Cathedral Response to COVID-19
(Updated March 13th | 9:45pm)
Earlier today the City of Orlando announced that all city-sponsored events would be canceled or postponed from March 15th-31stdue to the Coronavirus. In addition, city officials recommended “that events or gatherings of 250 or more people being hosted by organizations in other social, spiritual and recreational venues, lodges, neighborhood clubhouses, assembly halls, hotel ballrooms and other like facilities be cancelled or postponed.”
Desiring to cooperate with city officials and grateful for their efforts to protect our community, the Cathedral Church of Saint Luke will cancel services beginning this Sunday, March 15th, and continuing through March 31st.
This was not an easy decision to make. We consulted our Bishop, our Senior Warden and Cathedral Chancellor, our parishioners and other area churches before concluding this course of action to be warranted as a preventive measure. We take seriously our Lord’s call to “love our neighbor” and, in this instance, believe that love looks like prioritizing the physical health and safety of Cathedral worshippers and the entire Orlando community.
The Epistle to the Hebrews reminds us to “hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:23-25). With these words in mind, it is our hope to be able to gather in worship again as soon as possible. In the meantime, we hope to livestream worship on our website as early as next Sunday, March 22nd. Further information about livestreaming and other Cathedral events will be communicated early next week.
Cathedral leadership is closely monitoring the reports about the Coronavirus. We ask that you continue to check our website and Facebook Page and the most updated information about Cathedral scheduling, that you pray for our city and our world, and that you be wise in your own preventive safety measures.
Remember the strength and faithfulness of our God: “O God our help in ages past, our hope for years to come. Our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home.”
With love, in Christ,
Dean Reggie Kidd