Welcome to
St. Jude's Episcopal Church
Niceville, Florida
Reach Up in joyful and celebratory Eucharist worship;
Reach Out to invite others to know Christ, sharing his love;
Reach In to become fully devoted followers of Christ.
Covid-19 Information and Church Updates
CDC information about COVID-19 virus link
March 28: Tomorrow at 10:30 a.m., join Father Greg online for Morning Prayer service, on https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCue7lomAnF051ovFD2ZxRDQ & Facebook@stjudesniceville
March 28: Dio CGC Churches with Live-streams on Facebook
March 17: Dear Members of St. Jude’s,
Earlier today I participated in a video conference with the Bishop and clergy of the diocese concerning the Church’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. In an unprecedented situation, we are all trying to find the best ways to meet the needs of our congregations while also being responsible to the needs of our communities. There were many different ideas discussed along with the pros and cons of each. There just are no simple answers to the complex problems that this pandemic has brought into play.
First some decisions that have been made from the Bishop’s office.
All events and services of the congregations will be suspended until April 12, Easter Sunday. This includes any weddings or funerals. We will be conforming to the CDC restrictions of gatherings of no more than 10 people. As we observe this time of suspended worship services, we will be looking at options to offer worship using available technology such as live streaming. I know that not all of our members have access to this technology and some who have access may not have the knowledge of how to use it. We will be addressing these issues as best we can. For this coming Sunday, March 22, I am asking people to use their computers, tablets or phones to access some of the available resources of online worship. The diocesan website diocgc.org will have some of these resources listed and you will be able to click on the link for them. There are also televised worship services available. Starting the next Sunday, March 29, I hope to have our own live stream worship available.
If communion is given, it will be given in only one kind, the bread. How, you may ask, can we have communion if gatherings of over ten and worship services have been suspended? If I live stream a Eucharist service and consecrate the bread, it could then be distributed to members as they drive through the church’s parking lot during a designated time frame such as 12:00 – 2:00. The consecrated bread would be sealed in a small bag and given to the members. Also special prayers could be offered at that time. I am still contemplating this possibility.
If the suspension of services need to last beyond Easter Sunday, the Bishop will designate a Sunday during the Easter Season that we would celebrate as Easter Sunday. As you know the celebration of Easter changes from year to year based on the lunar calendar in reference to the Passover. As a diocese, we would simply designate one Sunday to be our Easter Sunday. Even though every Sunday is a celebration of the resurrection, it might have even greater meaning to celebrate Christ’s resurrection as we come to the end of this pandemic.
During this time, I encourage all of you to keep in touch with one another through phone calls, texts, cards and whatever other forms of communication you use. Anna and I will be covering the office along the same hours as usual, so there should be someone to take your calls to answer questions or if there is a pastoral need. Also during this time of no in person worship services, I am still able to offer private communion to you as you need or desire it. It would still be only the bread but that is receiving the body and blood of Christ. Call me at the office 850-678-7013 or my cellphone 850-830-4705 to set up a time for a visit.
Please remember that the Chapel is available to anyone who wishes to have time in that worship space for meditation and prayer. The code for that electronic lock is 0246. Also during the regular office hours of 8:00 AM until about 5:00 PM Monday thru Thursday you may come in by the office and make your way around to the main church and sit there and have time for meditation and prayer.
Remember that we are in the midst of the season of Lent. We may look at this time and the restrictions we are taking on as part of our Lenten discipline and sacrifice. What we are doing is not only for our good, but for the good of the greater community of which we are a part.
The Bishop will be communicating information through the diocesan website diocgc.org and through emails. Please check there from time to time as we go through this time of uncertainty. I will continue to communicate changes as they occur as well. Please look for updates by email, text and the St. Jude’s Facebook page.
We must keep each other in our prayers during this time. When we come through the other side of this, I believe we will be a stronger Church for it.
God’s Peace and God Bless,
Greg+
March 16: Fr. Greg has made the decision to cancel the Wednesday programs for the next two weeks, this includes the men’s breakfast group, the sewing guild, the 11:00 am service, evening prayer, dinner and evening classes. Thank you for your patience in this ongoing crisis. Please keep looking for our follow up e-mails.
Sunday--See the March 17th letter above
8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Sermon
9:30 a.m. Adult Sunday School
10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Sermon
10:30 a.m. Children's Sunday School age 3-14
10:30 a.m. Nursery
COMING EVENT
Wednesday6:45 a.m. Men's Prayer Breakfast9:00 a.m. Sewing Guild11:00 a.m. Chapel Service with Eucharist11:45 a.m. Adult Christian Education5:30 p.m. Wednesday Dinner6:15 p.m. Children & Youth Choir6:15 p.m. Youth Group6:15 p.m. Adult Christian Education7:00 p.m. Adult Choir
