Thursday at Home

April 2, 2020

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts!
My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.
Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.
Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise.  

Psalm 84: 1-4

Thinking about what "Home" means today....

I was talking with my son this week, who lives in New York City...and he mentioned...that it doesn't feel like the home he moved back to,  (after living and working in Italy for a few years)....

He's been "back home" in NYC...for well over a year..(maybe 2 years now? - I'm losing track of time)...

When he steps out into the street...everything is changed...
When he looks out the window....everything is changed...
He can't go to all the shows or the movies, or sit down in restaurants....all that has changed...

No more bumping into people, on the busy sidewalks of a city, that almost never stops...all that has changed...
All the loud noises on the city streets, the screeching/honking car horns, the sirens, the subways....all of that has changed...

There is a silence...


All of us, no matter where we live, have moved to a new place now...whether we wanted to or not...
This time of the COVID 19 pandemic has uprooted us all, from the familiar places we have called home.

There is a silence...that leaves us, worrying...longing....wondering...what's next?

There is a silence...in which new ideas are emerging...creative energy is bubbling up...and imaginations are free to roam...


There is a silence...in the unknowns of today, and for the days ahead...

But, it will be there, in that silence...where we will find our true home again...

Rev Julie Platson

St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church

Sitka, Alaska

A Pastoral Letter to the Church from Bishop Mark Lattime - Alaska

Pastoral Letter

 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. (1 Peter 1:3)

“In you, Lord, is our hope; and we shall never hope in vain.”

March 30, 2020

To the Beloved of Christ Jesus in the Diocese of Alaska:

I give thanks for the living hope that binds us together in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Despite this period of anxious physical separation from our communities of faith, from our friends and our normal patterns of life, our bounds of love remain strong.  In fact, I have witnessed how these bounds have been strengthened.

Giving thanks for the wonderful, creative, and responsible ways the congregations of the Diocese of Alaska have adapted to the guidelines for slowing the transmission of COVID-19, and the extraordinary ministries that continue to serve the needs of our communities, I have even more reason for hope. 

Standing with you in this hope, I call on all Episcopalians in the Diocese of Alaska as individuals to strictly adhere to the social isolation restrictions of the Governor’s Public Health Mandates, as well as any Orders or Directives given by the civil authority or tribal leadership in your community.  In short: stay home; cease gatherings of any kind except with your household; self-isolate if you have symptoms of illness; avoid all unnecessary travel; maintain a six-foot distance from others if you must be out for an essential activity; wash your hands frequently.   

Furthermore, until it is stated by the Chief Medical Officer, Public Health professionals, and the Department of Health and Human Services that public gatherings no longer pose a risk to contributing to the COVID-19 pandemic, and until further notice by Pastoral Letter, I call on all congregations to continue to suspend all public gatherings; and, when possible, to assist any groups or ministries in finding alternatives to public or physical gatherings in church buildings. 

As of the date of this letter, the Public Health Mandates and Executive Orders in effect allow small worship teams (10 or fewer) to provide worship streaming from our parish buildings (including sanctuaries).  This is permissible ONLY if a strict adherence to the guidelines for social distancing can be maintained.  Social distancing guidelines require a minimum of six feet separation between individuals.  This is not a loop hole in the civil order or a special exemption, but is specified to allow low risk non-public minimum basic operations or activities to continue where CDC precautions can be maintained.  It applies to both for-profit and non-profit entities.  However, I urge any leadership teams that choose to provide worship streaming from their church buildings to limit the number of participants to the barest minimum despite the 10-person limit established by the Mandate.  Under these restrictions, non-public worship from church buildings for streaming online, as well as other minimum basic operations requiring access to church buildings, is permissible. *

Many options and online platforms are being used to offer worship and pastoral care.  Instead of live streaming from the church, several congregations are using teleconferencing platforms for worship, virtual coffee hours, and weekly prayer groups.  These teleconferencing platforms have the additional benefit of not requiring worship leaders to leave home or to gather even in the smallest number. 

I applaud and commend all of these creative uses of technology to support the spiritual health of our people.  I am encouraged to hear the excellent reviews and to read comments from online participants of how important, meaningful, and comforting these “virtual” worship services have been in all their forms. I support and trust our congregations and leaders to use whatever technologies or practices that best suit their needs and resources while honoring our civil responsibility to protect the public health.

