Dear Church Family,
The warming temperatures have made some beautiful spring time afternoons. I love Spring, the new sprouts on trees, flowers beginning to bud and usually the land is alive with green. Not so green this year. A reminder that each season is a unique one unto itself. I remember the winter / spring in Honolulu that it rained everyday a lot. For six weeks it rained in a way I had never experienced before. It was lousy for beach action where I spent much of my relaxing time, but it was the most lush spring into summer I had ever witnessed.
We take weather for granted sometimes, and when the variants range too greatly (too cold, too hot, too rainy, too dry, too cloudy, too sunny) we complain. We want to return to “normal”, or whatever is in our comfort range. But we have no personal control over the weather patterns and are forced to accept them as they come.
Many of us feel as though we have reached our threshold with Covid, too. Some find the vaccine process too confusing, too slow, too humbug, and the restrictions that we live with are too inconvenient and uncomfortable. We want to return to “normal”, or whatever is in our comfort range. But again, we have no personal control over Covid. However, we have control over our response or attitude towards Covid and all that goes with this time of being alive and participating in life with others.
I celebrate each dose of vaccine given. I am thrilled that many of you have received both doses and even more have received their first waiting for their second. Still, life with Covid will have guidelines that may appear humbug, but we know we can live with them. Moreover, we know are moving forward into a society that will be safer for interacting and returning to many of our cherished traditions and conveniences with some reminders of keeping safe.
I celebrate these movements toward coming together in body and spirit. The Board of Trustees and the staff are working to bring the church family back together in worship. We expect to announce soon our plans for live in-person worship in our sanctuary and to air live Facebook broadcast at the same time. Hold us in prayer as we work out these details to make it possible.
And in the moments that you caught up in the “humbug” of Covid, remember to make the conscious choice of keeping everything in perspective. God is present in all things, thus you are safe, reasonably comfortable, provided for and we are whole. Also, keep a sense of humor handy – it helps.
Many blessings,
Pastor Robert