Grace Cathedral

Dear Grace Community,

I am writing to let you know that the coronavirus pandemic has led us to decide to close Grace Cathedral for most in-person regular worship and cultural events from now through at least March 31. Please be sure to continue to check our website for details – click on the coronavirus tab at the top right hand side.

During this time we are planning a video broadcast of future Thursday 5:15 p.m. Evensong and the 11:00 a.m. Sunday morning Eucharist. Although no one other than clergy, choir and readers will be able to attend these services they will be available online. No congregation will be present at tonight’s Evensong but we will put an audio recording of it on the website.

At this point we are also planning to keep the Cathedral open during the day for individual prayer. Clergy also will be available by phone and for one on one pastoral conversations during this time. We will be refraining from having in person meetings. Please contact the convener of your regular meetings to learn how you might participate via phone.

City, state, federal, international and Diocesan authorities have all made statements about the importance of limiting interpersonal contact especially for the sake of seniors and vulnerable people with health conditions. As an intergenerational community we are especially concerned about members of the Grace Cathedral family who are most threatened by the illness.

As many of you know I love Sunday worship. It is a time when I feel especially close to God and to the other people who help me to understand who God is in my life. I feel a moral obligation to honor the sabbath and have done this through Sunday worship. This has been a painful decision but I am glad that we are being careful. God wants us to love each other and this is how we are doing that right now. We have to be open to how the spirit is calling each one of us to do ministry in these days.

Finally, please do not hesitate to contact us. Please also reach out to one another. If you are feeling alone or isolated let people in our community know. Try to help each other if you can.

As always you are in my prayers every day. We are so blessed by God in so many ways but especially in one another. May God bless and keep you now and always!

Love,
Malcolm