[Magdalen] Diocese decisions: "re-gathering"

Mon May 18 01:06:53 UTC 2020

I seem to remember being told at one time that the Cathedral is completely
separate; it receives no funding from the Diocese and is its own entity.
St. Alban's, which is on the Cathedral grounds, is,of course, part of the
Diocese.  But I could be wrong.  I think that is the reason services are
being held from the Cathedral itself. It has its own congregation, but it's
really a national church in terms of its reach.

On Sun, May 17, 2020 at 8:35 PM Mahoney, W. Michael <wmmah at stoneledge.net>
wrote:

> Grace -
>
> I believe that the Cathedral *is *a part of the Diocese of Washington,
> though a unique part.   But I do wonder what particular unique part it is
> that makes okay to stream services from its interior while not okay for
> ordinary churches of the diocese to do the same.  My point, however, was
> that there was no good reason to *forbid *streaming from church interiors
> in the first place.
>
> I have glanced at Bishop Goff's "guidance".  She doesn't seem to have much
> faith that her clergy will behave sensibly.
>
> Mike M.
>
>
>
> On Fri, May 15, 2020 at 10:47 PM Grace Cangialosi <gracecan at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Michael, I just re-read Bishop Goff's letter to make sure I had it right,
> > and there is one easing of the restrictions from the original plan.
> > Beginning a week from Sunday, services may again be livestreamed or
> > recorded from the church with the fewest number of people possible in
> > attendance i.e. Priest, videographer, musician, perhaps a reader or two.
> > That's basically what the Cathedral staff has been doing. However,
> churches
> > within the Diocese of Washington, as well as those in the Dioceses of
> > Virginia and Maryland, have not been permitted to have services from
> their
> > buildings at all. The Cathedral is not part of the Diocese of Washington;
> > it is its own entity.
> >
> > The exception to this, and it affects me, is that clergy or layleaders
> over
> > 65 may not do services from the church.  I have to say, I'm not happy
> about
> > that, though I do understand the reasoning.
> >
> > On Fri, May 15, 2020 at 9:24 PM Mahoney, W. Michael <
> wmmah at stoneledge.net>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > My reactions are rather different than those of my friend and fellow
> > > parishioner, Cady.  I find it all very annoying.
> > >
> > > Under Bishop Goff's rule, our rector may not walk two blocks down an
> > empty
> > > street, enter a locked building that has been empty for a week, and
> > stream
> > > a prayer service from our historic and beautiful church.
> > >
> > > Why?  "We care about others", the Bishop says.
> > >
> > > Meanwhile, on the other side of the Potomac, the National Cathedral
> > streams
> > > Eucharists every Sunday.  The Bishop of Washington has been a celebrant
> > and
> > > our Presiding Bishop has delivered a sermon (albeit in his case,
> > > remotely).  Surely, they care about others , too.
> > >
> > > The Bishop's restrictions are not necessary.  Our rector may, under the
> > > Governor's orders, play golf,or go a liquor store, office supply store,
> > > nursery, and food market, among other places.
> > >
> > > There is no inherent virtue in "staying home" other than as a way to
> > avoid
> > > contact with other people.
> > >
> > > Now we are told that our Bishop will require each of her 183 parishes
> to
> > > submit reopening plans to her office for approval.
> > >
> > > Good Lord, deliver us.
> > >
> > >
> > > Mike M
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On Fri, May 15, 2020 at 9:05 AM cady soukup <cadyasoukup at gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > > To be clearer about the current status in DioVA:
> > > >
> > > > On April 8, Bishop Susan sent a letter:
> > > >
> > > > " After Easter Day, beginning on Easter Monday, April 13, a new
> > > > sacrifice will be required of us. In light of Governor Northam’s
> > > > executive order, and in the face of news that the coronavirus has not
> > > > yet peaked in Virginia, we need to stay home. To this end, your
> > > > bishops have determined, in consultation with the Standing Committee,
> > > > that after Easter Day, clergy and lay leaders may no longer
> > > > live-stream or record services from church buildings. As followers of
> > > > the crucified and risen Lord, we care about others. We care about our
> > > > communities, both local and global, and so we make sacrifices for
> > > > their well-being. We care as well for our clergy and other leaders
> and
> > > > want them to stay healthy so that they can offer leadership and
> > > > support to congregations until the Governor’s order is lifted. We
> make
> > > > this additional sacrifice on behalf of God’s people, particularly the
> > > > most vulnerable. Because we do it for others, it is an act of love,
> > > > and our sacrifices done in love draw us close to the heart of God. "
> > > >
> > > > Our church virtual worship has featured our rectory's garden, back
> > > > deck, and living room, with safe distance practices in place. Our
> > > > church has been investigating options for replacing our aging
> > > > electronic organ, several organ companies have wanted to conduct site
> > > > visits, they have been told they cannot visit until the church
> > > > buildings are open. Our building is used by other community groups,
> > > > all those events have been cancelled.
> > > >
> > > > We have a "Pastoral Care" team which has become our "Contact and
> > > > Cherish" team (24 people!) who are reaching out to parishioners -
> > > > local and non-local - by phone, postcard, and letter. They have done
> a
> > > > wonderful job, led by a retired public school teacher. Warden and
> > > > vestry meetings are by zoom. All church announcements are by email.
> > > > Our annual parish meeting features reports and voting (for vestry
> > > > members) by email. We are fortunate to have a predominantly
> > > > internet-savvy parish, with able assistance of family members and
> > > > personal phone calls for those who are not savvy.
> > > >
> > > > The Virginia opening today is "phase one" for all but northern
> > > > Virginia (health districts) where COVID-19 cases continue to
> increase.
> > > > Phase one still has restrictions.
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.governor.virginia.gov/media/governorvirginiagov/governor-of-virginia/pdf/Slide-deck-5.8.2020-Forward-Virginia-Phase-One.pdf
> > > >
> > > > As an older person with an autoimmune disease, who had 3 increasingly
> > > > nasty viruses this past winter (what an awful winter it was!), I plan
> > > > to continue to self quarantine. I am very, very lucky to be able to
> > > > work full-time from home (as I have for the past 3 years).
> > > >
> > > > Oh dear, I had hoped this would be a short email and here I am
> > > > nattering away - you'd think I missed talking to people! I do!!
> > > >
> > > > gentle hugs - good hopes - many prayers - Cady
> > > > waiting for the hummingbirds to arrive in the wilds of Virginia
> > > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Grace Cangialosi
> > Ruckersville, VA
> >
> > *"Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with
> great
> > love."*
> > *St. Teresa of Calcutta*
> >
>

-- 
Grace Cangialosi
Ruckersville, VA

*"Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great
love."*
*St. Teresa of Calcutta*