In the Dec. 6 bulletin of Nativity of the Lord Parish in Alma, Deacon Rick Warner discusses the second week of Advent in the time of COVID-19.

"This Advent, like most of the rest of the holidays this past year have been or will be very different, due to the COVID-19 pandemic," Warner wrote in his "Deacon's Corner" column. "I would expect that even this past Thanksgiving was not like previous years. We were not gathering in large family gatherings as we continue to try to be safe and protect others around us. "

He discussed parishioners in assisted living or nursing care facilities.

"With the restrictions on visits, these vulnerable in our community can feel lonely," Warner wrote in the bulletin. "We list the names of those we know in our bulletin, and I am sure we are missing some."

As part of Advent, he urged parishioners to write a card or make a card for those who are homebound.

"Little gestures like these can let them know that they have a community that cares for them, even though we are not able to physically be present with them," Warner wrote in the bulletin. "You can mail your cards to the facilities themselves or drop them in the collection baskets at church or at the parish office, and we will make sure these cards get to the residents."

He urged parishioners to also pray for the homebound as they write the cards.

"For those who are sheltering in place, know that you are in our prayers, and we long the day in which we can visit again," he wrote in the bulletin. "Please pray for our community of Nativity of the Lord."