Together with Jesus through the Coronavirus
Due to the upsurge in Coronavirus infections, we have returned to online worship only. live-streamed on Facebook Live Sundays at 10 a.m.
Compline is being live-streamed on Facebook at 8 p.m. Monday through Friday
To access the live streams, visit our Facebook page and then the videos section
If you do not have a Book of Common Prayer (BCP), clicking on the title will take you to a free online copy. The BCP is full of personal prayer resources in addition to the familiar services.
For a copy of just the Morning Prayer daily office, clicking on the title will allow you to download a pdf copy (eight pages)
For a copy of just the Compline daily office, clicking on the title will allow you to download a pdf copy (seven pages)
For daily worship resources, including pdf copies of Morning Prayer and Compline, plus online resources from other sources, visit our daily prayer page.
Here is a link to a free, digital, illustrated storybook Candle Walk for observing evening worship with children. It also includes Compline at the end.
If you have come across this page and would like to be kept informed of St. John’s activities, please send an email to the church office at stjohnslittlesilver@verizon.net
A Message from Mother Val Regarding the Coronavirus Pandemic
Following a two hour conference call this morning involving Bishop Stokes, diocesan clergy, and an infectious disease specialist, the Bishop has directed all churches in the Diocese to close immediately until further notice. St. John's, Little Silver is closed.
We are working on a means of providing you worship at home during the period of closure and will have the details to you by mid-day Saturday.
If you have a pastoral need, please call me at 732-255-3630. We will work out the healthiest way of me providing you the pastoral care that you need.
It is also important to our common life that we remain connected during this time of separation. We will also be communicating to you within the next few days some ways for us to keep in touch.
Please keep in mind that your pledge is your giving in gratitude for God’s provision to you and that the expenses of operating the church continue regardless of whether or not there is worship. Please either mail in your pledge or consider direct bill-pay through your bank.
All of St. John’s facilities will be closed during this period. That, unfortunately, has to include locking the front door to the church since we cannot manage the sanitation of a space that is open around the clock without supervision.
Should you have questions or concerns, the voicemail on the parish telephone number and the office email will be checked regularly.
I am holding all of you in my prayers.
Mother Val
O God, by whom the meek are guided in judgment, and light rises up in darkness for the godly: Grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what you would have us do, that the Spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices, and that in your light we may see light, and in your straight path may not stumble; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, p. 832)
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Earlier this week, Bishop Stokes offered this prayer from "American Magazine: The Jesuit Review." It is reprinted with the permission of author Kerry Weber.
Jesus Christ, you traveled through towns and villages “curing every disease and illness.” At your command, the sick were made well. Come to our aid now, in the midst of the global spread of the coronavirus, that we may experience your healing love.
Heal those who are sick with the virus. May they regain their strength and health through quality medical care.
Heal us from our fear, which prevents nations from working together and neighbors from helping one another.
Heal us from our pride, which can make us claim invulnerability to a disease that knows no borders.
Jesus Christ, healer of all, stay by our side in this time of uncertainty and sorrow.
Be with those who have died from the virus. May they be at rest with you in your eternal peace.
Be with the families of those who are sick or have died. As they worry and grieve, defend them from illness and despair. May they know your peace.
Be with the doctors, nurses, researchers and all medical professionals who seek to heal and help those affected and who put themselves at risk in the process. May they know your protection and peace.
Be with the leaders of all nations. Give them the foresight to act with charity and true concern for the well-being of the people they are meant to serve. Give them the wisdom to invest in long-term solutions that will help prepare for or prevent future outbreaks. May they know your peace, as they work together to achieve it on earth.
Whether we are home or abroad, surrounded by many people suffering from this illness or only a few, Jesus Christ, stay with us as we endure and mourn, persist and prepare. In place of our anxiety, give us your peace.
Kerry Weber
Printed on America Magazine: The Jesuit Review website March 2, 2020
from bishop stokes
March 13, 2020
Bishop Stokes Announces Immediate Suspension of Public Worship Services
“’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Matthew 22:37-40
In my previous communications regarding the COVID-19 Crisis, I stated that the situation was fluid and that we would evaluate and adjust our practices as necessary. After prayer and deliberate consideration, and in consultation with others, I have determined that we need to take more proactive steps to protect people and help stem the spread of the Coronavirus.
Effective immediately, I am directing all churches in the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey to suspend public worship services and all other non-essential public gatherings until further notice. We will re-evaluate this decision as Holy Week approaches to determine whether it is safe and appropriate to re-open our buildings to our congregants and the wider public at that time.
I met earlier today with approx. 70 of our diocesan clergy and there was general agreement as to how we should proceed. Love and concern for the people of God led us overwhelmingly to discern together that safeguarding the people entrusted to our care called for this decision. We recognize that it requires a high degree of sacrifice from all 140 congregations across our diocesan community and the people they serve.
The Governor of the State of New Jersey has declared a state of emergency. Experts in the field of public health are strongly urging all of us to limit person-to-person contact. The primary objective in all of this is to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, thereby protecting the health of everyone. This applies especially to the most vulnerable – those over age 60 and those with underlying health concerns.
I am encouraging all churches to begin livestreaming worship services and am directing diocesan staff to assist with this process. A special web site is being set up at coronavirus.dioceseofnj.org to distribute the latest information including scheduled online worship services.
Clergy and staff at each congregation will be working to support and uplift their congregations through this difficult time through phone calls, video conferencing, email, and other communications means as appropriate.
Further, all face-to-face meetings of Diocesan groups and committees will be moved to video conferencing. Diocesan staff will work from home as much as their responsibilities allow.
Each church community may have essential services (examples might include funerals, feeding programs, etc.) that must continue. In these instances it is expected that any groups involved will follow all recommended protocols and precautions set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the New Jersey Dept. of Health.
We remain a community of believers; we remain the church. The ways in which we come together in community will need to change in the short term, but our one purpose always remain the same: to form people as disciples of Jesus Christ so they can flourish as human beings, alleviate the world’s suffering, and participate in God’s mission of reconciliation.
Faithfully yours in Christ,
The Right Reverend William H. Stokes, D.D.
12th Bishop of New Jersey
