Passing of the Peace
Greetings my siblings in Christ,
It was a strange and sad feeling on Sunday morning to have missed out on the opportunity to gather for worship.
I want to thank everyone who has supported the communication and decision-making that was required on such short notice. I also want to thank all of you who have been so discerning and considerate by choosing to self-isolate. It may seem counterintuitive, but it is a gesture of kindness when it means keeping each other as healthy and safe as possible.
At this point in time, the Official Board still needs to meet in order to determine our official next steps, but I wanted to remind all of you that church is so much more than gathering in person once a week. Even when Sunday morning worship does not happen, we are still called to be the church. We are all still capable of praying together for a better world and we can still worship God every day of the week, wherever we may find ourselves.
Pandemic by Lynn Ungar (written 3/11/20)
What if you thought of it as the Jews consider the Sabbath—the most sacred of times?
Cease from travel.
Cease from buying and selling.
Give up, just for now, on trying to make the world different than it is.
Sing.
Pray.
Touch only those to whom you commit your life.
Center down.
And when your body has become still, reach out with your heart.
Know that we are connected in ways that are terrifying and beautiful. (You could hardly deny it now.)
Know that our lives are in one another’s hands. (Surely, that has come clear.)
Do not reach out your hands.
Reach out your heart.
Reach out your words.
Reach out all the tendrils of compassion that move, invisibly, where we cannot touch.
Promise this world your love - for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, so long as we all shall live.
Please be in touch by email or phone. I’d be grateful to receive an update about how you’re taking care of yourselves during these uncertain times.
michikobownkai@gmail.com or 647-967-0746
In Christ,
Michiko Bown-Kai