Dear Grace Anglican Church,

 

I love you and I am praying for you! I am thankful that so many people are taking advantage of the online worship services we've been broadcasting over Facebook Live. Technology can be an amazing tool for God's kingdom.

 

This is a confusing time with seemingly constant changes in mandated protocols. Above all, I care that you remain safe and healthy. I also think that our church should be even more concerned for the health of our community than the government is. This is what it means to love one another in this moment of crisis. Pray for wisdom in how to navigate this situation.

 

As you know, Governor DeSantis issued just yesterday a new executive order (number 20-91). The order declares that it is "safer" for people to remain at home, especially those with an elevated risk of infection. It then describes "essential services" that must continue being offered, followed by "essential activities." I am pleased to see that the first essential activity listed was "attending religious services conducted in churches." It would appear that our Governor shares my own thinking that worship is essential to life.

 

However, I actually think that attending worship services in a church is still too dangerous. We will not be opening Sunday worship services for at least the rest of April. However, our Holy Week plan remains unchanged as it is listed on our website. For those who would like to venture out in their cars this Sunday, which is Palm Sunday, we will still offer an 8 AM palm processional in the parking lot. This is by no means mandatory or compulsory. We will also Facebook Live this so you can watch the liturgy of palms from home or the parking lot. Please participate only if you feel comfortable doing so. No one will get out of their car. If you decide to come and you would rather not receive a palm branch from the church, you are welcome to cut your own and bring it. The liturgy of the palms is brief and will be broadcast to your car via an FM transmitter. Those who decide to participate will then exit the parking lot waving their palms as they leave to drive home. We hope to get a video of this and post it to Facebook prior to the start of the Palm Sunday Facebook Live broadcast, which will start at our typical time of 9 AM. See below for important details for the processional.

• Please use the front entrance from Hwy 17 to enter the campus. The back entrance through the library will be opened only for exiting after the liturgy of the palms. 
• Bring a smartphone. As we try new and creative ways to broadcast, the possibility for technology interruptions or errors occur. We will Facebook Live the liturgy of the palms. If the FM transmitter does not work, you can tune in from your cars. 
• Download or print the liturgy of the palms before you come. We will have palms and copies of the liturgy available, but you are welcome to bring your own. 

Please visit our website to find our latest updates. Remember that God's kingdom is never in trouble. Jesus is still Lord and, as our Good Shepherd, he promises to be with us through the valley of the shadow of death (Ps. 23). Stay fervent in prayer!

 

Yours in Christ,

Mike McDonald

Senior Pastor

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Worship Resources
Click here to see worship resources needed to participate in the upcoming worship services (i.e. links, Scriptures, a children's bulletin, etc.). 

If you do not already own a new prayer book, you can download the full PDF file here. The morning prayer service begins on page 11 in the Book of Common Prayer. I recommend that you purchase from the same website your own deluxe edition, which has larger font. It is an incredible resource for discipleship.

Online Giving
Please remember to continue to invest in the mission and ministries of the church by giving online or mailing a check into the church.