By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Luke 1:78-79
My siblings in Christ,
The days are starting to lengthen and with it our hope for the days ahead is strengthened and renewed. But the brightest light is Jesus Christ and in him all things will be restored. As I stated in my letter of January 13, we will move into our modified Phase II protocols starting February 6. At that time churches may resume in-person worship at a limited 10% capacity and pastoral services may resume without special permission. (All COVID updates and resources can be found here.)
As we previously announced, suggestions for Ash Wednesday can be found here. If you have a particular circumstance that would require exceeding these limits, I will consider them on a case-by-case basis. Please email me directly, copying Canon Shawn Wamsley, swamsley@diopa.org, and Canon Kirk Berlenbach, kberlenbach@diopa.org. We will continue to closely monitor the numbers and update you as to when we may move to a less restrictive phase.
In terms of the vaccine, as you know, our efforts were instrumental in getting clergy classified as essential workers (Phase 1b). Canon Toneh Smyth is continuing to lead our efforts to get clergy registered and vaccinated as soon as possible. However, supplies remain very limited and access to it is taking longer than hoped. We will keep you apprised as we get more information. We have posted updates to the vaccine process here. If you have questions about the vaccine please contact Canon Toneh Smyth at tsmyth@diopa.org.
We look forward in hope to the time when we may safely gather in-person again. In the meantime, we journey together faithfully following the light of Jesus Christ. You are in my daily prayers and I am grateful to be your shepherd.
By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Luke 1:78-79
My siblings in Christ,
The days are starting to lengthen and with it our hope for the days ahead is strengthened and renewed. But the brightest light is Jesus Christ and in him all things will be restored. As I stated in my letter of January 13, we will move into our modified Phase II protocols starting February 6. At that time churches may resume in-person worship at a limited 10% capacity and pastoral services may resume without special permission. (All COVID updates and resources can be found here.)
As we previously announced, suggestions for Ash Wednesday can be found here. If you have a particular circumstance that would require exceeding these limits, I will consider them on a case-by-case basis. Please email me directly, copying Canon Shawn Wamsley, swamsley@diopa.org, and Canon Kirk Berlenbach, kberlenbach@diopa.org. We will continue to closely monitor the numbers and update you as to when we may move to a less restrictive phase.
In terms of the vaccine, as you know, our efforts were instrumental in getting clergy classified as essential workers (Phase 1b). Canon Toneh Smyth is continuing to lead our efforts to get clergy registered and vaccinated as soon as possible. However, supplies remain very limited and access to it is taking longer than hoped. We will keep you apprised as we get more information. We have posted updates to the vaccine process here. If you have questions about the vaccine please contact Canon Toneh Smyth at tsmyth@diopa.org.
We look forward in hope to the time when we may safely gather in-person again. In the meantime, we journey together faithfully following the light of Jesus Christ. You are in my daily prayers and I am grateful to be your shepherd.
Advent is that long twilight where darkness fills our days, and reminds us to prepare for the new light that will change the world. The past ten months have lengthened our journey through the long night. Yet despite the apparent gloom, we hold fast to the hope found in Jesus Christ. The truth found in the manger allows our vision to focus on the faintest glimmer of light slowly rising over this distant horizon. The hope of Christmas found in the reality of the coming Christ child enables us to envision what William Wordsworth described as a world "apparell'd in celestial light" with "the glory and freshness of a dream."
The light of Christmas is breaking over the horizon, and at the same time, the end of this long journey shimmers in the distance. COVID will end, and we must faithfully step into a new and changing world with courage and resolve.
This is the once in a lifetime opportunity for the Church and our diocese. We are a strong, historic, and resilient diocese, and we have demonstrated our faith during this long journey. We are revolutionary, one people, one diocese, one love and we are stronger now than we were on March 1st of this year. We must approach the waking day with optimism and the chance to go deeper in faith, imagining a new world, all while building a stronger and life-giving church. We must and we will.
From the depth of my being, I believe in this family we call The Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, because I believe in the promise of Christmas and the coming of Jesus Christ. God loves us with an eternal love beautifully manifested when Jesus took upon himself our nature to share in our joy and pain. This knowing allows us to dream, and when we dream, we have hope, and hope does not disappoint.
