Have Faith, Father

The lady minister wishes the rector a Happy 66th.
No social distancing is required for married couples.

The coronavirus has forced everyone to cancel, downsize, or convert to streaming video life's celebrations.

Graduations, weddings, bar mitzvahs, and funerals (nowadays a celebration) have all turned out not to be the social occasions that organizers imagined.

Neither has the "farewell tour" of the rector, who retires on August 1st after 23 years of leading the congregation.

April homilies were presented to nearly empty houses over YouTube, and instead of an organ and full-throated choir, the music of Easter was sung by a soloist to pre-recorded accompaniment.

Today was his last sermon, at least until the lockdown is lifted. He turns 66 this week and, according to both the Diocese and the County of San Mateo, cannot attend even small gatherings.

Thank you, father, have faith that it won't end like this. Things will open up by summer.