I am writing this on a beautiful sunny day in Pensacola. There have been many cold and dreary days the last few months. Today is a signal that spring is here and although there will likely be another cold snap, and for sure spring rain, more days will be brighter, flowers will be blooming, trees will be greening. Our theme for April is Awakening. Spring offers us the invitation to once again awaken to the splendor of new life, and the beauty of earth’s treasures surrounding us. 

Some days and some years this awakening is harder than others. This year may be one of the harder ones. As a congregation, we have felt the profound loss of cherished members. As a country, we are struggling with deep divisions that threaten our sense of order and trust. As a world, we are mired in grief for the suffering of so many people trapped in the tragedy of war. 

This month, for the first time in 30 years Ramadan, Passover, Easter and Vaisakhi will overlap. A number of other religious holidays fall within the three-month span of March through May. It is interesting that so many traditions clustered around this time of year focus on reflection, introspection, commitment to community values, and questions of how to venture into life anew. 

This month we too will consider how we move through the tough and tender moments of life, while continually awakening to new insights that enrich our sense of meaning and purpose. May our gathering times awaken us to more moments of beauty and joy, even as we struggle with times of sorrow. 

In Love and Hope, 

Rev. Alice