Live Update to Residents-August 13, 2020
Live updates to residents on our in-house TV970 keep us informed and connected on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3 p.m. Today’s update featured John Burns, President and CEO; Gayle Hunter Haglund, Vice President Resource Development; Lynn McClintock, Director Pastoral Care; and The Rev. Dr. Vienna Cobb-Anderson, resident.
The following updates were shared during the live briefing on TV970.
John Burns
As of today, the COVID-19 data for Virginia includes:
• Positive cases total 103,622, an increase of around 776 since yesterday.
• 1,301,909 have been tested for COVID-19.
• The rolling seven-day positivity rate in Virginia is 7.3%, flat. Henrico-7.6%, trending up. Richmond-8.9%, trending up. Chesterfield-8.2%. Chickahominy-5.4%, trending up. Chesapeake-12.5%. Virginia Beach-8.2%, trending down.
• There have been 2,352 deaths in Virginia.
COVID-19 Positive Cases Update
Since the beginning of August, three residents and two employees have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Yesterday we learned of two cases of COVID-19 in Parsons Health Center residents from the Second and Third Floors. Residents and staff of Parsons Health Center have been tested on an ongoing basis per the recommendations from CMS. Residents are monitored daily with temperature and symptoms screenings and checking lung sounds and oxygen levels. The following currently reside in the COVID-19 positive unit until they recover and receive two negative test results. This unit is closed to all residents and staff except the assigned care teams that only work in this area.
• August 8: Resident from Parsons Health Center Third Floor is asymptomatic and has received one negative test result.
• August 12: Two residents tested positive for COVID-19. Resident from Parsons Health Center Second Floor is currently showing symptoms. Second resident from Parsons Health Center Third Floor is asymptomatic.
The last of the original four residents who moved to the COVID-19 positive unit recovered and returned home yesterday. Read the full details in a memo shared today.
We cannot say enough how critically important it is to remain diligent in wearing masks, washing hands and practicing social distancing. These are the best ways to protect one another. All residents and employees should stay home if they do not feel well or have any symptoms of COVID-19 and contact their physician.
Gayle Haglund
Westminster Canterbury is requesting feedback from residents, donors, family members and Fellowship recipients regarding the Fellowship program. Thank you to those who have already shared their feedback. Your responses are completely confidential, unless you choose to sign your response. You can find the form in The Tales and on Touchtown Community Apps in The Tales section.
Touchtown Community App
Family members are welcome to use the Touchtown Community App. Go to the App store on your smart phone or tablet and search for “Touchtown.” The family member username is WCRfamily, and the password is Canterbury.
Westminster Canterbury Foundation
Thank you for your ongoing support of Westminster Canterbury Foundation. There are aspects of our work that are perhaps more important now than ever – the Fellowship Program, W·E·A·V·E (Workforce-Education-Assistance-Volunteerism-Engagement) and our Area of Greatest Need. Thank you to those who responded so quickly and generously to our appeal requesting your prayerful support of the new Spiritual Center. More than 50 gifts have been received already. The artist creating the donor recognition piece is hard at work and will be printing and framing the lists of names within the next couple of weeks. We will reprint and reframe these in the future as more gifts are added. If you are considering a gift and want to be included in the donor recognition artwork when it first is displayed, please send your gift soon. If it would help your giving decision to take a tour of the space, call Gayle Haglund at (804) 264-6702 to arrange a time. Thank you for all you do to inspire generosity in so many ways, making this a special place to live and work.
Lynn McClintock
The Spiritual Center construction is nearly complete! There are many aspects that went into its planning and the need for a bigger space for our pastoral care programming.
Need for Spiritual Support – The global pandemic has underlined the need for spiritual support. Many residents have expressed appreciation for the Live Updates, Thursday worship services, small groups, phone call and visits that are happening in new ways under current guidelines.
Mission First – Westminster Canterbury Richmond grew from its roots in faith, as a collaboration of Presbyterian and Episcopal groups. From our inception, Westminster Canterbury and our Cary Montague Chapel have welcomed people of all faith traditions—residents, staff, and invited guests.
Spiritual Center Purpose – More space has been needed to accommodate a growing pastoral care program, and a larger, dedicated space for larger events and services, such as memorial services.
Components of the New Space
• Beautiful, large sanctuary—with custom-made Allen organ and brand new Yamaha baby grand piano. Custom chancel furniture of gorgeous cherry wood: a holy table, pulpit, baptismal font, and credence table. Having chairs will allow us to accommodate people with more flexibility. For those whose worship tradition includes the use of kneelers, they will be available. Other features include a hearing aid loop built into the floor and better audiovisual functionality in all the common rooms.
• Relocated Cary Montague Chapel – The relocated stained glass windows are stunning in the new space. Current chancel furniture and crosses will be moved to the new chapel.
• Relocated Memorial Garden – with two fountains and beautiful landscaping
• Relocated Jaqueline Room – for fellowship and meeting
• New Meeting Room – for small groups and other meetings
• Sacristy/Robing Room/Flower Room
• Relocated chaplain’s office
• Two restrooms
• Wheelchair access
Parking – Due to the creative engineering of the project, we have only lost one parking space.
Timing – While the Gilbane Building Company has been on time for the project, the COVID-19 crisis has caused delays in some items, such as acoustic paneling in the sanctuary. The longest delay will be for the sanctuary and chapel chairs. We will get creative in how we can use the space with other chairs until the new ones arrive.
We hope to open to all residents and staff by mid-September. The organ is being installed on September 8 and tuned on September 9. A recorded Service of Dedication will be at the end of September, and we will update you on the date. A YouTube link will also be created so you can watch it from your computers and share it with others.
Noonday Prayers – Many thanks to all who joined the Pastoral Care team at noon on Mondays, through heat, snow and rain, to pray for the construction workers, the entirety of the project and what God will do in this sacred space.
For our current residents, it will be a beautiful and functional space to worship, learn and grow. For our future residents, we will be able to offer a variety of programs that will adapt to spiritual needs that our future residents will present.
Vienna Cobb-Anderson
Matthew tells us that Jesus, having learned of his cousin’s death, wanted to be alone. However, thousands followed him. I can just imagine their shouting and their demands:
“Heal me” – “no, me first”
“I want this” – “no, give me that”
“Tell me how to fix this” – “no, let me tell you what you need to do”
Voices rising in need, desperation, lacking hope, feeling oppressed, sick and tired.
Scripture says, “Jesus looked on them with compassion.”
Prayer
Create in me a new heart. O God, teach us to listen to opposing points of view with open hearts and minds. Head us into the depths of compassion so that we may cease ignoring the suffering of our neighbor. Inspire us to envision a new way of ending our divisions and bringing our lives together to live in a world of justice and peace. Amen.