My beloved family in Christ,
I have two reasons for writing this letter to you. First for you who are able to afford it the Church needs your tithes and offerings to continue, and second, I wanted to send you some thoughts that I pray will inspire you as they have me. I hope and pray that all is well with you and that this restrictive life we are now living will soon, God willing, be over. I have used the time to read and reflect on the Life we have from God that dwells in all of us who believe, and how our involvement in the "business" of worldly activity sometimes blinds or at least clouds that perception. But Christ is risen not to just the heaven above but in our hearts. We share in His life and this makes us a Church and not just an assembly of people, nor a social organization. If we take the time, and for many of us we now have the time, to see the holy fire of Pentecost that dwells in our hearts, and to behold there the Life that has been bestowed on, and residing in us, we will know that it can never be taken away from us and is indestructible. Therefore, we shall never die. As St. Paul wrote, and I paraphrase, I am convinced that neither life nor death can separate me from the love of God... or nothing else in all creation (the Coronavirus) can separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus. And again he wrote, that the love of Christ Jesus (God's love) has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. So I ask you, as your father in Christ to let this "Light" shine in this world of darkness. "Christ is risen and not one dead remains in the grave." God be with you always now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
In Christ's love,
Fr. Athanasius