19 March 2020

Dear Friends of St. Mark's,

What an interesting time we are experiencing! Yesterday morning I met online with one of our members who is beginning the process of discernment for the priesthood. Technology can certainly do wonders, for our meeting was just as productive as when we have met in person. As an added bonus, the dreary skies of the day before had retreated, and the sun was shining beautifully in Kapahulu. The shining sun was a gift as the realities of COVID-19 are haunting everyone.

Staying connected is going to be incredibly important in the coming weeks. I have been texting back and forth with some of my clergy colleagues on the mainland. Many of them are frantically trying to set up online worship for their congregations so that they may livestream their masses. I have resisted this temptation for now, although we do have the technology needed. As I said to one priest colleague, there is a great pull for clergy to over-function during this time. People seem to be afraid that the church will just fall apart, but I do not believe this will be the case. People have an amazing ability to adjust to their surroundings. We are often at our best and most creative when we are under pressure. My advice to my priest friend was to be patient for now, discerning the best course of action to engage in the coming weeks. The church should also be aware of focusing too much on self-preservation during this time. People are suffering from this virus, and others are dying. This is the church's primary pastoral concern.

We will not be live-streaming any services from St. Mark's this Sunday. Rather I invite you to make an online visit to churches that are much larger than St. Mark's, and that have greater personnel and financial resources than we do. I invite you to experience something different. I invite you to hear a different preacher and a different choir. A few churches with their links have been provided in the Evangel. As well, there is information about an online organ recital celebrating Johann Sebastian Bach's 335th anniversary. You will also find a lovely rendition of the traditional Introit for the mass on the Fourth Sunday in Lent. No doubt, if you search online, you will find other offerings for the faithful observance of this Sunday.

In regard to our own church, we have been reaching out to our kupuna who do not have internet or email. We have also been calling seniors who normally cannot attend mass. This is an especially frightening time for some of our kupuna. In Italy, where this pandemic is especially destructive, some seniors may not receive treatment due to the scarcity of medical supplies and resources. Equipment is rationed to those who are younger. How horrible it is for a society to be reduced to such decisions. If you would like to help with a ministry of phone visitation with our seniors, please let me know.

We must keep the bonds of our church strong. As I have alluded, St. Mark's now has the ability to hold online gatherings via Zoom. I am going to test it out tonight with our Thursday night Lenten Bible Study. Once this trial run has been completed, I will offer space for additional people to join online Bible studies, perhaps at a variety of times with a variety of facilitators. We might also schedule online gatherings of the Daily Office. That being said, I have thrown caution to the wind, and I have scheduled an online Friday Morning Coffee with the Rector for anyone to join this week. Just follow the link and download the necessary software. (There is also an app for your phones and tablets.) This online coffee hour has no agenda except for general conversation. I hope you can join me.

Finally, if you have not discovered online giving, I invite you to do so. Of course, mail is still an option for your donations. We are thankful to those who have already started mailing in their donations to the church this week!

During the Spanish flu epidemic, Ole Hanson, the Mayor of Seattle (1918-1919) said, "religion that won't keep for two weeks is not worth having." The good news for Christians is that despite all the challenges and problems of our world throughout time, Christianity has always remained. Our faith in Jesus Christ is far stronger than any virus. During this time of quarantine, enjoy your faith and enjoy Jesus Christ. At the end of this Lenten wilderness, there will be Easter joy, even if such joy arrives late.

Blessings,
Father Paul Lillie +