Updated Guidelines for Masks and Distancing

by Tim Adams, Senior Warden

Bishop Taylor’s Office has issued a memorandum regarding Heath and Strength in Community. Based on the contents of this memo, missions and parishes throughout the diocese can resume worship in accordance with the CDC guidelines as of June 15, 2021. 

This Sunday, June 21, we can resume most of our ordinary activities, including virtually all of those associated with worship, fellowship, meetings, teaching, and service at our church.  The vaccinated may stop wearing masks and physical distancing.

Bishop Taylor stated, “I beseech all adults in our diocese, if they cannot or choose not to be vaccinated, to follow scrupulously the CDC requirement for non-vaccinated people and continue to mask up and socially distance, or if you prefer, to worship remotely.”

We are all encouraged to continue to avoid all direct physical contact with children under 12 since they cannot yet be vaccinated. 

Yes, we can SING!   And we so look forward to SEEING you this Sunday!

Reopening Timeline

April 18 & 25 - The 10 AM service will be livestreamed from the church with clergy, readers, and a limited number of musicians present. Watch the service on the church’s Facebook page. A Facebook account is NOT required in order to watch. (The service will also be available on Zoom, but there may be issues with sound and video quality.)

May 1 - The church re-opens for the 5 PM healing service. Masks will be required.

May 2 - The church re-opens for in-person services at 8 AM and 10 AM. Masks will be required. The 10 AM service will continue to be livestreamed.

Letter to the Parish on Our Renewed Closure

by Fr. Bill Garrison

Dear Friends,

Once again, the virus is surging and we are being asked to shut down in-person worship. This does not come as a surprise to most of us I believe. This is our civic duty from both a health standpoint and as a visual for our community.

We will continue to stream our services on Zoom and Facebook as we have throughout this pandemic. So please join us Sunday at 10 AM. As usual we will be emailing the necessary information to access the service so please expect to receive it.

The Israelites waited for four hundred years to be freed from Pharaoh’s grasp, so a little longer away from our home doesn’t seem like so much to ask. God never abandoned them and will not abandon us and our community. In many ways people are experiencing God up close and personal in special ways during this time. Often hard times open us to the revelations that God has for each of us. So, keep your eyes open for the wonders that await.

In the meantime, please know that the love of God and our love for each other will carry us through, and we will see each other in the near future once again. If you have any comments, concerns, or just want to share please contact me. 

Faithfully,

Bill+

Altar at Saint Matthias - Photo by Nate Warner

Letter to the Parish on Our Reopening

by Fr. Bill Garrison

View of the Sanctuary at Saint Matthias from the Altar - Photo by Nate Warner

Dear Friends,

It appears we will be home soon, July 5 th to be exact. Services will be at 8 and 10 as normal, but that is about where normal is going to end. We will be experiencing a “new normal” for a bit before we return to the way things were before the pandemic impacted us.

Masks will be mandatory and social distancing will be in effect. We will also be disinfecting and cleaning like crazy. Overflow attendance made necessary by social distancing will be in Lewis Hall. Below is a list of most everything you may expect when you arrive.

As your rector my primary goal has been to see that we all arrive safely back at church. To the best of my knowledge none of our people has contracted the virus. My goal remains the same, everybody safe.

I celebrate that fact that a majority of our people were able to experience worship online while we have been away, but sadly some were not. So we have some herding to do to locate our missing sheep and bring them home to the sheepfold, either in the church building or by assisting them to experience worship online.

If you are hesitant to return on the 5th please know we understand and support you. Please continue to join the services online and if you have problems accessing them let us help you. Just give us a call or send an email.

I don’t know about you, but in the midst of all the excitement in the last few months I found the Holy Spirit everywhere I looked. We loved God more than ever. We cared for our neighbors. We loved each other as Christ loved us. We worshipped, small groups prospered, finances remained intact. The hungry were fed. And in the meantime we learned a lot of new skills that will enhance our ministries in the future. God has been extremely good to us. Thanks be to God.

