Copy
A message from the Episcopal Dioceses of Eastern & Western Michigan   |   March 17, 2020
EM  WEBSITE CALENDAR  FACEBOOK     |    WM  WEBSITE  CALENDAR  FACEBOOK
                               
A Pastoral Directive from
the Episcopal Bishops of Michigan
Dear Friends,


With heavy hearts and hope-filled spirits, we are compelled to offer a new Pastoral Directive in response to COVID-19. These new directives are in line with the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). 

In addition to continuing to forgo all public, in-person worship services, we direct you to cease all other Sunday, Saturday and weekday in-person gatherings, including weddings, funerals, memorial services, and non-emergency baptisms, and place all of the groups that gather at your congregation on hiatus for the CDC’s recommended eight weeks, or until May 10th, including both Holy Week and Easter. We encourage you to make arrangements to offer your education classes or other meetings by video or phone conference call as you are able. Food pantries and feeding programs should operate in a “curbside only” capacity.

As Bishops, we make these directives so that the Episcopal Church across Michigan may lead our state in caring for our communities by embodying pastorally sensitive physical distancing practices. The more physical distance we place between ourselves and our neighbors, the more we help to mitigate the spread and impact of this virus. At the same time, we are called to reach out to each other in love, so that while we are physically separated, we are spiritually and relationally connected. The Body of Christ is more than what happens inside of our buildings - it is a people living the Way of Love wherever we may be. 
 

God of Life, you give us life and hope. Be with us in the chaos of this time. Calm our fears, be the light for our path, and strengthen our trust in your promise never to leave or forsake us. We pray through Christ, in the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

-  A Prayer for Chaotic Times, Enriching Our Worship


In Christ,
 

The Rt. Rev. Whayne M. Hougland, Jr. 
Bishop, The Episcopal Dioceses of Eastern & Western Michigan

The Rt. Rev. Bonnie A. Perry
Bishop, The Episcopal Diocese of Michigan

The Rt. Rev. Rayford Ray
Bishop, The Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan
For Eastern & Western Michigan

Upcoming Events & Meetings


Regular Meetings

Most, if not all, regular meetings in the diocese will transition to Zoom for this season, including Clericus meetings, Standing Committees, Diocesan Councils, Diocesan Staffs, and more. Details will be emailed to the respective groups by their coordinators. To maintain regular connection, some meetings may take place more frequently during this time.

Contact your diocesan office with any questions. 
 

Scheduled Events

The following events have been cancelled, postponed, or moved online. Registrants will receive notice by email, if they haven't already. 
  • March 21 - DCDI Training Day - Cancelled.
  • March 20-22  -  CHARGE Youth Event - Cancelled.
  • March 24 - Eastern Michigan Priestly Ordination - Postponed, date pending.
  • March 28  -  Northern Leadership Day Workshops - Postponed, date pending.
  • April 3 - EDEM Diocesan Council Meeting - Moved to Zoom. 
  • April 4 - EDWM Diocesan Council Meeting - Moved to Zoom.
  • April 5 - EDWM Chrism Mass - Cancelled.
  • April 11 - Diocesan Confirmation at Grace, Holland - Cancelled. 
  • April 14 - Celebration of New Ministry at Trinity, Three Rivers - Postponed, date pending.
  • April 17-19 - Academy for Vocational Leadership weekend and monthly classes. Moved to Zoom.
  • April 21 - Celebration of New Ministry at Grace, Traverse City - Postponed, date pending.
  • April 25 - DCDI Training Day - Moved to Zoom.
  • May 16 - EDWM Episcopal Church Women Annual Meeting - Cancelled. 
  • June 20-27  -  DREAM Mission Project in the Dominican Republic - Cancelled.
All other events are still planned to take place. Any further cancellations will continue to be communicated by email. 

Opportunities for Online Worship

 

DIOCESAN OFFERINGS

  • Bishop Hougland will preach and offer Morning Prayer each Sunday at 10:30am
  • Diocesan Leaders will offer Compline each Wednesday and Friday at 8:00pm
Both offerings will be available on the Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan Facebook pages. You do not need a Facebook account to watch the video. 

 

COMMUNITY OFFERINGS

Congregations across the two dioceses are offering opportunities for online worship and formation every day of the week.

All liturgists are invited to join a Zoom conversation on planning worship during separation on Friday at 10:00am. Click here to join.

A schedule of all upcoming online worship and formation opportunities in Eastern and Western Michigan congregations is available at this link. If your congregation's offering has not been identified, please add it to the list. Please join any listed livestream to worship with our wider community.

Diocesan Offices are Physically Closed

All physical diocesan offices are closed. All staff members remain available by email. Most will receive any voicemails remotely as well. For staff listings and contact information, please visit Eastern Michigan or Western Michigan. 

Several staff members also plan to schedule virtual office hours. Check your respective diocesan coronavirus resource page for an up-to-date schedule - Eastern Michigan or Western Michigan.

Resources for Worship, Formation, More

Each diocesan website includes a Coronavirus Response resource page for congregational and individual use and includes opportunities for corporate and individual worship, at-home formation, and more. The pages will continue to be updated as more resources are identified.

Visit Eastern Michigan or Western Michigan.

Support for Communicating with the Parish

As this public health crisis continues, it is crucially important to maintain connection with the members of your congregation.

For resources around email and text communication, phone trees, live-streaming, and more, please consider connecting in the following ways: Bishop Hougland has also authorized the use of the diocesan office Zoom Accounts for congregational use upon request for parish-level gatherings such as vestry meetings, bible study, staff meetings, etc. The Zoom Request Form is available on each response resource page, Eastern Michigan or Western Michigan.

Contact Canon Katie Forsyth with any questions at kforsyth@eastmich.org. 

Supporting our Outreach Ministries

This is a very difficult time and one in which many of the people we care for are experiencing extra economic strain. This is the current recommendation based on advice from other dioceses and the CDC. 

Please make provision for the following in your service or feeding ministries:
  • No more than ten people gathered for preparation or distribution at any time
  • Avoid the use of the building for food preparation or distribution
  • Distribution should be "curbside" take-out
  • Consider the delivery of goods, rather than a central point of group distribution
For specific guidelines for your locality, please contact your local Health Department. 

Please USE YOUR BEST JUDGEMENT for your specific situation with the guidance from the CDC and the pastoral directive you've been given. Do not put your parishioners or wider community in more danger by gathering them.

Maintaining Congregational Stewardship

In this time of physical distance, please be mindful of your ongoing stewardship with your congregation. Remember that the day-to-day operation of our parishes often relies on the ongoing pledges and gifts from the congregation. 

To maintain consistent support for the congregation while under quarantine, please:
  • Set up automatic ACH withdrawals to be forwarded to the parish
  • Set up your one-time or monthly pledge to be submitted online
  • Consider mailing in your donations (and be mindful of your procedures around money-handling and counting)
Resources around online and ACH giving are included on the Coronavirus Response resource pages on your diocesan website - Eastern Michigan or Western Michigan.

From the Wider Church

The Presiding Bishop's Word to the Church for Holy Week and Easter in support of online worship.

Habits of Grace Weekly Reflection from the Presiding Bishop. 

The Presiding Bishop's Sermon from Sunday, March 15th. 
 

The Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Michigan

www.eastmich.org

877-752-6020
 

The Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan

www.edwm.org

616-319-2006

 
Copyright © 2020 The Episcopal Dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan, All rights reserved.


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.