April 1, 2020
Dear Members and Friends of St. Ambrose Church,
Aloha! I hope and pray that you are well as we live into the third week of the Shelter-in-Place directive with the intent of slowing down the spread of the Novel Coronavirus. Much has changed in our lives which we normally take for granted. We are not able to gather in person and greet our neighbors, co-workers, friends and family who does not live with us. For those of us who live with others, at least we can have another human being to touch and to converse with face to face. For those of us who live alone, we spend our days physically isolated.
It is amazing to me how quickly the directives regarding the response to the Coronavirus evolved. On Sunday, March 1st, we gathered for worship, but were instructed not to use home baked bread for communion nor to intinct in the common cup. On Sunday, March 8th, we gathered for worship, but were instructed not to offer the common cup. And on Sunday, March 15th we cancelled worship-in-person. On Sundays, March 22nd and 29th we created a virtual live-streaming Liturgy of the Word service at 10 a.m. through You Tube Live-Streaming.
The link is: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfCRkqxS1Ii-yYov5kMpvDg.
The worship bulletin is posted on the church website at www.stambrosefostercity.org.
This year, due to how life has changed for us all, we will have a Virtual Good Friday service on Friday, April 10th at 12:10 p.m. We will also have a Virtual Easter Sunday service on Sunday, April 12th at 10 a.m. Sadly, this year we will not have a Maundy Thursday Liturgy or an Easter Vigil Liturgy with Holy Baptism. (See Mark Your Calendars for online options.)
On a positive note, we have continued to communicate with one another through Zoom meetings. We have been able to have Youth Group meetings, Sunday School classes, Bible studies, as well as the meetings of the School Board, the Buildings and Grounds Committee and the Vestry. Members and friends have also been in contact with one another, checking up with each other.
I am grateful to everyone who has helped us adapt to the new circumstances of our lives. In an ironic way, our ministry is now more accessible to people who for reason of distance or inability to come to our church facility are now able to participate in worship and meetings in ways they did not before. On the other hand, for some of us who are not as technologically connected, we will need to find ways to stay in contact with one another.
Also, I ask you to continue to financially support our ministry together and to send in your offerings as you are able. Some of us may have had their finances affected by the need to Shelter-In-Place. Some people have been laid off. Some who own their own businesses will have a loss in income. For those of us who can continue to make our offerings or a portion of them, I encourage you to do so.
Finally, as we live into Holy Week and Easter this year struggling with the Coronavirus and the suffering it is causing, I invite you to be steadfast in your faith, trusting in God’s love for us all, as we follow our Lord Jesus Christ to bear the burdens we must for the sake of loving God and our neighbor. I wish you all a blessed Holy Week and Easter.
Yours,
David Y. Ota, Rector
Dear Members and Friends of St. Ambrose Church,
Aloha! I hope and pray that you are well as we live into the third week of the Shelter-in-Place directive with the intent of slowing down the spread of the Novel Coronavirus. Much has changed in our lives which we normally take for granted. We are not able to gather in person and greet our neighbors, co-workers, friends and family who does not live with us. For those of us who live with others, at least we can have another human being to touch and to converse with face to face. For those of us who live alone, we spend our days physically isolated.
It is amazing to me how quickly the directives regarding the response to the Coronavirus evolved. On Sunday, March 1st, we gathered for worship, but were instructed not to use home baked bread for communion nor to intinct in the common cup. On Sunday, March 8th, we gathered for worship, but were instructed not to offer the common cup. And on Sunday, March 15th we cancelled worship-in-person. On Sundays, March 22nd and 29th we created a virtual live-streaming Liturgy of the Word service at 10 a.m. through You Tube Live-Streaming.
The link is: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfCRkqxS1Ii-yYov5kMpvDg.
The worship bulletin is posted on the church website at www.stambrosefostercity.org.
This year, due to how life has changed for us all, we will have a Virtual Good Friday service on Friday, April 10th at 12:10 p.m. We will also have a Virtual Easter Sunday service on Sunday, April 12th at 10 a.m. Sadly, this year we will not have a Maundy Thursday Liturgy or an Easter Vigil Liturgy with Holy Baptism. (See Mark Your Calendars for online options.)
On a positive note, we have continued to communicate with one another through Zoom meetings. We have been able to have Youth Group meetings, Sunday School classes, Bible studies, as well as the meetings of the School Board, the Buildings and Grounds Committee and the Vestry. Members and friends have also been in contact with one another, checking up with each other.
