Dear Christ Church Family,

It is hard to know what to say in these uncertain and unprecedented times. Please know that as I, and Vestry and Rev. Kapya are figuring out how to do church now, we are ever mindful of the impact on you, on our family members. Some of us live alone. Some of us are facing layoffs or reduced hours. Some of us are working at home and providing care for our children full time simultaneously. I’m betting all of us are dealing with uncertainty and anxiety and stress. You are not alone now. Nor are we ever. God is with us. Always. God is with us always. This is not to say that I believe the path ahead is known or will be smooth but God will be with you on your path. Every step of the way.

I’m also reminded of a sermon I once heard that reminded me that God is God and God will take care of our spiritual needs but we are human too and we, as humans, are the ones responsible for taking care of other people’s human needs. So if you have human needs that you could use some help with, please reach out to me at wardens@christchurchwaltham.org or to Vestry at vestry@christchurchwaltham.org .

The most recent guidance from the Diocese cancels all public worship services through and including Palm Sunday, April 5. Vestry, at its virtual meeting on Monday, agreed to cancel all public worship services through and including Easter Sunday. This means that the physical doors to the church building are shut but we are actively working on ways to hold virtual services. Rev. Kapya will be holding virtual services on Sunday, March 19. It will probably be through Zoom. Please see his notice in this Ecrier for details.

It is especially hard to hear that we won’t be together in person for Easter services this year. Rev. Kapya is thinking about how to observe Holy Week and Easter. Other congregations are going through the same thing and are asking the Diocese for help and guidance.

Vestry met via Zoom on Monday. (Zoom was great for this. It was so nice to see people’s faces!) We spent a lot of time talking about where we are and how to proceed forward.
Grandma’s Pantry: discussions are ongoing about keeping Grandma’s Pantry open and how to follow all guidance from the Diocese and state and local officials.
Diaper Depot: The decision to close Diaper Depot was made prior to the Vestry meeting by Diaper Depot Leadership and Rev. Kapya.
Phil C, our treasurer, is looking into ways to move all banking online, including electronic payment of pledges.
Vestry will move forward with reaching out to all members of the congregation in the coming weeks.
We need to work on our website and Facebook page, especially with everything moving online now. So far Mary K., Jim P., Michele C., and Phil C. have volunteered. If you’re interested in helping with that, please contact me.
Vestry will be trying to find ways to keep us connected as a community. Please email us at the addresses above with any suggestions.

Before you go back to your daily routine, please join me in this prayer:

O God, our heavenly Creator, you have blessed us and given us dominion over all the earth: Increase our reverence before the mystery of life; and give us new insight into your purposes for the human race, and new wisdom and determination in making provisions for its future in accordance with your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Book of Common Prayer, p. 828.

May God’s peace be with us.

Christine Dutt,
Warden