Weekly Update 08/11/2020 – Fr. Cyril Gorgy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beloved Holy Resurrection Church family,

I miss you and am praying that you are well and safe.  Wishing you and your family a blessed St Mary’s fast (Feast of St Mary on August 22nd).  May her intercession be with us all.

On behalf of the HRC family we convey our condolences to the Nakhla family for the departure of our beloved deacon, Refaat Nakhla.  God willing the funeral will be this Friday at 10am at Holy Resurrection Church.  We pray that the Lord repose his soul in the paradise of joy and comfort his family. 

Thank God, we are now praying all Divine Liturgies outdoors in the second parking lot.  Please bring your own foldable chair, if possible.  All participants are expected to read and STRICTLY follow the General Guidelines below.  No registration will be required for this Wednesday and Sunday. Parking is limited and therefore carpooling is encouraged.  The Wednesday Divine Liturgy is from 7-9am and Sunday is from 8-10:15am.  All other services will continue to be conducted virtually. 

Last Sunday, our beloved mother, the church, reminded us of the parable of the wicked vinedressers.  Since the Coptic year (1736), is winding down, we are reminded to be wise and faithful stewards of EVERYTHING God entrusts us with.  In this parable we found that a certain man planted a vineyard and leased it to vinedressers, just as God created us and entrusted us with our life and resources.  At vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that they might give him SOME of the fruit of the vineyard.  Three servants were sent, one after the other, to collect some of the fruit, but the vinedressers beat and wounded each of the servants and sent them back empty handed.  We also learn from Psalm 24:1 “All the earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, the world and those who dwell in it.”   God who is the rightful owner of all things, entrusts to us (lease to us)  our life, time, health, family, relationships, and possessions.  In response to all He entrusts with, we offer some back.  For instance with our home, we honor God by designating some portion of the home as prayer corner.  Also with our time, we offer back a portion of our 24 hours in worship.  We only get to use God’s gifts while we are here on Earth.  He has loaned it to us for a few decades. He loaned it to somebody before us, and he’s going to loan it to somebody else after we die.  May God help us all to be wise and faithful steward with what God entrusts is with.

May our Risen Lord support and protect you, and your family by the power of His Holy Resurrection.  Missing you very much. 

For His Glory,

Fr. Cyril

 

 

 

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General Guidelines

 

 

 

Please review and abide by the following guidelines prior to attending church: 

 

  • Please STAY HOME IF YOU ARE SICK, or if you have a history or are experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness, including FEVER or COUGH.  
  • If you have traveled in that last TWO WEEKS, please do not sign up to attend a Divine Liturgy until, TWO WEEKS have passed since you returned and you do not have any COVID19 symptoms, or you have been tested negative twice.
  • If you were in direct contact with anyone that tested positive for COVID-19, please do not sign up or come to the church services, whether with symptoms or not, until you are tested negative.
  • If you test positive please do not sign up or come to the church services until you are tested negative, for two consecutive tests, regardless of the time it takes to be tested negative twice.
  • Every church will take all the precautions necessary to ensure your safety, but your attendance is entirely your choice, and the church does not accept any liability. 

 

 

 

When you come to church:

 

  • Arrive on time. The church gate will ONLY be open at the beginning of the service and will remain closed for the duration. No one will be permitted to open the church door other than the church servant assigned by the clergy.
  • Your body temperature may be taken prior to entering the church.
  • You should wear a mask and gloves at all times during the service.
  • You should sanitize your hands when entering the church.

 

 

 

Inside the Church:

 

  • You must keep a minimum distance of 6 feet at all times between you and others that are not in your household.
  • Each family (same household) should seated together.
  • Children will stand with their parents even if they are deacons.
  • Please do not touch anything or anyone inside the church including icons, relics, clergy, and deacons, etc.
  • For Ologea (Al Barka), the priest will wash his hands, cut it and distribute it. You will take it with your hand without touching the priest.
  • After Liturgy, we need to stagger exiting from the church as individuals or families to ensure we maintain social distancing guidelines.

 

 

 

Partaking of the Eucharist:

 

  • Please bring your own head covering, corporeal (for communion) and water to use for partaking of the Eucharist.
  • Each family should come forward together to receive the Eucharist. As every family is approaching please maintain 6’ away from other families.
  • During communion, you will remove your mask, open your mouth wide and have your tongue lay flat so the priest can place the Holy Body on your tongue.
  • When taking the Holy Blood, open your mouth wide and the priest will pour the Blood from the spoon into your mouth.

 

 

 

NO SOCIAL GATHERINGS AT CHURCH OR IN THE PARKING LOT FOR ANY REASON