From the Rector
Hitting the Wall – and Making Time for Mini-Sabbaths
Last week a friend shared a link to a Twitter thread that reflected on the dynamics of the 6 month mark in any sustained crisis – like the one we are experiencing with this global pandemic – and how we hit the wall. As we have crossed the threshold of 200,000 deaths in the United States and 1 million worldwide, and as we come to terms with the fact that things aren’t going to “return to normal” anytime soon, this reflection from Dr. Aisha Ahmad resonated deeply with me:
The 6 month mark in any sustained crisis is always difficult. We have all adjusted to this “new normal”, but might now feel like we’re running out of steam. Yet, at best, we are only 1/3 the way through this marathon. How can we keep going?
First, in my experience, this is a very normal time to struggle or slump. I *always* hit a wall 6 months into a tough assignment in a disaster zone. The desire to “get away” or “make it stop” is intense. I’ve done this many times, and at 6 months, it’s like clockwork.
This time, our crisis is global and there is nowhere to run. That’s OK. I’ve had to power through that 6 month hump before and there is life on the other side. Right now, it feels like we looking ahead at long, dark wintery tunnel. But it’s not going to be like that.
Rather, this is our next major adaptation phase. We’ve already re-learned how to do groceries, host meetings, and even teach classes. And we have found new ways to be happy and have fun. But as the days get shorter and colder, we need to be ready to innovate again.
This is my first pandemic, but not my first 6 month wall. So, what can I share to help you? First, the wall is real and normal. And frankly, it’s not productive to try to ram your head through it. It will break naturally in about 4-6 weeks if you ride it out.
Of course, there are things we have to do. Work. Teach. Cook. Exercise. But just don’t expect to be sparklingly happy or wildly creative in the middle of your wall. Right now, if you can meet you obligations and be kind to your loved ones, you get an A+.
Also, don’t be afraid that your happiness & creativity are gone for the rest of this marathon. Not true. I assure you that it will soon break & you will hit a new stride. But today, roll with it. Clear away less challenging projects. Read a novel. Download that meditation app.
Frankly, even though we cannot physically leave this disaster zone, try to give yourself a mental or figurative “shore leave”. Short mental escapes can offer respite and distance from the everyday struggle. Take more mental “leave” until you clear the wall.
In my experience, this 6 month wall both arrives and dissipates like clockwork. So I don’t fight it anymore. I don’t beat myself up over it. I just know that it will happen & trust that the dip will pass. In the meantime, I try to support my mental & emotional health.
Take heart. We have navigated a harrowing global disaster for 6 months, with resourcefulness & courage. We have already found new ways to live, love, and be happy under these rough conditions. A miracle & a marvel. This is hard proof that we have what it takes to keep going.
So, dear friends, do not despair of the 6 month wall. It’s not permanent, nor will it define you in this period of adversity. Trust that the magic that helped you through the first phase is still there. Take a breath & a pause. You’ll be on the other side in no time. ❤️🙏🏽
With all this in mind, I thought back to a resource from a few years ago that I think might come in handy again – mini-sabbath cards.
The practice of taking mini-sabbaths comes from Traci Smith’s book Faithful Families where she writes about the understanding of sabbath is a rhythm throughout life. Just as the Bible commands us to have one sabbath day our of the week, there are also sabbath years mentioned. She writes that in a sermon she heard once, the preacher posited this question: “Isn’t it possible to have sabbath hours in our days, or sabbath minutes in our hours?”
Mini-sabbaths are those sabbath minutes that we can use to rest and recharge when everything feels like just too much. Click this link to download the cards, then print them out and put them in a bowl where you can reach for one whenever you need a moment to re-center yourself.
Acknowledging the hard things, and giving ourselves from space for grace, is a faithful action. Whether it’s taking a mini-sabbath or another activity that brings you peace, I hope you find ways to take care of yourself through the 6 month wall.
Yours in God’s peace,
Kristin+
Sunday Worship Information
Join us in person or online on Sunday 10/4 for our annual pet blessing! Weather permitting we will gather for our 8:30 am Eucharist and set aside time for a socially distanced blessing of pets in attendance. Our 10:30 am online service will feature a video and prayer for pets who have died, and a virtual pet blessing – we can’t wait to see your pets on camera!
IN PERSON WORSHIP
We will gather at 8:30 am outside for Holy Eucharist in the Memorial Garden and field. All attendees must abide by the provisions of the Covenant for Regathering, including:
- wearing a mask
- maintaining physical distancing from those not in your household
- only attending when non-symptomatic for COVID-19 or any other transmittable disease
- abstaining from attending if doing so would put you at greater risk because of your own health status
To attend outside worship please plan to bring your own chairs or blanket. You will be asked to spread out in the field facing the building, keeping at least 8 feet between households – so consider hats or an umbrella for shade. While this will be a service with Holy Communion (wafers only), you are free to choose if you feel comfortable receiving the sacrament.
If outside worship needs to be cancelled due to inclement weather a decision will be made by 4:00 pm the day before when possible, and if it needs to be cancelled, an email will be sent out. In the case of unanticipated bad weather, including rain which would inhibit our ability to use sound amplification, an update will be posted to our Facebook page by 7:30 am the morning of. You can check our Facebook page for updates.
ONLINE WORSHIP
Join us on The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost for the Liturgy of the Word at 10:30 am followed by Zoom Coffee Hour, or watch the service livestreamed on Facebook.
A printable bulletin is available here.
A children’s bulletin is available here.
We will “open the doors” beginning at 10:15 am for folks to greet each other and say good morning. Kristin+ will give instructions at 10:25 am and we will begin recording and livestreaming the service promptly at 10:30 am. Don’t worry if you’re late – you can still attend via Zoom if you “get to church” at 10:40!