Bill+

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BEFORE YOU COME TO CHURCH

• Ask yourself whether you currently have any of the following symptoms. If your answer is “yes,” please stay home and watch the service at https://www.facebook.com/stmatthiaswhittier or https://zoom.us/j/91597283264. (Dial-in by calling 669-900-6833 and using the webinar I.D. 915 9728 3264; download the worship bulletin at stmatthiaswhittier.org/live-stream-videos.)

  • Fever (99°F or higher)

  • Chills

  • Muscle aches

  • Cough (new)

  • Shortness of breath (new)

  • Unexpected fatigue

  • Sore throat

  • Loss of taste or smell

  • Headache

  • Diarrhea

  • Vomiting

  • Nausea

  • Other cold symptoms

• Have a mask ready. Everyone (with the exception of children under two years old) must wear a mask in order to enter the building. If you arrive at church without a mask, one will be provided.

• Plan to arrive early, or consider attending the 8:00 a.m. service. Seating in the sanctuary will be limited. Overflow seating will be offered in Lewis Hall.

AT CHURCH

• Be mindful of social distancing. Follow posted instructions regarding traffic flow.

• Enter through the main sanctuary entrance on Washington Avenue. The Wardman Street doors will be exit-only.

• Ushers will scan your temperature at the door and provide you with a mask if necessary. If your temperature is 99°F or higher, you will not be permitted to enter the building.

• Ushers will seat you. In order to maintain social distancing, congregants will be seated six feet apart as the pews are marked, from the front of the sanctuary to the back, and will be dismissed from the back of the sanctuary to the front. Members of the same household will be seated together.

• Child care will not be provided.

• Expect changes to the service.

  • Hymns will be sung by the choir only; there will be no congregational singing or audible recitation of prayers.

  • Communion will be distributed in stations, and only the wafer will be offered.

• There will be no coffee hour.

COVID-19 Update: Reopening Timeline

Front Doors of Saint Matthias - Photo by Nate Warner

In compliance with state and local guidelines and Bishop Taylor’s instructions, Saint Matthias is preparing to gradually resume in-person services. Please bear in mind that this situation is fluid, and the plan outlined below may change. Feel free to contact the church (office@stmatthiaswhittier.org or 562-698-9741) if you have questions.

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June 21-28

• Our clergy, along with a limited number of musicians and readers, will resume livestreaming the 10:00 a.m. service from the church.

• The congregation will be able to watch online at https://www.facebook.com/stmatthiaswhittier. A Facebook account is not necessary in order to watch.

• For those who prefer to continue watching or listening via Zoom, the live video will also be shared at https://zoom.us/j/91597283264. (Dial-in by calling 669-900-6833 and using the webinar I.D. 915 9728 3264.)

• The worship bulletin will continue to be published on the church website and in weekly emails.

July 5

• The congregation will return to the church. Services will be offered at 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. We will practice social distancing, and masks will be required.

• The 10:00 a.m. service will continue to be livestreamed on Facebook and shared on Zoom as described above. The worship bulletins will continue to be provided online.

Guarding your Mental Health during COVID-19

By Ben & Sarah Corbitt

Many of you have probably found yourselves in the same boat as us lately. Life was fairly normal up through mid-March, and then suddenly we had much more free time on our hands due to COVID-19 and the stay-home orders and economic shutdowns the virus has brought into our lives.

As school psychologists, we spend a lot of time advising students about ways to guard their mental health during normal times. During extraordinary times, these concerns have become all the more important. While many of us are spending much more time in close quarters, here are some things to be aware of.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) advise to be on the lookout for stress during this outbreak, which can be accompanied by the following signs:

• Fear and worry about your own health, or health of your loved ones

• Changes in sleeping or eating patterns

• Difficulty sleeping or concentrating

• Worsening of chronic health problems

• Worsening of mental health conditions

• Increased use of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs

The CDC offers the following healthy advice to combat stress:

• Take a break from the news. There is little value in repeatedly hearing the same information.

• Take care of your body. This can include breaks for deep breathing, stretching, or meditating; eating healthy, well-balanced meals; getting plenty of sleep; avoiding drugs and alcohol; and exercising regularly. (Get creative with free workout routines on YouTube which require minimal exercise equipment.)

