Dear Friends in Christ—
Here at the edge of Holy Week, we are at a turning point for our church. We are beginning to gather again for outdoor worship (see our very full schedule), which is an exciting and joyful milestone.
But this milestone also prompts me to think of other kinds of gathering. Even as some of us meet together physically, we also stay spiritually united with those in our congregation who remain at home. The dynamic of being apart together—a dynamic which has shaped our lives this past year—continues.
It occurs to me that we, as Christians, know something about this. We talk about the communion of saints—faithful men and women who, throughout history, are united by their life in God. We believe that when we meet for the ancient liturgies that we share this week, we are worshipping alongside the saints of ages past.
And as members of the worldwide Anglican communion, we also know something about unity as a distance. We share the words of our prayer book and our particular way of understanding faith with Christians around the globe—and, in particular, in this Diocese of Virginia (As a note about our diocese: you may know that we are beginning a search for a new bishop. If that search matters to you, I encourage you to apply to be a part of the search committee. The deadline
is March 31.)
No matter who is in your household or who is by your side as you worship this week, I encourage you to know that you are not alone in this time. And I encourage you to join your brothers and sisters in this parish in prayer.
In Christ,
Anne+