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 820 8668 4148
Passcode: 242425
One tap mobile +13017158592,,82086684148#
Facebook Livestream
We plan to begin streaming to Facebook at 10:30 am. If you arrive at Facebook and you don’t see the video, please refresh your screen. There is a delay.
On Sunday, November 1, we will celebrate the feast known as All Saints’ Day. On this day we will remember Saints known and unknown and all those who have gone before us. You are invited to offer the names of your loved ones to be remembered in prayer.
Free Class: Preparing Faithfully for the Election
If this interests you, please sign up and then let Kristin know. If enough folks take the course we can set up a time to reflect together.
From ChurchNext:
Registration is now open for an amazing, free class to help us faithfully prepare for the November elections: The Big Class: Civil Conversations in Uncivil Times — Practicing Our Faith in the Public Square with Ray Suarez.
In this contentious election season, many of us are looking for ways to bring our faith into our political interactions. Ray Suarez knows a lot about contentious political landscapes. He also knows a great deal about faith. As an award-winning journalist (PBS Newshour, NPR, Al Jezeera), college instructor, and outspoken Episcopalian, he has written a book on the subject of faith and politics in the United States.
You can register today for this class, which opens on October 12, and will remain free to students across the world through October 26. You can take this course at your own pace, at whatever time suits you. It should take less than an hour to complete, and students will have an opportunity to ask the instructor questions.This course is free thanks to the generosity of The Episcopal Church, the Episcopal Church Foundation, Trinity Wall Street, the Consortium of Endowed Episcopal Churches, Forward Movement, and ChurchNext.
And as we head into the election, let us pray:
For Politicians and Voters
Thursday Weekly Zoom Bible StudyPlease join us October 8 for Bible study at 11:30 am.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 869 5327 5656
Passcode: 864720
One tap mobile +13017158592,,86953275656#
WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Clergy Conference
Kristin+ will be attending virtual Clergy Conference the evening of October 11 through midday October 13. If you have a pastoral emergency please contact Senior Warden Jeannie Pellicier.
CARE PACKAGES FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS
Parents, if you haven’t already sent addresses for your college students please send them by October 11 to office@stjamesmtairy.org.
Parishioners, please donate items such as hot chocolate, razors, shower scrubbies, fruit snacks, pencils, cookies, pop tarts, instant coffees, tea, chips, goldfish, Pringle’s, microwave mac ‘n cheese, microwave popcorn, tissues, lotion and small bottles of hand sanitizer.
Collection containers will be outside the lower church door Sunday mornings at the 8:30 service, as well as, under the table in the Narthex at other times during the week. The CARE Packages will be blessed on Sunday, October 18th.
Thank you so much, in advance, from your Outreach Committee for your kind donations.
Our semi-annual American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held on Tuesday, October 27, 2020 from 1:30 to 7:30 pm.
To supplement the Red Cross staff our congregation usually provides several volunteers throughout the day to check in donors and hand out refreshments. Our volunteers are generally retired folks who are in the vulnerable population and have been directed to stay at home due to Covid-19.
We are asking if younger people would volunteer to staff this blood drive in place of the senior citizen regulars.
Again, this would mean sitting at a table to check in donors and direct them to a waiting area. After donation you would offer donors a bottled drink or packaged snack provided by the Red Cross. You would not be needed for the setting up or taking down of tables and chairs.
The Red Cross will be taking extra safety measures at this blood drive. Temperatures of all staff and donors will be taken before permitting people to be in the building. Gloves and masks will be provided to staff and donors. Hand sanitizer will be available. The 6 foot social distancing practice will be followed. After registration donors may wait in their cars and then be called on their cell phones to come back in the building when the Red Cross is ready to start their donation process.
Please contact Bryant Dulany at wbdulany@hotmail.com or 410-596-4227 if you can volunteer or would like to donate blood.
SILENT AUCTION AT THE BASKET RAFFLE!
Good news! It has been decided that we WILL have a Silent Auction once again this year! Therefore, even though we have discontinued accepting Basket Raffle donations, we will continue to accept items of a higher quality for our Silent Auction until Sunday, October 25th.
Items for the Silent Auction would be those that would generate higher bids by themselves rather than as a part of a basket. Such items could include paintings, quilts, unopened perfume, fine jewelry or high-value gift certificates, and the like. If you have any Silent Auction questions, please contact Mary Hutchins-Dana at 1mhdslp@gmail.com or 443-277-0505.
The “Basket Brigade” will begin our creations this week with our schedule being altered this year due to our Nursery School COVID health restrictions—most weeks we will create on Tuesdays and Thursdays after 3:00 with possibly a Saturday or Sunday work day. We would, once again, like to invite anyone interested in joining us to learn and enjoy our creation process to please contact Marilyn at 301-788-0136. It will be an enjoyable social “socially distanced” time!
Thank you, in advance, for helping us in any way you are able with our much-needed fun fundraiser!!
Marilyn Hancock
Chairperson
14th Annual Basket Raffle & Silent Auction
Lectionary Readings for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost:
Next Week’s Commemorations:
4 Francis of Assisi, Friar, 1126
Prayer Rotation
Please join the Daughters of the King in praying for each parishioner in rotation during 2020 by taking this notice home and by posting it where it will remind you pray to on a daily basis for the needs and blessings of:
Sanjay and Jen Krishnaswamy (Sandhya, Dhruva)
Robert and Karen Larrimore
Ed and Tonya Lee (Brooke, William)
A member of the Daughters of the King will be contacting you this week for special
prayer requests.