With Holy Week and Easter ahead, I have every confidence that our worship and spiritual preparation for the journey with Jesus to the Cross and the grave of Good Friday will awaken our souls to His Passion, and our celebrations of His glorious Resurrection on Easter Day will fill our hearts with the joy of His victory over death and the grave and His gift to us of reconciliation and new life.

In the Hope of Christ Jesus,

The Rt Rev Mark Lattime, 8th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Alaska

*This provision of the State Mandate also permits going to a church office when necessary to collect mail, pay bills, process payroll, or to conduct any Minimum Basic Operations that cannot be achieved from an off-site location.  However, this ONLY applies if social distancing guidelines are strictly enforced.

Sermon for the 5th Sunday in Lent - March 29 2020

5th Sunday in Lent/March 29, 2020

In this time of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Psalm 130; Romans 8:6-11; John 11:1-45

Breathe on me, breath of God….fill me with life anew…

I would like to ask you, right now,  to place your hand over your heart…and hold it there for a few moments…and think and pray on these words….Breathe on me, breath of God…fill me with life anew…

*play piano – (!982 Hymnal #508 - Breathe on me, Breath of God)

As you paused, listened, prayed, with your hand over your heart…Did you feel your heart beating? Could you feel it gradually slowing down? Were you able to let go for just a few moments, to rest, to be still, in the presence of God, and pray?

Our heartbeat reminds us, that we are of this world… …Our breathing, in and out with our lungs, and through our noses, also reminds us that we are of this world….but, when we take the time to stop, to rest, to be still, to pray.. we are reminded that we are not just people of the world…we have a spirit and a heart as well as a body that belongs to God.

With every breath that we take, with every heartbeat that we feel…we are reminded that we belong to God, not just for today…but for all our days ahead…in this life…and in the life yet to come…

Our bodies and our spirits belong to God: We need to take care of both.

In this time of the COVID 19 pandemic, I think we can all agree that our attention and diligence in finding ways to take care of both, body and spirit, is essential for our own well-being….but not just for our own health and wellness, but for our neighbors, for those we are called to love and care for, for  the well-being of the whole community, and our neighbors beyond Sitka, and Alaska.

It’s not one or the other…body or spirit…it is both.

In the teachings of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus we are reminded of that. 

In our gospel reading today, the raising of Jesus’ beloved friend, Lazarus, we are given a glimpse into a story that shows us not only the wide range of emotions that are experienced by those people whose loved ones are dying or have died…but we got a glimpse of Jesus, being fully human, who was deeply immersed in the lives of others. We see that he was not just a heavenly, spiritual being only…Jesus had skin, flesh and blood, and had deep connections and relationships with others. He experienced anger, discouragement, frustration, sadness…profound love for others…deep sorrow in his own heart…we were shown how he reached out with compassion, with empathy…and after a brief back and forth conversation with Martha and Mary, pouring out her heart over the loss of her brother, and seeing how she and the others were weeping and so deeply grieved…Jesus, too, began to weep. Jesus wept.

Weeping, crying, sobbing, tears…this is the most universal human response to what deeply grieves our hearts and unites us to Jesus and one another.

Jesus wept. We weep for our loved ones, and today, we weep for the entire world.

Jesus knows, what grieves our hearts, as human beings. People all around us are suffering, loved ones are dying… changes, and cancellations, and closures, and family separations…loss after loss after loss…sometimes leaves us with only tears…

But knowing Jesus, was fully human, and with him, sharing our sorrows… we are given a gift…a healing balm for our broken hearts and spirits, right in the midst of our thinking that death and sorrow would have the final say…

Jesus offers us hope, when he proclaims this good news:

“I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”

And then he asks the question: “Do you believe this?”

In our minds, from the vantage point of our being fully human…it may be hard to make sense of Jesus’ words or believe them. How can we be alive if we die, how can we never die? That’s not possible, we tell ourselves…we all know that all of us will die some day…because of illness, diseases, accidents, from our bodies growing tired and breaking down…

But, here is one reminder of why this is possible… We are sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism and marked as Christ's own for ever.

On the day of our baptisms: We are sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism and marked as Christ's own for ever.