• Practice enjoyable activities. Needlework, crossword puzzles, musical instruments, and other hobbies can keep your mind engaged while you shelter in place.

• Maintain personal connections. Being at home doesn’t have to mean being isolated. Use phone calls, email, texting, or face-to-face technologies (Skype, FaceTime, Zoom, etc.) to keep in touch with those you love. Also don’t forget the value of an old-fashioned handwritten letter.

If anxiety, depression, or other stress-related symptoms continue to worsen, reach out to someone who can help. This might mean:

• Your personal healthcare provider

• One of our St. Matthias Stephen Ministers (contact Fr. Bill for more information)

• Disaster Distress Helpline (1-800-985-5990, or text TalkWithUs to 66746)

• Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255)

• In a mental health emergency, call 911

We are all in this together, even if it feels like we are dealing with this crisis alone. We hope to see you all again in person when this is over.

Photo by VisionPic .net from Pexels

Is God Mad at Us? Has He Walked Away?

by Fr. Bill Garrison

We are mired in a pandemic, stuck at home with probably too much time on our hands. I have been expecting to hear the cries of those who theorize they understand the reason for what is happening and sure enough, they are beginning to make themselves heard. Here is the basic message. “God is mad or God is tired of being ignored and has left us to our own devices. We brought this on ourselves because we are bad people.”

To start our discussion here is a Bible verse speaking to just this subject.

“At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, ‘Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.’”

— Luke 13:1-5

Michelangelo’s “God” from “The Creation of Adam”

The message is pretty clear. What kind of people they were had nothing to do with their fate. Stuff happens. All are judged equally. Each of us need the forgiveness of God, none more or less than another. What happens in life has nothing to do with our character or our actions. Life can be wonderful and it can be hard, but God is not pulling the strings.

Instead I would submit that God suffers when we suffer. God cares deeply about us and, as Jesus did at the death of Lazarus, sheds tears in empathy and compassion during our sorrows.

God is on our side folks. God loves us in ways we cannot possibly understand. The pandemic is the pandemic. It has nothing to do with God other than the fact that God joins us in our sorrow for the suffering and those who love them.

COVID-19 Update: Services and Meetings on Zoom

In compliance with California’s Stay at Home order, we will no longer be live-streaming services from the church. Instead, we have adopted Zoom, a teleconferencing service that offers a more interactive experience. This will allow us to include multiple speakers as well as music during the service. We will also be using Zoom for smaller meetings. (If you have questions about how your ministry or small group can use Zoom, please contact Andrea Schmid at andrea@stmatthiaswhittier.org.) Continue reading for more information about how Zoom works and how you can connect to Sunday services and Bible study meetings.

WHAT ZOOM ALLOWS US TO DO

• The church, through our paid account, can host meetings of up to 500 people that last up to 24 hours. We will use this feature for Sunday services and longer meetings.

• Individuals can create free accounts and host meetings of up to 100 people that last up to 40 minutes. We can use this feature for one-on-one conversations and shorter group meetings.

• Those who sign in using a computer or smartphone with a camera can both see and be seen (though you can also choose to keep your own camera off while you watch).

• Those who are unable to connect via the Internet can dial in and listen over the phone.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SUNDAY SERVICE

• Take some time to prepare. Print out the worship bulletin for March 22 (though, due to circumstances, we will only use the first half) or look up the readings for the day at https://www.lectionarypage.net/ and have your own Bible and Book of Common Prayer handy. If you plan to use your smartphone, download the Zoom app.

• A few minutes before 10:00 a.m., go to https://zoom.us/j/522608831 or dial +1 669 900 6833 and enter meeting ID 522 608 831.

• When you join the meeting, your camera and microphone will be turned off.

  • Click the camera icon in order to allow the rest of the congregation to see you.

  • Your microphone will remain muted throughout the service unless the meeting host allows you to speak.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY (START DATE TBA)

• Take some time to prepare. If possible, have your own Bible and Book of Common Prayer handy. If you plan to use your smartphone, download the Zoom app.

