My Dear Friends in Christ,
So many things about this COVID-19 crisis has been creating anxiety. Not only in us as individuals, but in our Diocese as a whole. Everything about how we do church has transformed in the last few months and as Canon Catherine said in her letter last week, we cannot let that go. COVID-19 has forced us to go inside, our homes and our hearts, in a way that we can take into these reopening procedures.
Catherine’s message last week was about finding new and imaginative ways to encounter God. Our goal in reopening is not to “go back to normal” because we can’t. Normal doesn’t exist anymore, and as scary as that is, it’s kind of exciting and challenging too. When I was a Resident Staff person at Camp Galilee, we were taught that the perfect intersection of challenge and skill is called Adventure. So, let’s adventure forward into this new world, with a new understanding of what and where church is and who God is calling us to be.
At the following link, you will find a list of requirements and expectations when it comes to worshiping God together, in person. Allow me to break it down a little bit first. Each parish will be expected to submit a proposal for reopening to the Diocese to be reviewed by me and our lovely Chancellor for approval. There is comprehensive list of things that we hope you will include in your plan. We are asking each Parish to apply individually because each building, each county, each town, each congregation, is vastly different. This diversity has been our challenge as we have been thinking about resuming community gatherings since this all started back in March.
As you consider if it is time for your congregation to submit a proposal for reopening, I challenge you to think about something else. What are you doing now that’s working really well? What kind of world and community has your congregation transformed into over these last several months? And what spiritual food are you going to feed the world going forward?
We are Episcopalian and Eucharist and community worship is hugely important as we think about how we interact with God, but these last months have taught us that we can have a more quiet and contemplative engagement with our Lord. How are you going to use this new found spirituality moving forward?
To me, these are more important questions than who are you going to hire to do the deep cleaning of our gathering space. So please, consider your options about gathering. Maybe small groups in homes is a better option for now. Maybe it makes more sense for you to meet outside at this time. Maybe, just maybe, what you are already doing is creating spiritual change in your flock in a way that you had not previously expected.
That all being said, I recognize that anxieties are running high and I fully anticipate that many of you will submit proposals within the week. Please be patient with as we review them. We will get back to you as soon as possible with our responses and questions.
Be thoughtful. Be patient. We are all just doing our level best.
Blessings,
Maggie Davidson, President of the Standing Committee
Episcopal Diocese of Nevada Reopening Requirements and Guidelines Requirements to submit a plan for review/approval. ? A 14-day downward or perfectly flat trend in COVID-19 cases is reported in your county or town as reported by the State of Nevada in its update beginning on Tuesday morning, June 16, 2020. ? Testing is reasonably available and being practiced in the city in which the parish is located. ? The nearest major hospital or regional medical center which would treat a positive case is doing so without yet being in “crisis mode.” ? Senior Clergy can ensure that reopening is in the spiritual and physical wellbeing of their parishioners. What we will be looking for in a proposed reopening plan (not all will apply to each church) ? A brief statement regarding the need to reopen by Senior Clergy or Lay Leadership. ? Plan to have an outside firm come in to do a deep cleaning of the church building/gathering spaces. ? Plan regarding regular deep cleaning. ? Plan for providing personal protective equipment (PPE) including hand sanitizer, masks, gloves, etc. ? Diagram of gathering space and plan for social distancing. ? Plan to mark off space in the building to ensure social distancing. ? Plan regarding the training of ushers to help ensure social distancing. ? Plan regarding managing the number of people who might attend each service. ? Please address any schedule changes to accommodate more/less services. ? Plan regarding what practices will be used for offering collection, communion, baptism, and greeting to ensure physical distancing and physical safety. ? Please address the following: Eucharist, the passing of the peace, music/singing. ? Plan for accommodating people who are unable or unwilling to attend in person at this time. ? Please address your more elderly or medically vulnerable people. 2 Suggestions for re-opening ? Can you hold church outside? If so, how? ? Can you hold small group church in people’s homes? ? Can you forego Eucharist and do Morning Prayer instead? ? Can you use taped music rather than live music and limit singing? Once you have a written plan, it can be submitted to the Diocesan Office and reviewed by the President of the Standing Committee and Diocesan Chancellor who will approve it or ask for more information. All requests will be handled in a timely manner. The Communications Director will follow up with each Parish weekly to provide assistance in following each approved plan. Any change to your approved plan will have to be submitted as an addendum and approved separately. For instance, if your original plan included Morning Prayer and you want to start doing Eucharist, an addendum would have to be submitted and approved.