We belong to God, Jesus reminds us of that.…Our bodies and our spirits belong to God. We need to take time to rest, to be still, to pray, to take care of our hearts and our spirits, as well as our bodies…. So, I ask you, once again… to place your hand over your heart right now…and listen to Jesus’ words of hope being poured out for your weary spirit today:

“I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die”

 “Do you believe this?”

With our hands over our hearts… yes…we can believe this…

Our bodies and our spirits belong to God: We need to take care of both.

With every breath that we take, with every heartbeat that we feel…we are reminded that we belong to God, not just for today…but for all our days ahead…in this life…and in the life yet to come…

Breathe on us, breath of God….fill us with life anew…

Rev. Julie Platson, Rector

St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church

Sitka, Alaska

Instrumental after sermon:

The Hymnal 1982 - #508 Breathe on me, Breath of God

UPDATE MARCH 27: ONLINE CHURCH SERVICES AND BUILDINGS CLOSURES

FOR THE WELL-BEING OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY IN THIS TIME OF THE COVID - 19 PANDEMIC

*THE CHURCH BUILDING IS CURRENTLY CLOSED*

ALL IN-PERSON WORSHIP SERVICES ARE SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

YOU CAN JOIN US ON ZOOM (OR BY PHONE) FOR:

·       SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER SERVICE @ 10AM

·       WEDNESDAY NOON DAY PRAYER SERVICE @12PM

For more info on joining us on Zoom (or by phone) for the services,

please email us @ stpetersbytheseak@gmail.com

*THE SEE HOUSE (BEHIND THE CHURCH) IS CLOSED*

If you need to talk with someone from the church,

Please call us at 747-3977, and leave a message with your contact info.

OR email us at stpetersbytheseak@gmail.com

We will get back to you as soon as possible

Rest

Be Still

Pray

stpeters-sitka.org

Church Services and See House Updates - March 23

FOR THE WELL-BEING OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY IN THIS TIME OF THE COVID - 19 PANDEMIC

 

*ALL IN-PERSON WORSHIP SERVICES ARE SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE* 

YOU CAN JOIN US ON ZOOM FOR:

·       SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER SERVICE @ 10AM

·       WEDNESDAY NOON DAY PRAYER SERVICE @12PM

For more info on joining us on Zoom for the services,

please email us @ stpetersbytheseak@gmail.com

 

*THE SEE HOUSE IS CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE*

If you need to talk with someone from the church,

Please call us at 747-3977, and leave a message with your contact info.

OR email us at stpetersbytheseak@gmail.com

We will get back to you as soon as possible

The church will continue to be open daily

7am-7pm

Please know you are welcome to stop in -

to be still, to rest, to pray

 

stpeters-sitka.org

The Lord is my Shepherd

4 Lent/Year A

March 22, 2020

In this time of the COVID-19 Pandemic

You can listen to the audio recording of the sermon HERE

Today’s scriptures

1 Samuel 16:1-13; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41

I don’t imagine that any of us sitting here this morning…had ever imagined that this season of Lent, would unfold in the way it has…Just a few short weeks ago, it seems,…the COVID 19 virus was effecting lives in China, and other countries…Yes…our hearts were going out to the people in those countries…our hearts were breaking for people enduring such uncertainty, chaos, and fear…But, the physical distance of these countries, in the beginning…felt so remote…It was happening somewhere else…not here…somehow…I still felt safe here…as if it would only happen somewhere else…and not so close to home…

I can’t even remember, right now, when the moment hit me, that what was happening somewhere else…was happening here too…

The events in the past few weeks have been changing in a blink of an eye…and it seems as if we are caught up in a whirlwind, in which we are being tossed every which way…a whirlwind of information being thrust upon us, at the same time another dose of loss and uncertainty being added into the mix, hour by hour…

Every day, we are being asked to do one more hard thing, after another…things we’ve never had to do before… making some very difficult decisions that we’ve never been faced with before…We are being asked to stay home, keep our distance from each other, don’t travel, don’t gather in groups, don’t meet in the church as we’ve always done, don’t send the kids to school or to the playground to be around other families,  don’t visit anyone in the pioneers home, don’t visit the elderly, the vulnerable, those whose health is compromised, don’t travel to see your aging loved one in their care facility, because they aren’t allowing visitors, don’t travel to attend a long-planned wedding, don’t plan a wedding right now, don’t plan any kind of a celebration that would bring lots of people together, don’t worry, don’t panic, do not fear…

