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Dear Cathedral Family and Friends,
Christ Church Cathedral has proclaimed God in the midst of the city for 181 years in downtown Houston. Through the Cathedral’s long life, it has seen times of want and plenty, sorrow and joy, illness and health. Today, we are a vibrant parish of more than 3,500 members, and our shared life in Christ is surely life-giving to us all.
Since first hearing the name “COVID-19” several weeks ago, we at the Cathedral have labored in love to meet the challenge of maintaining our parish life in health and safety. We have gathered for corporate worship and fellowship while implementing practices designed to keep the coronavirus at bay.
Even so, public health and Texas Medical Center officials have now shared with religious leaders in Houston their sober assessment regarding the contagious nature of COVID-19 and the dangers posed by community spread. They cite Italy, which had 62 coronavirus cases on February 22 and two-and-half weeks later has more than 10,000 cases.
The goal of local officials is to flatten the curve of the virus so as to ensure the greatest number of hospital beds for those who become ill. Officials believe that the only effective way to accomplish this and to begin to arrest the proliferation of COVID-19 in our community is to suspend large gatherings of all kinds, including the gatherings of faith communities.
Consequently, Bishop Doyle has asked that all Episcopal churches in Houston suspend in-person corporate worship and most other group gatherings for two weeks.
Suspending the worship life of the church is admittedly drastic. In my entire ordained life, I have only ever done it once, in August 2017 as Hurricane Harvey pounded our city with flooding rain. Even so, Bishop Doyle has been in consultation with his priests for the past week, and I attest that he has not come to this decision lightly. It is the result of much prayer and consideration, and I believe the Bishop’s counsel to be both pastoral and wise.
In Matthew 25, Jesus teaches us that whenever we care for the sick, we actually tend to Jesus himself. In the case of a public health crisis, comporting our lives in ways that prevent the spread of disease is caring for the sick just as surely as if we were sitting at the bedside of someone with the coronavirus. While health officials report that the majority of those who contract COVID-19 will have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all, for older people and those with underlying medical conditions, the virus can be severe. We will meet the call of Jesus to care for “the least of these” by heeding the advice of public health officials and our Bishop.
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On Sunday, March 15, and Sunday, March 22, parishioners are encouraged to participate in worship virtually from their homes. We hope and plan to provide a video feed of worship with hymns and homily on the front page of the Cathedral web site at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. (Spanish language), and 5 p.m. (The Well) each Sunday. The service leaflet will also be linked with the video, so that parishioners can fully participate in the service at home. I will preach this Sunday, March 15. Though we will not be physically together, we will nevertheless join our hearts and souls in worship, prayer, and praise!
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The Beacon has suspended most services of the day center, but rest assured that it continues to distribute food daily to our homeless clients. To learn more about the Beacon’s modified operations, visit here.
In these days, I am reminded of the First Song of Isaiah. It is always a comfort to me and a reminder that we are never apart from the God who creates us in love. In our every need, and in both good times and distress, God hears us, and in God’s sustaining presence we find our joy. That is grace upon grace! Here are Isaiah’s words:
Surely, it is God who saves me;
I will trust in him and not be afraid.
For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense,
and he will be my Savior.
Therefore you shall draw water with rejoicing
from the springs of salvation.
And on that day you shall say,
Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name;
Make his deeds known among the peoples;
see that they remember that his Name is exalted
Sing the praises of the Lord, for he has done great things,
and this is known in all the world.
Cry aloud, inhabitants of Zion, ring out your joy,
for the great one in the midst of you is the Holy One of Israel.
Please do not hesitate to contact me directly with thoughts, concerns, and hopes. I am keeping our wonderful Cathedral, its people, and our city in prayer. Lenten blessings to you.
Grace and peace,
The Very Reverend Barkley Thompson
Dean
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