Bishop Asks Churches To Suspend Public Services
The Bishop of Bermuda Rt Rev Nicholas Dill is asking all Anglican Churches to suspend public Sunday worship in order to support the efforts to contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
Rt Rev Nicholas Dill said, “In the light of further developments in Bermuda with respect to the confirmed presence of the COVID 19 corona virus in our midst I am asking all Anglican Churches to suspend the normal practice of public Sunday worship and to seek different ways of uniting in worship and prayer.
“This is for a temporary period as we await the unfolding of this chapter in our history and support the efforts of the Bermuda Government and our health professionals to contain the spread of this virus.
“We will continue to uphold the protocols established for us – and I would wish to remind you all to follow their advice on www.gov.bm. When we have a hurricane approaching, we say ‘stay at home, keep safe and look out for your neighbors.’ Consider this period in the same light.
“I want to remind you again of our dependence upon our loving heavenly father and the future that He holds. His love can drive out fear. When he calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee he said ‘Peace, be still’.
“Wherever we are, we are always able to call upon God in prayer and to show acts of kindness. We may not be able to touch physically, but can certainly touch others by our calls, prayers and generous giving, especially to the vulnerable.
“During this difficult period, we remain the church – and although how we do church may change for a time, we have great opportunities to serve God in new ways. Our life will not be categorized by meetings in large gatherings but by prayers and service. In this way we present light and hope to those who are living in isolation and fear.
“We will be live streaming a service at The Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity at 10:00am on Sunday mornings, via The Anglican Church of Bermuda – Episcopal Facebook page. [Facebook.com/anglicanbda].
“This will enable the people of God and anyone and everyone who looks to God for support and meaning in this time of crisis to participate in the life of worship at home. We will also be broadcasting the service live on ZBM 105.1. All are encouraged to worship with us in this way.
“The Cathedral in Hamilton will remain open during the week from 8-4 for private prayer and on Sundays outside of the recording time. We are also using this time to contact all of our members by email and telephone to offer a listening ear, prayer and to find out if they need any practical help. Should anyone require prayer, a pastoral visit or other practical assistance, you may also contact the Diocesan Office at 292-6987.
“On this Sunday evening, March 22nd, at 7:00 we want to encourage everyone to set aside a moment to pray for our Island and the world. As a sign of solidarity, please light a candle in the window or display a flag.
“All normal services will resume upon receipt of further guidance from the Bermuda Government and the public will be updated accordingly.
“We encourage you to hold on to one of God’s promises found in Psalms 46 – “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the seas […] Later he says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” And also, remember the invitation of 1 Peter 5:7 to “Cast all your anxiety upon him, because he cares for you.”
“On behalf of The Anglican Church of Bermuda, I wish you inner peace and good health and safety during this unprecedented time in our history.”
You can view all our coverage of the coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic here, our continuously updated live blog here and please recall to follow all guidance from the officials like washing your hands, adhering to self quarantine if relevant, and practicing social distancing!