When we hear these words  over and over again…don’t do this, don’t do that…it can be very difficult to do the very thing we are trying not to do…to not worry, to not be fearful, to not panic…

The opening stanza from a Thomas Merton prayer gives me a starting place to begin again, and to turn away from this fear that can take root very easily in our hearts, in a time of such uncertainty, with the many voices that are vying for our attention…and to turn once again to my faith, my beliefs, and my trust in God…that indeed we can believe, that in Jesus, we have a Shepherd…who will lead us and guide us, in all times, and in all places, and in all circumstances…

Listen to Thomas Merton’s words:

O Lord God,

I have no idea where I am going,

I do not see the road ahead of me,

I cannot know for certain where it will end.

We have always lived in times of uncertainty… there are things every day, that are out of our control…we are reminded of that every time someone we love dies, and we couldn’t do anything to stop it from happening,  every time someone we love is diagnosed with cancer and there is no cure, every time someone we love becomes addicted to substances that take control of their lives, and we are left feeling helpless to help them….

Somehow, we have allowed ourselves to falsely believe that we did have control over every aspect of our lives and the lives of those whom we love….and that we were solely responsible for everything that happened, good and bad, in our lives and the lives of others…we have forgotten that we belong to God, and to each other…

That’s why when we find ourselves in the midst of this never-ending wave of uncertainties, and new hard things being thrust upon us, daily…we find ourselves fearful, we find ourselves feeling unequipped to cope and deal with so many of these things that are not in our control right now.

And, as unsettling as it may feel right now…this is the time…to let go…to let go of the need to try and control every moment of what is happening now…and let God back in - to walk with you, to comfort you, and support you in this time of uncertainty…

Believe in God… Believe, that in Jesus, we have a Shepherd…who will lead us and guide us, in all times, and in all places, and in all circumstances…Believe, that in Jesus...we have a voice that is calling us to lie down in green pastures…rest our souls for a time…a voice that is inviting us and leading us to still waters…

Yes, we live in the world…we have to follow the laws, the mandates, the voices of science and the experts who know best on how to give us strong evidenced-based and accurate guidance on how to deal with this current pandemic.

But, we are not just people of the world…we have a spirit and a heart and a body that belongs to God, and we are always in God’s care…we are always being held in the palm of God’s hands…

The last stanza in the same Thomas Merton prayer I quoted a few moments ago…assures us of that….

Therefore I will trust You always

Though I may seem to be lost

And in the shadow of death.

I will not fear,

For You are ever with me,

And You will never leave me

To make my journey alone.

The Lord is my Shepherd…

Hymn after sermon: The Lord is my shepherd

The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want,

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures,

He leadeth me beside the still waters.

The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want,

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures,

He leadeth me beside the still waters.

Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil,

Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil,

For you are with me, You will comfort me

For you are with me, You will comfort me,

Comfort me.

Surely goodness and mercy, shall follow me all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever

Forever Forever Forever Forever

Singers: Elin Manahan Thomas and the choir of St. David's Catherdral, Wales Music: Howard Goodall

Rev Julie Platson, Rector

St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church

Sitka, Alaska

Important worship service notice - St Peter's

FOR THE WELL-BEING OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY IN THIS TIME OF THE COVID - 19 PANDEMIC 

*ALL IN-PERSON WORSHIP SERVICES ARE SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE* 

YOU CAN JOIN US ON ZOOM FOR:

·       SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER SERVICE @ 10AM

·       WEDNESDAY NOON DAY PRAYER SERVICE @12PM

For more info on joining us on Zoom for the services, please go to our website

(stpeters-sitka.org – church happenings)

or email us @ stpetersbytheseak@gmail.com

The church will continue to be open daily

7am-7pm

Please know you are welcome to stop in -

 to be still, to rest, to pray

stpeters-sitka.org

A LITANY AMIDST THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK

A LITANY AMIDST THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK

Written by the Rev Michael B.E. Kurth

God the Father, 
Have mercy on us.

God the Son,
Have mercy on us.

God the Holy Spirit, 
Have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, one God,
Have mercy on us.

