Important Announcement, In Service Church Services Suspended.

Dear Parish family:

Yesterday, I tested positive for COVID-19. It came as a bit of shock to me as I have only common cold symptoms at this point, but in keeping with DHEC and CDC guidelines, the Church office (Jennifer) and the Clergy (Deacon Frank along with Janet) must quarantine until receiving their test results. If my own symptoms remain mild, my last day of quarantine is Christmas Day and I will hopefully be able to travel on the 26th.

Throughout this pandemic, and especially when we re-opened the Church, we have taken the guidelines seriously. Unfortunately, if you were in Church last Sunday, December 13th, either at the 8am or the 11am service and received Communion, you should limit your contact with others. You should monitor for symptoms and practice good hygiene. If you begin to feel ill with fever, cough, or shortness of breath you should get tested. In fact, you should be tested even if you do not feel sick.

Given these circumstances and the very high spike of cases in our community, I believe it is best to suspend all in-church services until such time it is safe to do so. This means there will only be one Sunday service at 11:00am via Zoom. We will cancel all 8am services until further notice. Holy Eucharist will be suspended as well. The Church office will not reopen until January 4th, 2021.

It may seem like overkill, but I am more concerned about your health and safety as it relates to our congregational worship together. Please be patient in this time of uncertainty. I am confident cases will begin to shrink and vaccinations increase soon. God is sovereign and it is in him we place our trust and our whole lives.

Please see the revised Christmas & Epiphany service schedule through January below:

1. 4th Sunday of Advent: December 20th - 11am ZOOM only (No Eucharist)
2. Christmas Eve: Family Blessings (5pm-8pm) via ZOOM only those registered (No Eucharist).
3. Christmas Eve: December 24th - 11pm ZOOM only (No Eucharist)
4. Christmas Day: December 25th - 10am service, ZOOM only (No Eucharist)
5. 1st Sunday of Christmas: Dec. 27th - 11am ZOOM only (No Eucharist)
6. 2nd Sunday of Christmas: January 3rd, 2021 - 11AM ZOOM only (No Eucharist)
7. The Epiphany: Wednesday, January 6th, 2021 - 5:30pm ZOOM only (No Eucharist)
8. 1st Sunday of Epiphany, January 10th, 2021 - 11AM ZOOM only (No Eucharist)
9. Wednesday Evening Prayer, January 13th, 2021 - 5:30pm ZOOM only (No Eucharist)
10. 2nd Sunday of Epiphany, January 17th, 2021 - 11AM ZOOM only (No Eucharist)
11. Wednesday Evening Prayer, January 20th, 2021 - 5:30pm ZOOM only (No Eucharist)
12. 3rd Sunday of Epiphany, January 24th, 2021 - 11AM ZOOM only (No Eucharist)
13. Wednesday Evening Prayer, January 27th, 2021 - 5:30pm ZOOM only (No Eucharist)
14. 4th Sunday of Epiphany, January 31st, 2021 - 11AM ZOOM only (No Eucharist)

Please pray with me:
Almighty God, giver of life and health, we humbly ask you to provide our bodies the strength to reject and fight the Coronavirus. Look with favor upon all those who may have been exposed or who are in quarantine to prevent the spread in our Church and in our community. Minister to us with your healing gifts that we may be restored to health of body and mind, and may we give thanks to you in your holy Church, as we prepare to celebrate the birth of your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ who lives and reigns now and forever. Amen.


The Rev. E. Ragland Coxe
Rector, Saint Matthew's Church
210 South Main Street
Darlington, SC 29532
(O) 843-393-4112