Reflections and Updates in this Upside Down Time
Grace and peace be with you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
I am writing you in the midst of a worldwide situation that has turned much of what we regarded as normal upside down. It is my experience that days feel like weeks and as I seek to take it one step at a time, I don't ever seem to be able to get to all the things I desire to do. In this realization, I am reminded that the work of this life is never completed and that we can all only do the best we can to tend to what is before us. And so, all of our clergy are seeking to serve you. You are the most important part of the ministry before us. We desire for Holy Spirit to be your place of blessing in the midst of a world turned upside down.
Hopefully by now you are aware that we will do anything we can to help in any way. Just yesterday a vestry member reached out to say that he has multiple gallons of milk that were donated since they aren't being shipped to the schools and restaurants as usual. Another vestry person shared that we have access to things like paper towels through some of our kitchen memberships. I've had two people say that they can help with any IT issue you may have. So, we have a way to help you. Please let us know what we can do.
On a deeper spiritual level, all our clergy are holding you up in prayer. We pray for a portion of our church members by name every day. I am continuing to try to find ways to stay connected to you and connect you to each other. We have a new website that has been put together to hopefully be especially helpful in this time. And, as much as we prefer being with you, we have taken the (sometimes weird and uncomfortable) step of recording ourselves for you for both worship and other topics. If there is a topic on which you'd like for me to record, let me know! I'll give it my best shot. I am also offering a check in on Thursday afternoons at 4:00 on Zoom for you to join me and others in conversation for what I'm calling my "Virtual Office Hour." I am also available for private calls if you would like time to talk about anything. If you have ideas of how to connect people, let us know.
Ultimately, I have been thinking about how much I have taken church and getting to see you and be with you for granted these 17 years of my ministry and 7 years at Holy Spirit. I've always known I was blessed to be your priest and pastor, but never did I consider I would be so limited in my ability to care for you and be in relationship with you. Add to that how much of an extrovert I am and you can imagine how ready I am to see you all again! We will get through this and we will be the Church that God is calling us to be as God supports and sanctifies us in the days and weeks and life ahead. And so, we will keep taking every step possible and rely on God who promises to always be with us. May you be blessed with the knowledge and care of God's love and grace. Ultimately that is our true hope and we are assured it has already been accomplished for us. Thanks be to God!
Don't forget to wash your hands and I will see you in church.