Live Update to Residents-December 17, 2020
Today’s Live Update on our in-house TV970 covered the latest news on COVID-19 at Westminster Canterbury Richmond. It featured John Burns, President and CEO; Jeanette Ucci, Annual Fellowship Fund Specialist; and David Curtis, Chaplain. The next Live Update will be Tuesday, December 22.
John Burns
COVID-19 Updates
Yesterday, we learned that a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) from Parsons Health Center has tested positive for COVID-19. This (CNA) was tested after being away, prior to returning to work, so we do not think there is much risk of exposure to others. Seven employees who have tested positive for COVID-19 continue to recover in quarantine. Nine additional employees are out due to exposure to people who have tested positive.
We continue to test staff and residents in Parsons Health Center per guidelines from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Our testing schedule is based on Henrico’s positivity rate, which rose above 10% this week. Due to this, we must test twice per week until it goes down. We expect to do this for at least the next four weeks.
In good news, another resident returned home from the hospital and is considered recovered. Only two residents who tested positive continue to recover in the hospital. Please keep them in your prayers.
We continue to attend meetings and planning sessions related to the vaccine. The Pfizer vaccine is being distributed to the states in two batches. Virginia will be in the second batch, which means that Westminster Canterbury will not get the vaccine before December 28. We anticipate it will be January before we receive the vaccine. We do not have any other specifics to share today. If you missed Tuesday’s Live Update, we encourage you to watch the recording on our blog or Facebook to learn what we know so far. We have a vaccine planning meeting this afternoon and hope to have more details to share next week.
Employee Update
It is with deep sorrow that we share news of one of our employees. You may have seen various news stories over the past day about our teammate, Sandra Powell, a beloved nursing employee from our Parsons Health Center Third Floor and dear friend to many staff and residents. Initially Sandra and her husband were considered missing. Unfortunately, last night we received confirmation of her death.
Our Parsons Health Center team and many other employees are deeply affected by this news, sharing grief that is acute and deep. Sandra was one of Westminster Canterbury’s brightest stars and exemplified everything that makes this a great community. She brought joy to those she served and those with whom she served. We are very sad about her loss. Today we have counselors and our pastoral care team on site to help our staff through this tragedy. Sandra will be dearly missed. We ask for your prayers for her family and our team members.
Our next Live Update will be Tuesday, December 22.
Jeanette Ucci
Thank you for your generosity to Westminster Canterbury Foundation! We are so inspired by how so many continue to give generously during these challenging times. There remains a very real need for us to meet our goal for the 2020 Annual Fellowship Fund.
Approximately 100 residents at Westminster Canterbury are living here because of the Fellowship Program and our many generous donors. When you give to the Fellowship Program, you are supporting your neighbors right here at Westminster Canterbury Richmond. You are neighbors helping neighbors.
Be reassured that the Fellowship Program is strong and will always be here to provide safe housing, meals and medical care to residents currently receiving Fellowship Assistance. Donors to the Fellowship Program also provide reassurance that none of our residents will ever be asked to leave Westminster Canterbury due to an inability to pay through no fault of their own. At the same time, the need for Fellowship assistance remains very real, and we know that there are some who will need help who did not anticipate this, due to the financial effects of the pandemic.
We are so grateful for your amazing generosity this year! We are missing most of the income from our beloved Shops on Main, which had to close in March. Last year, volunteers and shoppers made it possible for more than $165,000 to be donated to the Annual Fellowship Fund. So in 2020, we need YOUR help, more than ever.
The good news is that we are close to meeting our goal! You are amazingly generous. So far, you have given 94% of our $1,650,000 goal. You have given $1,545,860. We have just $104,000 left to raise before December 31! We know we can make this goal – but we need your help.
Though the identities of our Fellowship recipients are always kept confidential, we do sometimes receive letters from them expressing their gratitude. Their words always say it best. One recipient said, “The Fellowship Program is the answer to my prayers! The generosity of so many people is a tremendous blessing. This means so much, especially during these uncertain times. I cannot thank you enough!”
We invite you to consider joining a group of incredibly compassionate and generous donors to the Fellowship Program, who make it possible for 100 of our neighbors-in-need to experience The Westminster Canterbury Way. Whether you are a new donor or are considering making another gift this year, please know that we truly appreciate all you do.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the Foundation Office at ext. 6204 or visit www.WCRICHMOND.org/foundation.
David Curtis
Pastoral Care Updates
A Sermon for Every Sunday will be shown on TV970 this Sunday, December 20, at 4 p.m. Rev. Courtney Allen Crump, senior pastor of Ginter Park Baptist Church, will preach on Luke 1:26-38, the story of the Annunciation to Mary.
Our Longest Night service will broadcast on TV970 on Monday, December 21, at 4 p.m. This service acknowledges that there are those who grieve or mourn, or perhaps simply don’t feel full of holiday cheer. We invite anyone who may need holy space to simply be with their pain or hurt or loss to join us.
Next Tuesday, at 7 p.m., we will offer a Christmas Organ Concert by Ed Schutt. Ed is a well-known organist and musician who regularly plays at Westminster Canterbury Richmond. The printed program will be at the Tower and Center Desks on Monday.
Our Christmas Eve service will be a service of Lessons and Carols at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 24, on TV970. Christmas Day services will be shown at 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. on TV970 on Friday, December 25.
The Greater Richmond Children’s Choir is offering a virtual concert this year. It will be shown on TV971. Please check The Tales for the times.
Lastly, tomorrow night is the last night of Chanukah. To those celebrating, Happy Chanukah tonight and tomorrow. May your nights and your lives always be filled with light.
Genesis 1:1-5
In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
Prayer
Gracious God: you created light with a word, and at once, you called light good. Let your light shine in us and from us and through us. Let us be light in this darkness for our friends and family. May our lights shine against the night and welcome the travelers home to you. May our souls twinkle before you, and may our love shine as to rival all the stars in the universe. Amen.