My tradition teaches a simple idea expressed in the Latin aphorism Lex orandi, lex credendi—“Praying shapes believing.” Right now, people are praying at home, in their own surroundings, separated from community. And I believe that this may be the practice that shapes the belief of the post-COVID-19 era. – Bishop of The Episcopal Church in Europe
“In our evening Gospel reading from John, we learn that Nicodemus brought a hundred pounds of spices to prepare Jesus’ body for the tomb. That’s a rather staggering amount of aloe and myrrh, when you consider the average Jewish burial in that time used between one and five pounds of spices.”
Megachurches with large buildings, which require large budgets funded by an assumption of high attendance, may be particularly impacted. So too might smaller churches in rural regions or poorer urban areas, with congregations whose livelihood may be more impacted by the economic slowdown. Rural churches would also be less likely to have congregants who have active internet use with broadband connections at home.
“Love roots itself in our very being and transforms us. And we are still in need of that transformation, centuries later. In this time of pandemic, we are called to overcome the fears that might separate us, and instead some into a fuller understanding of our essential unity and interconnectedness.”
As advocates, we remain committed to revising our country’s appallingly lax gun laws. We lament the current surge in gun purchases, and we urge you to join us in mitigating the violence that accompanies it through small but courageous acts of attention, compassion and concern. – Bishops United Against Gun Violence
“Peter failed – betrayed – Jesus three times. From experience, I can tell you that betrayal cuts the soul to the quick; reality becomes quicksand. Yet, the Jesus of seventy times seven love turned to look at Peter, and Peter wept bitterly. How many of the following nights did Peter dream of that moment, having betrayed the man to whom he had sold his soul? I am certain Peter’s anxiety dreams ended that day weeks later when standing on the beach, Jesus invited Peter three times to tell Jesus how much he loved him.”
We ask clergy, without exception, to stop all live streaming from your church buildings for the time being. We want to thank you for the way in which many have creatively streamed worship from your own homes. – London College of Bishops
“Not much different from the first Easter –
We wonder if our world will ever be the same
If we’ll ever be the same”
“Notice what we have gained. A recognition that God has not abandoned us. We have nothing to fear. We are never alone. Once famine meant death. Drought meant death. But we still have food, and water, and power. But now we have joined the rest of humanity throughout history who knew that death was always hovering right behind us.”
Are we prepared for a rising number of deaths? Deaths in our elderly congregations. Deaths where loved ones cannot be with the dying in their final days. Deaths where spouses locked down in retirement homes cannot be with family, where burials are delayed because spouses cannot attend.