Let us step forward into this Christmas and each day ahead with a Unity of purpose and no fear of failure, because Christ is with us.
The birth of Jesus signaled to all of creation that our relationship to God, one another, and the world is forever changed. The knowing that God walks with us empowers the timidest souls to proclaim the goodness of life. Throughout time, when darkness and gloom have seemingly overshadowed the light of life, we look toward the miracle in Bethlehem. Our ears once again hear the words: "Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord."
As a people of God, we cannot approach the next few years seeking only to survive; we must strive to thrive. Imagine a church filled with life, doing those things we believe impossible, building, growing, and transforming the world around it. From the manger, Jesus is powerfully calling us to himself and shining the light of hope into our darkness. Let us look at 2020 as a gift, for it is was a time of trial, prayer, and preparation. Now, we are awaiting the birth of our Savior. Each day forward, we have the opportunity to tell the sacred Story, ever ancient and ever new, to a world desperately seeking meaning. A revolution of the heart where we will reform and renew our faith and Church. We must also do something that Episcopalians tend to shy away from – the Holy Spirit moving, guiding and propelling us forward.
In the coming months, I will call for this historic and revolutionary diocese to focus on three brilliant rays of light. They are Mission (proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ), Service (strengthening our churches, serving the community and building up our society), and Poverty (addressing it in all its forms- economic, physical and spiritual.) It has become clear that many have never heard the Good News as proclaimed in The Episcopal Church's authentic voice. As one people and one diocese, we will lock arms and touch the world in His name and lean into a world where people are frightened and suffering. Our work as followers of Jesus Christ will come to life through the efforts of faithful people who believe from the depth of their being in the indescribable love and power of Jesus Christ.
Let us hope upon hope, for we are the last, best hope in the world right now.
From out of our faithful ministries, I know that something extraordinary will emerge. Christmas is the time to understand our purpose as a people and as a Church. I ask you to take a few moments this Advent and shed a few tears for this past year. Then I ask that you kneel beside your bed and offer gratitude unto the Lord for the promise that is found in the manger. For this promise, this truth, will guide us into the future. As one diocese, formed in the One Love of God, we step forth out of the darkness with a unity of purpose and no fear of failure. Let us lean into what awaits, proclaiming, "We can, and we will.”
A new star is rising, angels are singing, shepherds lead to a sacred and unique place. We rejoice and kneel beside the manger, all while taking great comfort in the knowledge that the Lord is with us. Let us open our eyes in faith that we may see it flickering, just on the edge of the horizon. For unto us, a child will be born.
Most blessed Christmas, my dear family, and may the Holy One bless you and our diocese.
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ (Colossians 4:2-3)
My Siblings in Christ,
This morning, I received the latest information regarding the spread of the Coronavirus in Philadelphia. Thus, I am taking the step to follow the maximum occupancy limits requested by city government. Effective today, all churches in Philadelphia, if they choose to hold in-person services, will be limited to the maximum occupancy of 5%. We have reiterated over these last months that we will make necessary adjustments and changes to protect all those in our churches; this is one such instance.
Please make whatever adjustments may be necessary to ensure that your worship services are in compliance with the occupancy limits. Please note, the occupancy limit is the only thing that has changed. All other aspects of the guidance I issued in my most recent letter still apply both in Philadelphia and in the rest of the diocese. I must reiterate that the safest option is to be patient, suspend services and take care of yourselves and one another.
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ (Colossians 4:2-3)
My Siblings in Christ,
This morning, I received the latest information regarding the spread of the Coronavirus in Philadelphia. Thus, I am taking the step to follow the maximum occupancy limits requested by city government. Effective today, all churches in Philadelphia, if they choose to hold in-person services, will be limited to the maximum occupancy of 5%. We have reiterated over these last months that we will make necessary adjustments and changes to protect all those in our churches; this is one such instance.
Please make whatever adjustments may be necessary to ensure that your worship services are in compliance with the occupancy limits. Please note, the occupancy limit is the only thing that has changed. All other aspects of the guidance I issued in my most recent letter still apply both in Philadelphia and in the rest of the diocese. I must reiterate that the safest option is to be patient, suspend services and take care of yourselves and one another.
