My dear congregation, while physically we may not be in close proximity, you are in my thoughts at all times. Some of us have been connected by phone, email, text, or Zoom numerous times over the last few months. Others of you may have been holding back, waiting for things to return to normal. In March, when we first began to learn of the pandemic, I was sure this was going to be something we endured for a few months, before resuming the life we had known. Even so, there was much to learn to keep us connected in whatever ways were possible. As the weeks went on, we began to realize we were learning things that might be an advantage even when things did return to normal. For example, there will always be some people for whom getting to church or to meetings may be a hardship. And just think about the savings on time and gas when some meetings are on Zoom. A few of us have had crash courses in ten or fifteen years worth of technology. Hopefully, it serves us in the future, as well.

After that crush of learning, I was delighted that Laura Keith King and her daughter, Stephanie, came on board to help. I took some time to explore virtual opportunities for social engagement and continuing education. Currently I am enrolled in a course for ministers on leading in a liminal time. Although not created for this Covid-19 time, the theory applies directly to our current situation. The instructor, Susan Beaumont, has tailored the course to address the many issues facing us, as we navigate the societal changes brought to light during this pandemic. A liminal season, she explains, is a time “when something has ended but a new thing is not yet ready to begin.” In liminality, she continues, “there is a yearning to either go backwards to something that felt more stable or to leap forward to something that feels more resolved.” My hope is that we will use this time to engage in a true process of discernment, as we create a vision of who we are and who we want to be in a world that is rapidly changing. I look forward to us doing this work together.

In Love and Hope,

Rev. Alice