Most merciful God, we come to you in this time of anxiety and uncertainty surrounding the outbreak of COVID-19. As the sorrows of our heart and mind increase, we beseech you to save us from all trouble and fear. Cast away all works of darkness. Be our rock, a castle to keep us safe. For the Lord is our stronghold and sure defense, and he will be our Savior.

For all who have died: receive them into the arms of your mercy, grant them eternal peace, and surround those who mourn with your healing grace. 
Lord, hear our prayer.

For those directly infected with the virus: help them recover in good health and restore them in body, mind and spirit.  Lord, hear our prayer.

For those at high risk of infection, especially the elderly, those with underlying illnesses, the marginalized, and the poor: keep them healthy and free from all sickness.  Lord, hear our prayer.

For those in quarantine, the shut-in, and the infirmed: help them find peace, keep them in good health, and renew their mind and spirit.  Lord, hear our prayer.

For all hospitals, doctors, nurses, and staff: protect them as they minister to the sick, relieve all stress, and provide the resources and space to meet the needs of all the infirmed.  Lord, hear our prayer.

For first responders: guard them from all harm, and grant them strength and courage as they respond to all calls for help. Lord, hear our prayer.

For service industry workers and those forced to work as their community shuts down: keep them healthy, bestow the resources to best care for themselves and their families, and assure them in times of financial and medical anxiety.  Lord, hear our prayer.

For those experiencing financial loss and uncertainty of resources: have mercy on them, alleviate any fear, and provide for them daily bread and wage.  Lord, hear our prayer.

For the leaders of this nation and the world: help them make sound and safe decisions to best secure the future of our planet.  Lord, hear our prayer.

For all schools, students, teachers, administrators and school staff: as schools remain open, keep them healthy and in good spirit to learn; as schools close, feed those who will go hungry without guaranteed meals and shelter all students have no place to live. Lord, hear our prayer.

For all scientists and those working to find a cure: inspire them towards your truth, and help them discover and disseminate a vaccine and cure. Lord, hear our prayer.

For all media and journalists: protect them from all harm in their reporting, and move them to be a vector of truth and certainty, and never fear or panic. Lord, hear our prayer.

For all places of worship: embolden them to be beacons of hope and love, and help us to gather however and wherever we can – be it in person or online – to give you praise. Lord, hear our prayer.

For the leaders of our church: help them minister to their flock; fortify them to be faithful pastors, to persevere in prayer, and to build up the family of God in new and creative ways. Lord, hear our prayer.

For the young: spare them from harm and fear, and keep them a joyful sign of your love and light. Lord, hear our prayer.

For all parents: build in them strength and fortitude for the time ahead, and give them the words and witness to be wise counselors and compassionate caregivers.  Lord, hear our prayer.

For calm amidst the storm: as the waves toss our boat and we wonder “do you not care?”, remind us to not be afraid, that with you all things are possible, and that even the wind and sea obey you.  Lord, hear our prayer.

Stir up in us a spirit of compassion and tenacity for the time ahead. Amen.

Move us to check-in with loved ones at high risk of infection and those in quarantine. Amen.

Ease our fear and anxiety, that we may share our resources rather than hoard them, and extend a helping hand to those in need. Amen.

Inspire us to share the Good News of your love and hope. Amen.   

All this we ask through your son Jesus Christ our Lord: healer of the sick, ruler of the tempestuous sea, and Savior of the world.  Amen.

Officiant: Lord, have mercy.
People: Christ, have mercy.
ALL: Lord, have mercy.

March 2020

earthandaltarmag.com

 

 

 

Bishop requesting all to do daily Noon Day Prayer

From the Bishop:

Effective immediately I am asking all Episcopalians in the Diocese of Alaska to join together in saying the Service for Noonday (Page 103 Book of Common Prayer). This will be an opportunity for solidarity in prayer across the Diocese. Our common and intentional prayer will bind us together and unite those who are in quarantine alone, those who are working at home, those who are caring for the most vulnerable, all of us living in wonder in these times of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

And I ask your specific prayer intentions for the welfare of others and gratitude for our manifold blessings.

Please pause and join in prayer at noon every day for the coming weeks. It will take no more than 10 minutes.

The Order of Service for Noonday can be found here: Noon Day service - Book of Common Prayer (pg 103)