"Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
do not be alarmed, for I am your God.
I give you strength, truly I help you,
truly I hold you firm with my saving right hand."
(Isaiah 41:10, NJB)

Much has unfolded since I wrote to you less than 48 hours ago. Just yesterday, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a global pandemic. Major universities, including many in our own Diocese, have closed their classrooms. Employers large and small, some in our own Diocese, are directing employees to stay home and telework. Numerous dioceses, including the Dioceses of Virginia and Washington, D.C., have suspended or sharply curtailed church activity.

To safeguard our people and those in our communities and to mitigate the rapid, uncontrolled spread of the coronavirus, all church activity including worship is suspended immediately for a period of two weeks in the Diocese of Southern Virginia.

During this suspension, we will monitor forthcoming guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, and healthcare professionals in our own communities and assess new developments and the precautions they require. Further guidance will be issued by March 26.

As Presiding Bishop Michael Curry wrote in a statement released today: "The next 30-60 days at the least are simply going to be unlike anything we have experienced in recent history...The dilemma of what we know and what we don't know will continue to complicate our decision making and our lives."

Holding one another and all affected by this pandemic in our prayers, let us remain steadfast and faithful, trusting that the One who promises to "hold you firm with my saving right hand" is abidingly faithful.

Let us encourage one another by being purposeful in finding ways to remain connected with one another electronically or by phone, so that together we sustain our spiritual health and as one body and respond in ways that safeguard our physical health and that of others.

All church events for the next two weeks are canceled or postponed. It is impossible to say where we will be in two weeks, but will reevaluate then.

We will be working on how to live stream a service on Sunday and will send out an e-mail tomorrow with more details.

The bishop and her staff shared a conference call with the Deans this afternoon to discuss this. I asked specifically about tomorrow’s funeral for George Jenkins. It needs to be postponed. While heart-breaking, it is a decision I support. I have visited with Elizabeth and this news is understandably upsetting. We will have a graveside committal tomorrow at 11:30 at Holly Lawn and a celebration of George’s wonderful life will be scheduled for some date after we are clear of the threat of this virus.

Groups that use the church – such as AA – will need to make their own decision about meeting together.

I will talk with the Food Pantry people about how we might distribute food while engaging in minimal social contact.

We plan to maintain office hours.

Keith

Building Faith, Making Friends, and Serving Others in Downtown Suffolk

Welcome to our website. We are glad you found us. We have designed our site to give searchers a glimpse of who we are and what we are all about. You can also check out St. Paul's Facebook page to learn more about current events and activities. Now that you have found us on the web, we hope you will visit us in person. You will be warmly welcomed at Sunday services and parish events. Come and see for yourself why we say St. Paul's is "Building Faith, Making Friends, and Serving Others" in downtown Suffolk!