We are OPEN - Rector's Rambling for July 5, 2020

Welcome back!

It is so good to be saying that after this long period of time away.  If you would have told me back in February that this virus in Wuhan, China, would eventually shut down St. John’s to Sunday Public Worship for 112 days, I would have perhaps stared at you blankly, and then, eventually, laughed uncomfortably.  But here we are 112 days later.  So, for approximately 2688 hours, we have been apart from each other for common worship, and I have missed you all!

I am mostly a “glass half full” sort of person, and as hard the Stay Home Order was on this extreme extrovert, I did use the time away from the church facility for some good.

We have begun the upgrade to our livestreaming capabilities.  We have contracted with a company that allows us to livestream to multiple platforms (YouTube, Facebook and Twitter) from one iPhone, and we will be installing a professional camera in the sanctuary that will also take advantage of the sound system so that we can improve the quality even more.  Weekday Masses   and Evening Prayer regularly have upwards of 100 views on the combination of platforms, and Sunday even more.  Additionally, the Daily Morning Mediations are reaching a broad audience.  I have received mail, e-mail, and a phone call from people in Oregon, Washington, Las Vegas, South Dakota, and even Liverpool, England – expressing gratitude for our livestreaming and daily mediations.  Our YouTube channel, with over 2.2 million video views, is being used by clergy around the country as a part of their online worship.  During Coronatide, our reach has expanded.

Also, I had more time to pray, and took advantage of that, as well as more time to exercise.  And as we ease back into the new normal, I am going to make sure both of those things continue to be a priority.

I thank God for the return to public worship.  I know not everyone is ready to return yet, and we will continue to livestream into the future to continue our ministry of traditional Anglican worship and teaching far and wide.