Proposal Checklist ? Statement regarding the need to reopen ? Initial deep cleaning ? Regular deep cleaning ? PPE (hand sanitizer, gloves, masks, etc.) ? Diagram of gathering space ? Usher training ? Service attendance plan ? Schedule changes ? Liturgy plan/changes ? Eucharist ? Passing of the Peace ? Music/singing ? Other ? Accommodations for people not attending ? Elderly and medically vulnerable people
Dear all,
Father Frank Cowell, retired rector of St Paul's Elko, passed away Saturday, July 11, 2020 at around noon. He was in a hospital in Washington suffering from pneumonia and his sister was with him when he died.
Frank's remains will be scattered in a favorite location in Hawaii. At some point, St Paul's will hold a memorial for him but of course present constraints won't allow that just yet.
Grace be with you,
Leslie Chilton
Mark Koppe Sr.
Digital Worship in our Diocese
- Trinity Episcopal Cathedral Reno: Sunday services and Thursday Eucharists can be viewed via YouTube Channel or via Facebook Page.
- Wadsworth - St. Michael and All Angeles' & Nixon - St. Mary the Virgin: These two churches will combine for a joint ZOOM service for members this Sunday morning!
- Boulder City - St. Christoper's: Morning Prayer online. Email stchristopherschurchbc@gmail.com" target="_blank">stchristopherschurchbc@gmail.com for details
- Carson City - St. Peter's: Worship ON-LINE at 9 AM Sunday.; Procession Carson Middle School 10:30 AM Sunday; Online Services 7 PM Thursday, Friday, Saturday - Get Email invite here
- Ely - St. Bartholomew's: Sunday communion via Zoom in conjunction with Christ Church Pioche
- Fallon - Holy Trinity: ZOOM services - Sundays at 9:30 am and Wednesdays at 6:00 pm
- Incline Village, St. Patrick's: Will have virtual services for the foreseeable future. Please check their home page here for service information
- Las Vegas - All Saints'/Todos Los Santos: Sundays at 10:00 am (English) and at 11:45 am (Spanish) on Facebook Live here
- Las Vegas - Christ Church/Cristo Rey: Services on Sundays via Facebook Livestream here (English [Rite II] 10:30, Misa en Español 12:30)
- Las Vegas - Epiphany: Currently holding an 8:00 am drive in service in our parking lot and a 10:00 am livestream worship service available Facebook and YouTube (also on YouTube are daily messages form Fr. Rick)
- Las Vegas - Grace in the Desert: Sunday Service and Lessons on YouTube with link posted on parish homepage here
- Las Vegas - St. Luke's/San Lucas: Sunday meditation on the readings of the day in English at 10:00 a.m. and en Español at 11:00 a.m., both on Facebook.
- Las Vegas - St. Matthew's/San Mateo - transcripts of some Sunday services (and a wonderful age of Stay-Home Activities) are posted on the parish's homepage here
- Minden - Coventry Cross: Sunday services are held via ZOOM; find the latest information on their Facebook
- Pioche - Christ Church: Sunday communion via Zoom in conjunction with St. Bartholomew's Ely
- Reno - St. Catherine of Siena: Sunday Worship via Zoom each Sunday in May at 10:00 am PDT; full info available to members via parish's Daily Digest emails
- Sparks - St. Paul's: Sunday Mornings (10 am) and Wednesday Night Prayer (8 pm) via their Facebook
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The Episcopal Church
Dear Friends in Christ,
As I have been in communication with other Bishops in Province VIII, with our Chancellor, clerics and diocesan staff members, I have made the decision to keep our church campuses closed. Coronavirus numbers continue to climb in Nevada, and protocols from the CDC and other health agencies prescribe safety procedures for reopening churches that we are not yet able to meet. Liability issues are also considered in this decision, along with the health and welfare of our parishioners. The decision about how and when to reopen our parish buildings will be revisited in early July. Throughout June, no gatherings may be held on church property in the Diocese of Nevada. Please be assured that detailed information about reopening your campuses will be given to you when the time is appropriate. In the meantime, may you and your parish continue to grow in depth of love, patience and compassion through this time of sacrifice.
Bishop Jim
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St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 777 Sage Street, Elko, NV 89801 http://stpaulselko.org T: 775-738-3264 ________________________________________________________ Our companion diocese, the Diocese of Machakos, Kenya, may not be familiar to you. Here’s your introduction ! The Right Reverend Joseph Mutungi, Bishop The companion diocesan relationship, whereby churches and members expand their understanding of one another and nurture long-lasting friendships at all levels of the Church, commits to:
O God, who created all peoples in your image, we thank you for the wonderful diversity of races and cultures in this world. Enrich our lives by the ever-widening circles of fellowship, through our companion relationship with the Diocese of Machakos in Kenya and the Diocese of Nevada in the USA. Show us your presence in those who differ most from us, and allow us to learn from each other with open hearts and minds; through Christ our lord. Amen.
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