Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
I am writing to you on the eve of Holy Week, typically the busiest and most important time of year in our church. It is now clear that we will not be able to gather together for worship this Holy Week and Easter and more than likely beyond that. While this is unfortunate and unprecedented in our recent history, I was encouraged by the words of the Rev. Dr. Emily Heath where she wrote “The first Easter didn’t happen at a church. It happened outside of an empty tomb, while all the disciples were sequestered in a home, grief-stricken and wondering what was going on.”
While we won’t be able to gather together on Easter, whenever we do have the opportunity to worship
once more the joy of the Resurrection will burst forth in familiar hymns and celebration. In the meantime, I encourage those who can to follow along with the Holy Week services that the Cathedral Church of St. James is streaming. You can find these services on the Diocesan website, Facebook page or linked on our website. We will be providing our audio recording of the Stations of the Cross for you to follow, this will be available on our website, on our Facebook page and via our e-blast. Finally, we are exploring the possibility of live-streaming an Easter Vigil Service on April 11th at 8 pm – watch our e-blast or website for more details.
It has now been a month since we have been able to gather as a community for worship, fellowship and study, it heartens me that so far all of you are well and maintaining your mental health and to hear that so many of you are keeping connected as best you can. I also know that as the provincial and federal guidelines tighten and extend, we will have to be vigilant in prayer and reaching out to one other to ensure everyone remains healthy and connected.
During Holy Week we remember how God spared no expense in sending his own Son, Jesus, to save us from the power of sin and death; on Easter, we remember that not even death has the power to separate us from the abundant love and life that God has opened up for all the world in the Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour. As we celebrate the great saving works of God this year, let us be certain that no amount of social or physical distancing, no virus, “nor anything else in all of creation, can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39).
May God bless you and those you love today and forevermore.
Yours in Christ,
Rev. Graham McCaffrey
You can download the letter in PDF here: Easter Letter 2020.docx