corps
Are you called to a #ServiceYear through Episcopal Service Corps?
Open House - May 4 at 7:00pm CDT
Discerning a service year?
If you're a young adult between 21 and 32 years of age, join ESC program directors and Corps members for an online Open House, May 4 at 8 pm Eastern/7 pm Central/6 pm Mountain/5 pm Pacific. During the hour you'll have a chance to talk to ESC alumni and current Corps members, find out what it's like to serve through ESC, and ask any questions you may have.
Take our Discernment Quiz: http://bit.ly/ESCdiscern to learn more about the variety of opportunities available through ESC.
If you are considering a year of service through ESC, be sure to apply soon! We accept applications until every service opportunity is filled.
Application: https://bit.ly/ESCApplication
Episcopal Youth Event/Evento de Jóvenes Episcopales: Research Project
The Office of Youth Ministries for The Episcopal Church invites you to help them explore the story and legacy of EYE/EJE as they begin to research and understand more deeply what these events mean to The Episcopal Church. The Office of Youth Ministries for The Episcopal Church has contracted with Ministry Architects to conduct a professional and objective evaluation of the almost 40-year-old international triennial Episcopal Youth Event and the more recently added Evento de Jóvenes Episcopales. Since EYE2020 was canceled due to the pandemic, they sought to take advantage of the pause and engage in a research project while they have the capacity to give it the attention it deserves. Now is the time, and they humbly request your help.
If you have attended any EYE as a youth or chaperone you can find the participation form on the website HERE. By using this link to the website, anyone can sign up to participate in the research project. The essential information gathered will be shared with the Ministry Architects and Episcopal Youth Ministry Team. Over the course of the next few months, potential participants in the research project may receive invitations to surveys, listening sessions, or other methods of gaining information about EYE/EJE.
Faithful Innovations
Agape Cafe at Old Brick: Celebrating 28 Years
Agape Cafe -- a diocesan ministry out of Old Brick in Iowa City for over 28 years, serving a hot, made-to-order breakfast weekly to their guests. The cafe is open to all; it has become a community of those in need of food, friendship, respect, and welcome. Agape Cafe is celebrating their anniversary by launching a fundraising campaign with up to a $10,000 diocesan match. To learn more about Agape Cafe, visit their website.
As a diocesan ministry, Agape Cafe appears on the Gifts List on the diocesan donations page -- along with the Bishop's Discretionary Fund, Companion Dioceses above-and-beyond gifts for greatest need, and others. To see a fuller Gifts List and support one of our many diocesan ministries by online donation, click here.
Podcast Corner
A Brave Space with Dr. Meeks
Dr. Catherine Meeks
A Brave Space with Dr. Meeks will support the work of the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing in its mission of creating brave space where the truth can be told. The sessions will explore various topics that address the intersections between slavery, lynching, the prison industrial complex, the death penalty and 21st-century police killings and the ways in which these issues prohibit racial healing in America. There will be a wide variety of guests who will assist the host and Absalom Jones Center Director in engaging the crucial topic of racial healing from their wide range of experiences as resistors to racism and in seeking racial healing.
