From the Rector
No really, how are you doing?
Last month Bishop Sutton began holding weekly Zoom meetings with all the clergy and senior wardens in the Diocese. I have really appreciated gathering to pray and hear from Diocesan leadership, and for the chance to check in with each other.
Yesterday he reflected on three responses to that question we keep asking each other: “How are you doing?”
Sometimes it may be, “Great!” Other times it’s more along the lines of, “Everything is falling apart.” And on occasion it’s, “I don’t know.”
This resonated deeply with me. My go-to response to folks checking in to see how I’m doing has been, “Okay. As well as can be expected.” Which is a shortened way of saying, “Could be worse, but not great, and really I’m not actually sure how I’m doing.” Hearing Bishop Sutton mirror this made me feel less alone.
So maybe you need to hear it too. No matter how you’re feeling – you’re not alone. What we are collectively experiencing right now is trauma and grieving, and yet we all respond differently.
The Rev. Josh Rodriguez-Hobbes, Chaplain at Johns Hopkins, presented on these themes at our gathering yesterday as well. He walked us through the grieving process and immediate and delayed trauma reactions. We’re having emotional, cognitive, behavior, and existential reactions as we live through this time of pandemic and quarantine. These reactions can be ways we protect ourselves, but they can also include things that are destructive to ourselves or others.
I recommend his slideshow to you if learning more about grieving and trauma would be helpful to you at this time. You can find it as a part of the Diocese of Maryland’s COVID-19 Response Resources page here. And if it feels like too much, that’s okay too.
Because the best thing we can be doing right now is taking care of our mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health – and that looks different for each of us. What binds us together, however, is God’s love.
It is this unstoppable love that we celebrate this Easter season, trusting in the resurrection which shows us that nothing can separate us from that love, not even death. It is this love which grounds our Grace Groups and Helper’s Team. And it is this love that will sustain us in the weeks to come as we navigate gathering for worship and fellowship virtually and hopefully transition back to worshipping together.
I pray that we are gentle with ourselves and one another in this extraordinary time, and continue to check in with each other, asking, “No really, how are you doing?”
Yours in God’s peace,
Kristin+
At Home Worship/Formation
Virtual Worship
- Join us for Zoom Morning Prayer at 9:30 am followed by Coffee Hour this Sunday, or watch the livestream on YouTube. A printable bulletin is available here.
- Virtual Compline services on Facebook are Monday through Friday at 8:30 pm. You do not need to have a Facebook account to “attend” – just click here to participate. While your at our Facebook page be sure to “follow” and turn on notifications so you will be alerted when we go live or post updated information. Compline order of service
Resources:
For a complete listing of resources visit our At Home Worship/Formation page.
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- Compline order of service
- The popular daily devotion Forward Day by Day is posted each day online, and it too is available as a podcast.
- Lectionary Readings for the Second Sunday of Easter: Acts 2:14a, 22-32; Psalm 16; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31
Next Week's Commemorations (A Great Cloud of Witnesses, 2020)
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Daughters of the King
An Order for laywomen of the Episcopal Church
who undertake a Rule of Prayer and Rule of Service
by reaffirmation of promises made at Confirmation.
Karen Dulany, Joan Fader, Margaret Neff, Peg Pelch
During these uncertain times when we are apart from one another, please know that the Daughters of the King continue to pray for our parish family. The names are taken from the Parish Directory and listed in the weekly Shell emails on a rotating schedule. In addition, you may contact any Daughter of the King for a prayer request as needed. (Our names with contact numbers are listed in the Directory).
Give your best. Laugh without holding back.
Live for each day. Be generous with love.
See God in the moment. Discover. Enjoy.
(Inspirational Dayspring)
Nursery School
While the Nursery School remains closed because of coronavirus, teachers and staff are supporting the children and families by providing updates and electronic resources through the school’s communication app. The children have even been able to continue following the adventures of the chicks!
Thank you to the teachers and staff who continue to support the children through this time!
A few spots remain for the 2020-2021 school year at the Nursery School for children who turn 2, 3, or 4 before September 1, 2020. If you, or someone you know, is interested in learning more, please contact Pat Castle, Executive Director, school@stjamesmtairy.org.
WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Parish Administrator Hours for the week of April 19, as needed from home.
Easter Zoom Bible Study Join the Way of Love 50 Day Bible Challenge. Using the book of the same name, we are reading individually during the week, and gathering on Zoom Mondays at 7:00 pm to pray, reflect, and discuss the previous week’s readings together. Email Kristin+ to sign up rector@stjamesmtairy.org.
Spring Clean Up The spring clean up scheduled for April 18 has been postponed and will be rescheduled for May or June.
Steven and Debra Schaeffer
Randall and Sally Severy (Paul, Sam)
Andrew and Adrienne Smith (Marion)
A member of the Daughters of the King will be contacting you this week for special prayer requests.