Friday 13 March 2020
After a good bit of agonizing, reading, and consultation with parishioners, public health officials, and others I have decided to suspend this Sunday’s Eucharist.
Many of us, myself included, fall into the high-‐risk category in terms of age and pre-‐ existing conditions. I respect those who are determined to keep the pattern of sacramental life going. I also find the call to do our part to “flatten the curve” by practicing social distancing very seriously.
It is a complex set of issues. We have a need to protect our families and ourselves and staying out of public places and gatherings as much as possible while practicing hand washing and physical distance as much as possible seems to be the best way. It is not possible to perfectly isolate in a city.
We also need to understand that this helps the whole by slowing transmission and hopefully letting the crisis caused by this virus unfold more gradually in order to allow the medical establishment to better cope. We are seeing the tragic unfolding of the opposite in Italy now.
I seriously encourage all of you to stay in as much as possible. Those like me with underlying conditions need to be especially cautious and those who live with us need to consider our venerable condition and help us protect ourselves as much as possible.
We do not have to be spiritually isolated while we are physically isolated. At the bottom of this letter you will find instructions to log on to an All Saints Zoom account so we can interact on Sunday at 10:00 to say Morning Prayer together. We will follow the service with a virtual coffee hour.
My number is 718-‐865-‐7906. While I hope to not come out until things are better I can chat. Kay, my sister, works in public health and has access to a great deal of information so I am happy to exploit her advice if needed.
On a personal note, please keep Alan, my husband, in your prayers. As most of you know he recently had a very successful surgery removing his prostate and lymph glands. There was some cancer in the glands so he will probably need radiation and hormone therapy going forward. We have great respect for his medical team and are optimistic for his continuing recovery.
Please keep Father Cole (formerly of St. John Church). He is recovering but has tested positive for the Corona Virus.
With love and gratitude,
The Reverend Lewis Marshall
Joining a Zoom meeting
Zoom is an audio and video conferencing service that will allow you to see and hear each other.
At the scheduled time go to https://zoom.us/j/9704869069
I will open the meeting on Sunday at 9:50 am for morning prayer. We will also have a trial run meeting to see if your are able to join on Saturday at 2:00 pm. My sister will be available at that time to help you via phone if you are having difficulties.
Or go to https://zoom.us and click Join a Meeting then enter 970 486 9069 on the screen that comes up.
The first time you join a meeting, you will be prompted to download and run the zoom application. Follow the directions from the website to do this.
For more help visit https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-‐us/articles/201362193-‐ Joining-‐a-‐Meeting
You can also join online from a smart phone with the same link. You will be prompted to download and run the zoom app on your phone.
You can also join via audio only by calling +1 646 558 8656 and entering the meeting ID 970 486 9069# when prompted.