Hello again everyone,

This is a follow up on last night’s below email on services being canceled:

a)     Again, both services are canceled on Sundays March 15 and March 22 at St. John in the Wilderness.

b)     The Wednesday 3 PM Prayer group is canceled the next two Wednesdays March 18 and 25.

c)     As in my below email, please let me know if you or someone you know needs pastoral care or financial help from CAN or my discretionary fund.

d)     Please continue to pray for those on St. John in the Wilderness’ Prayers of the People list – God knows who they are. God knows all of us by name.

e)     Please continue to be generous with your pledges and donations to St. John in the Wilderness even though we are not meeting these next two Sundays, as the expenses continue. Thank you for your generosity! It is essential to the viability of St. John in the Wilderness. You can, e.g., mail anything to the church PO Box 180 address below.

f)      I'll be emailing early tomorrow, Sunday morning, a link to a user-friendly and complete Morning Prayer service for us to pray in lieu of being here in person tomorrow. It contains the Scriptures and even some nice music and is the Morning Prayer service specifically for tomorrow, the Third Sunday of Lent.

For Health of Body and Soul 

May God the Father bless you, God the Son heal you, God

the Holy Spirit give you strength.  May God the holy and

undivided Trinity guard your body, save your soul, and bring

you safely to his heavenly country; where he lives and reigns

for ever and ever.  Amen.

Peace and healing,

John+

Dear members and friends of St. John in the Wilderness,

We decided at the Vestry meeting tonight after some discussion to cancel Sunday morning services this Sunday, March 15 and next Sunday, March 22. We will reevaluate after that. It's not an easy decision. But out of concern for everyone's health in light of the coronavirus and the average age of our congregation, the decision was made. Please spread the word. Don't hesitate to call or email me if there is anything I can do for you, or if you just need to chat these days while we are hunkering down. I will be sending follow-up email(s) tomorrow, Saturday. I will also be calling those I am aware of who do not have email to let them know. I include two appropriate prayers from the prayer book for us.

Remember, we're all in this together. God is with us and God cares. Please take care to support those you know who are homebound (and may, e.g., need help with grocery shopping) or put in difficult financial circumstances due to direct or indirect effects of the coronavirus. Call me if you need assistance from the Churches Assisting Neighbors (CAN) fund. I also have a small discretionary fund to help any in need.

For the Absent
O God, whose fatherly care reacheth to the uttermost parts
of the earth: We humbly beseech thee graciously to behold
and bless those whom we love, now absent from us. Defend
them from all dangers of soul and body; and grant that both
they and we, drawing nearer to thee, may be bound together
by thy love in the communion of thy Holy Spirit, and in the
fellowship of thy saints; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

For Doctors, Nurses and all in the medical field

Sanctify, O Lord, those whom you have called to the study

and practice of the arts of healing, and to the prevention of

disease and pain. Strengthen them by your life-giving Spirit,

that by their ministries the health of the community may be

promoted and your creation glorified; through Jesus Christ

our Lord.  Amen.

Peace,

John+

The Very Rev. John P. Thompson

Rector

Church of St. John in the Wilderness (Episcopal)

P.O. Box 180

Copake Falls, NY 12517

[email protected]

Truth and love must prevail over lies and hate

Vaclav Havel