As I’ve done many times since the birth of the KellyGram, I must once again give a shout-out to my beloved church, St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields Episcopal, for its outstanding leadership and commitment to its members. For people of many religious backgrounds, traditional worship has been turned upside-down by the COVID-19 pandemic, and it’s in these times of crisis that we lean most heavily on our faith. Fortunately, the staff and clergy of St. Martin’s have done an exceptional job responding and adapting to the limitations that social distancing has imposed on the congregation, and with the help of technology, they continue to share the Good News.

For starters, the newest addition to our clergy, the Rev. Deacon Caitlyn Darnell, was ordained last Thursday as our transitional deacon; in order to allow the congregation to join in her ceremony safely, St. Martin’s live-streamed the ordination on Facebook. Sunday worship services are also streaming live each week and being posted to the church’s Youtube channel. They’re sharing daily devotionals online and have added a new web feature—Grace Notes—where members can share moments of goodness and gratitude in the midst of this nightmarish pandemic. One of my favorite, recent posts is this meditation Caitlyn conducts on Psalm 23. I applaud the efforts of St. Martin’s to stay devoted to its mission and keep the faith alive and strong in its congregation during these unusual times, and I look forward to what message my church has to send each day. Right now, we must find respite where we can, and for me, I’ve found it in St. Martin’s. I hope each and every one of you find yours, too.