I am grateful to everyone who has helped us adapt to the new circumstances of our lives. In an ironic way, our ministry is now more accessible to people who for reason of distance or inability to come to our church facility are now able to participate in worship and meetings in ways they did not before. On the other hand, for some of us who are not as technologically connected, we will need to find ways to stay in contact with one another.
Also, I ask you to continue to financially support our ministry together and to send in your offerings as you are able. Some of us may have had their finances affected by the need to Shelter-In-Place. Some people have been laid off. Some who own their own businesses will have a loss in income. For those of us who can continue to make our offerings or a portion of them, I encourage you to do so.
Finally, as we live into Holy Week and Easter this year struggling with the Coronavirus and the suffering it is causing, I invite you to be steadfast in your faith, trusting in God’s love for us all, as we follow our Lord Jesus Christ to bear the burdens we must for the sake of loving God and our neighbor. I wish you all a blessed Holy Week and Easter.
Yours,
David Y. Ota, Rector
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Sunday Service Announcements and Worship Bulletin for the week
Worship Bulletin 4.5.20, 6 Lent Announcement from the Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday - April 5, 2020 Virtual Liturgy of the Word, Sunday, March 22-April 5, 10 am link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfCRkqxS1Ii-yYov5kMpvDg |
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Notices from Fr. Ota
April 1, 2020 Letter from Fr. Ota March 27, 2020 Letter from Fr. Ota March 19, 2020 Letter from Fr. Ota - Regarding Live stream worship service and Governor's declaration March 18, 2020 Letter from Fr. Ota - Regarding virtual worship service March 17, 2020 - A very important email from the Presiding Bishop Michael Curry concerning Holy Week and Easter day 2020. Bishop's Email March 12, 2020 Letter from Fr. Ota - Regarding cancellation of worship services |
The Season of Lent:
Sunday of the Passion, Palm Sunday: April 5, online 10 am
Maundy Thursday Liturgy Online at the Washington National Cathedral: April 9, 4:30 pm,
https://cathedral.org/event/online-holy-eucharist-with-stripping-of-the-altar/
Good Friday Liturgy: April 10, 12:10 pm, online 7:30 pm
Great Vigil Online Live Stream from Grace Cathedral: Saturday, April 11, 9 pm, https://gracecathedral.org/events/the-great-vigil-online-live-stream-3/
Easter Sunday: April 12, online 10am
Sunday of the Passion, Palm Sunday: April 5, online 10 am
Maundy Thursday Liturgy Online at the Washington National Cathedral: April 9, 4:30 pm,
https://cathedral.org/event/online-holy-eucharist-with-stripping-of-the-altar/
Good Friday Liturgy: April 10, 12:10 pm, online 7:30 pm
Great Vigil Online Live Stream from Grace Cathedral: Saturday, April 11, 9 pm, https://gracecathedral.org/events/the-great-vigil-online-live-stream-3/
Easter Sunday: April 12, online 10am
This year’s Lenten program is based on the book, The Second Mountain, the Quest for a Moral Life, by David Brooks and will be presented by the Rector. The book is divided into five major sections:
- March 1, The Two Mountains - Presentation Notes
- March 8, Commitment I: Vocation - Presentation Notes
- March 15, Commitment II, Marriage - Presentation Notes
- March 22, Commitment III, Philosophy and Faith
- March 29, Commitment IV, Community
SUNDAY SERVICES
8 AM Holy Communion with Hymns, cancelled until May 10th
10 AM Virtual Liturgy of the Word Services
Zoom Sunday School for Children (Pre-school – 2nd grade)
11 AM Zoom Sunday School for Children (3rd – 5th grade)
4 PM Zoom Youth Group Meeting (Middle School to High School)
8 AM Holy Communion with Hymns, cancelled until May 10th
10 AM Virtual Liturgy of the Word Services
Zoom Sunday School for Children (Pre-school – 2nd grade)
11 AM Zoom Sunday School for Children (3rd – 5th grade)
4 PM Zoom Youth Group Meeting (Middle School to High School)
The mission of St. Ambrose Episcopal Church of Foster City is to proclaim the good news of God in Jesus Christ as we care for each other and our larger community. In the Episcopal tradition, we extend an open and inclusive invitation to all people. We care for others and the stranger, we welcome children into our family, and we serve those in need.
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"Life is short and we do not have much time to gladden the hearts of those who walk the way with us. So be swift to love and make haste to be kind. The Blessing of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit be among you always. Amen"