Our June Theme is Play. This month we are invited to ask ourselves what it means to be a people of play. Perhaps after all we’ve been through over the last year and a half, we don’t remember what it is like to play. Last Wednesday was the last day of school for my grandchildren. So, on Thursday we went to the pool for the first time in two years. I forgot how relaxing it is to sit at the pool and watch children play.

Many of us have worked hard this year to keep things going, to keep ourselves and our families safe, to help our younger ones with virtual school, to support loved ones or friends through illness or loss. Perhaps you worked to regain or recover our own health.

If you found yourself staying mostly at home, you may have worked hard on all those projects you had been putting off for years.

While things may never be exactly as they were before, there is certainly a sense of relief now that cases of Covid-19 are dropping and vaccines are widely available.

Perhaps your spirits are somewhat lifted as you begin to re-gather with people you have not seen for a long time. We have been able to come together as a church community a couple of times and we know that before long we will be back in our building, celebrating our unique and beloved community.

Perhaps as we begin to emerge from over a year of one unexpected event after another, you will find yourself somewhere in these playful words from the Rev. Scott Tayler of Soul Matters.

We all are playing.

Playing it up, playing it down, trying to play fair.

Playing for keeps, playing favorites, playing it safe,

sometimes too safe.

He plays hardball; They’re playing house; I’m playing it by ear,

or at least learning to play it by ear.

She’s tired of playing second fiddle; He’s playing right into their hands.

Please God, can’t we all just throw out the playbook and start again?

Sometimes we’re just played out; it’s not always bad to play possum.

And what about playing with fire?

Let’s hope so friends.

Don’t you want to feel again that burning within,

and let it loose?

Welcome to the month of play. May we all take it seriously.

In love and hope,

Rev. Alice