17th MARCH 2020 – ST. PATRICK’S DAY
BISHOP ANDREW SUSPENDS SERVICES IN DERRY & RAPHOE
Dear Parishioners,
I am writing to address this directive from our Bishop. I have already suspended a number of events and services both in our parish church and The Lurach Centre.
This is a grave global situation that will affect individuals and families in ways that are unprecedented in the history of the world. Quite simply the Covid-19 poses a threat to all of us and I therefore welcome Bishop Andrew’s guidance.
At St. Lurach’s and Killelagh we are called upon to draw alongside the vulnerable in our parish and refrain from anything that will put their lives at risk.
I am making these recommendations in light of the Bishop’s statement
1 All services will be suspended.
2 Due to updated advice from Bishop Andrew on Friday evening (20th March) we can no longer open the church for prayer and so St. Lurach's Parish Church will now not be open on Sunday morning.
St. Lurach’s Parish Church will be opened for prayer on Sundays at normal church time (11.30am – 12.30pm).
3 Funerals, Weddings & Baptisms will go ahead but will only be attended by immediate family.
4 The Lurach Centre will be closed immediately.
5 All church meetings have been suspended including Select Vestry, Mothers’ Union & MPCA.
6 Current office holders will remain in place.
7 As Rector of the parish please be assured of my prayers and pastoral support.
8 I am presently telephoning the more mature in years and those who are more vulnerable, lonely, housebound and sick.
9 I would also recommend that everyone follows the guidelines given by the Government and the Public Health Agency regarding best practice to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
As Christians may I suggest we all read Matthew 6: 25-34
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Firstly, scripture encourages us “not to be anxious” because Christ is with us in this time of
deepest need.
Secondly, again from these scriptures “seek ye first the kingdom of God”.
For me this is the way to travel through this pandemic, with Jesus as our Healer – Friend Guide and Saviour.
Lastly, prayer is absolutely both necessary and vital for the existence of our church and for
own lives.
Your Rector & friend,
Rev. Terence P. Kerr