There was a slight error in the link to this morning’s devotional.
The correct link is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtdsXYRMDk0
Future devotionals will be available on our YouTube Channel.
God bless, and remember to reach out to your neighbours who may need help at this time.
Jenni
As we cannot meet together for our regular service tomorrow, I have filmed a short devotional with prayers. This has been uploaded to YouTube and will be public Sunday morning. Simply click on the link below anytime after midnight tonight, and you’ll be able to join in!
Link for the 3rd Sunday of Lent:
I hope this bring some comfort during this stressful time.
God bless,
Jenni
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
I know most if not all of you have seen the expanded restrictions and advice handed down by the Dutch government yesterday. In case you have not, the new guidelines can be found here, or a summary here. (Both in English.) Additionally we have been referred to advice given by the Raad van Kerken (in Dutch) for guidance.
In light of the current public health situation, all public bodies, including churches, have been asked to carefully consider holding public gatherings at this time. Although we at St. Mary’s do not meet the cut-off population of 100 people for gatherings, we do have a congregation with a great many elderly and others with compromised immune systems. As before, anyone with any sort of cold/virus symptoms (including but not limited to sniffles, runny nose, cough, sinus headache, elevated temperature) has been asked to stay home and away from public gatherings. And there is also the new advice for the elderly and anyone with any sort of underlying health condition to avoid using public transport at this time. Public facilities have also been asked to conduct a ‘deep clean’ to disinfect as many surfaces as possible.
Given all of these regulations and considerations and taking the advice of our Area Dean, Willem and I have made the decision to cancel the service for this coming Sunday, March 15th. We fully realise this is not an ideal situation and some will disagree with this decision, but we are making our best effort to be responsible. We are not suspending services for the remainder of the month at this time, nor has the Lenten Series yet been suspended. This may change as we continue to monitor the situation, and we will be sure to keep everyone updated.
With this in mind, the following steps are being taken:
Every effort to communicate this decision to as wide an audience as possible will be taken. Please do pass on this information to anyone you think might miss it otherwise. I will film a short devotion for Sunday, a link to which will be disseminated by Saturday evening. Anyone interested will be able to simply click the link and join together in prayer. Steps are being taken to disinfect the church building appropriately. Although many in-person pastoral visits have had to be cancelled, we are in phone contact with our most vulnerable members. I encourage everyone to do the same: look out for your family members, neighbours, etc.
And please do keep everyone in your prayers at this time, particularly those affected and the medical personnel working to serve.
Loving God, source of healing and comfort; fill us with your grace that the sick may be made whole, that those who care for us may be strengthened, that the anxious may be calmed, and those most vulnerable be protected in the power of Spirit in the faith of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
God bless, Jenni
If you are not on the St. Mary’s email list and would like to be in order to receive updates by email, please email us at info@stmarysrotterdam.org and let us know. We will be happy to add you!
St. Mary’s is pleased to offer a Lenten Study Series again this year, this time twice a week! Each Wednesday evening at 19:30 (beginning Feb. 26th) and Thursday morning at 10:30 (beginning Feb. 27th) during Lent we will gather in Holt Hall to work our way through the “Way of Love.” Based on the concept of a ‘rule of life’, the Way of Love is comprised of seven daily practices designed to help us centre our lives around the truth and grace of Jesus Christ. Each week we’ll explore one of these practices — Turn, Learn, Pray, Worship, Bless, Go, Rest — in a welcoming small group atmosphere. Using videos, readings, sharing, and prayer, we will seek to centre our hearts on the gospel and encourage one another in our journey of discipleship.
***The Way of Love program was developed by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry of the Episcopal Church. For more information, please check out www.episcopalchurch.org.
We are very sad to announce the death of our sister in Christ, Lorna van der Linden-Hunt. Her funeral will be held this Thursday, January 30th, at 13:30. The location is the Schollevaar Crematorium (Burgemeester Schalijlaan 2, Capelle a/d IJssel). May Lorna rest in peace.
