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As I sit here today writing to you, the flurries have been busy covering the once green field with its white blanket.
The ups and downs of this season seem to symbolize what a roller coaster year we’ve had.

I don’t know about you, but keeping hope, and joy alive is not only vital now, more than ever…but also harder than it’s ever been. Some days, I want to crawl into a cave like a grizzly bear, with a bunch of snacks and sleep until this pandemic has finally left us!

 Gungor’s worship song “Beautiful Things” reminds me to look all around, seeing hope spring up from this old ground. Out of chaos “life is being found in you” Creator, you make beautiful things out of the dust, and out of us. May we have eyes to see, even in the darkest corners of life as we know it.

In keeping up with world events, I have recently plugged into [Laureate] Amanda Gorman, who is a Youth Poet at just 22 years old. To no surprise, Rev.Michiko has also plugged into Gorman, and they sent me these words earlier this week. May the Spirit and church in the world find you in these words, and may we continue to see ordinary miracles all around.

The Miracle of Morning

I thought I’d awaken to a world in mourning.

Heavy clouds crowding, a society storming.

But there’s something different on this golden morning.

Something magical in the sunlight, wide and warming.

I see a dad with a stroller taking a jog.

Across the street, a bright-eyed girl chases her dog.

A grandma on a porch fingers her rosaries.

She grins as her young neighbor brings her groceries.

While we might feel small, separate, and all alone,

Our people have never been more closely tethered.

The question isn’t if we will weather this unknown,

But how we will weather this unknown together.

So on this meaningful morn, we mourn and we mend.

Like light, we can’t be broken, even when we bend.

As one, we will defeat both despair and disease.

We stand with healthcare heroes and all employees;

With families, libraries, schools, waiters, artists;

Businesses, restaurants, and hospitals hit hardest.

We ignite not in the light, but in lack thereof,

For it is in loss that we truly learn to love.

In this chaos, we will discover clarity.

In suffering, we must find solidarity.

For it’s our grief that gives us our gratitude,

Shows us how to find hope, if we ever lose it.

So ensure that this ache wasn’t endured in vain:

Do not ignore the pain. Give it purpose. Use it.

Read children’s books, dance alone to DJ music.

Know that this distance will make our hearts grow fonder.

From a wave of woes our world will emerge stronger.

We’ll observe how the burdens braved by humankind

Are also the moments that make us humans kind;

Let every dawn find us courageous, brought closer;

Heeding the light before the fight is over.

When this ends, we’ll smile sweetly, finally seeing

In testing times, we became the best of beings.

 

By Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman

 

 May we find the miracle in the morning of a brand new world, and “Let every dawn find us courageous, brought closer; heeding the light before the fight is over."

Come as you are this Sunday as we continue with the Gospel reading from last week, reflecting on how we can be church in the world; pandemic edition!

To thank Rev.Michiko for everything, would take a whole newsletter in itself, and pages, and pages. To sum, from the bottom of my heart I’d like to extend my indescribable gratitude for your leadership Michiko. Thank you for your creativity for your advocacy and educating us all. I knew I would learn so much from you and I have, and will continue to. The position you entered in January 2020 radically changed a mere eight weeks in, and you rose to every challenge with perseverance, courage, a non-anxious presence and with grace. So often a Minister (myself included) begins to refer to their flock or parishioners as “my people”. Yet, when I think of you, and your care for GMUC what I really want to say is thank you for taking such good care of OUR people! This Sunday you’ll join us for one final worship together before you begin the new call and adventure just a town over in Cambridge at Saint Luke’s. I wish you all the best and look May the road rise up to meet you, dear one!

Meghan