The Rt. Rev. Scott Mayer, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northwest Texas and the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, has suspended in-person worship services on March 22 and March 29 for churches in both dioceses.

Bishop Mayer

Mayer sent a letter to clergy on March 14 advises them of his decision. In Abilene, the Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church are affected. The Northwest Texas Diocese covers the Texas Panhandle to San Angelo and Abilene to the Midland/Odessa area.

In his letter, Mayer noted that “it is important for the Church to model responsibility during this very serious moment. It is going to take all of us to slow the spread of this virus – which will save lives.

“The love of neighbor needs to be our guide in this moment. In a time of crisis, we need community. This particular crisis has the effect of separating us, so we need to find creative ways of being in community.”

Mayer’s letter concluded with, “And let us remember the words of the Apostle Paul: “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”