• A few minutes before 10:00 a.m. go to https://zoom.us/j/778461428 or dial +1 669 900 6833 and enter meeting ID 778 461 428.

• When you join the meeting, your camera and microphone will be turned off.

  • Click the camera icon and microphone icons in order to allow the rest of the group to see and hear you.

  • In order to avoid background noise, keep your microphone muted unless you are speaking. The meeting host may mute participants as needed.

COVID-19 Update: March 17, 2020

NEW INSTRUCTIONS FROM BISHOP TAYLOR

Just after noon today, Bishop Taylor sent out an email with the following guidance for the people of our diocese:

• All in-person church services, as well as “meetings, Bible studies, fellowship meals, and other activities” are cancelled through at least Easter Sunday, April 12th.

• Online worship via live-streamed services and other resources is strongly recommended.

• Weddings and funerals should be postponed if possible, but may be allowed as very small private ceremonies as long as all participants are healthy and maintain appropriate social distance.

• Service ministries, especially feeding programs, should continue if at all possible. “Volunteers and staff should be under 65 and healthy, practicing rigorous hygiene and social distancing. Hot meals served inside should be discontinued in favor of outside distribution of foodstuffs and bagged meals.”

You can read Bishop Taylor’s complete statement here.

AT SAINT MATTHIAS

• Sunday services will continue to be live-streamed via Facebook at 10:00 a.m.

• Weekday services during Holy Week will be live-streamed at their previously scheduled times.

• The Soup Hour will continue to distribute sack lunches as scheduled.

COVID-19 Update: March 12, 2020

SERVICES

• Church services will continue for now.

• Those at greatest risk of infection are strongly encouraged to stay home and participate in worship via the church’s live video stream.

• Those who choose to attend church in person are to maintain a distance of six feet from each other to the extent possible. Touching is to be avoided.

• Choir seating will be arranged to allow for additional space between choir members.

• Communion will be done in stations, with the host dropped into the communicant’s hand by the priest.

CHURCH & COMMUNITY GROUPS

Through at least the end of March:

• No church groups are to meet.

• Community groups will not meet at the church.

SOUP HOUR

• The Soup Hour will continue to operate as long as the six-foot rule can be strictly adhered to.

OTHER BUILDING OCCUPANTS

• Building occupants are encouraged to exercise common-sense measures such as thorough handwashing while on church premises.

• Building occupants are encouraged to limit guests and to take special responsibility for any guests whom they do bring onto the premises.

Lenten Series Cancelled

Due to concerns regarding COVID-19, this year's Lenten potluck series has been cancelled, effective today, March 12. Please continue to follow Saint Matthias here and on social media for the latest updates.

Response to COVID-19

COMMUNION

Per Bishop Taylor’s instructions, at Saint Matthias and all Episcopal churches in the Diocese of Los Angeles:

• “Communion wine may not be offered […] either for sipping or by intinction, until we can be confident that the danger of mass COVID-19 infections has abated.” Bishop Taylor reminds us that, “according to our theology of Holy Eucharist, the work of the sacrament is complete when taken in only one kind.”

• “…All those touching communion wafers [should] wash their hands vigorously with soap and water immediately before their work at the altar begins.”

• “Ministers distributing the host should drop it onto the communicant’s palm rather than placing it on their tongue.”

• In situations where we might ordinarily stand in a circle and pass communion to each other, we should instead “appoint Eucharistic ministers to serve the consecrated host.”

SOUP HOUR

For now, Soup Hour meals will be distributed as sack lunches.

ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS

• Wash your hands frequently with hot, soapy water for at least 20 seconds.

• Sneeze or cough into the crook of your arm rather than into your hand.

• During the passing of the peace, respect the wishes of those who prefer not to touch. Consider waving hello or giving the peace sign instead.

• If you think you may be getting sick, stay home. You can watch the 10:00 a.m. service live on Facebook. (Note: You may be prompted to create a Facebook account, but one is NOT required in order to watch the videos.)