Back to Normal?

I woke up one morning last week (way too early) with an incredible yearning for something I used to pretty much take for granted:  to be able to safely have a big “y’all come” worship gathering on Sunday September 12, with Sunday School starting, and a big “enhanced” coffee hour afterwards, with hugs and people all stuffed in the annex, laughing and catching up . . . being amazed at the kids who’d grown 6 inches over the summer (or so it would seem) . . . .

I knew even before the “uptick” in COVID cases that we probably would not quite be ready for that yet—but I honestly thought we were getting close . . . that once kids could be vaccinated, we’d move pretty quickly to feeling safe enough to be together—maybe still preferring an outdoor coffee hour . . . but, well—you get my drift.

But Delta and Lambda and the lingering human resistance to vaccination and other reasonable precautions out there had other things in mind . . . so here we are.  Once again having to figure it out as we go along, weighing risks vs. benefits . . . . some days I’m angry, some days I’m sad, some days I’m just tired.

And then I think what a relatively small problem this is . . . how dare I complain about my life compared to folks in Afghanistan, or Haiti, or even Tennessee, Louisiana, California, etc.  . . .

But I think it relates.  Part of the “purpose” if you will, of gathering in community to worship, is that in praising God together, confessing our wounds and regrets, giving thanks, and hearing God’s call—we are strengthened, renewed, inspired by God’s Spirit flowing among and through us—to get out there and do what we can to change the world, build the kin-dom, share God’s love—do justice, love kindness, walk humbly.

I know this, in part, because one of the things that has given me hope lately, are the smaller gatherings—the taste of the larger Trinity community that has come my way recently in places like the Christian Ed meeting on the James’s back porch, where a few of us gathered to plan, to lament a bit, to encourage one another, and I came away feeling more connected, and much more optimistic about the next few months than I’d been when I arrived.  Likewise the Mission committee meeting, where we planned out various projects for the year, designated funds to assist with many issues, local and international and again, found some hope in the midst of all the challenges. And of course, smaller though it may be, Sunday morning worship, indoors or out—even with masks and distance—it’s not quite the same as the big, full, “y’all come” service I’m dreaming of—but in those moments, I sense the power, the presence of the Spirit, the connection and empowerment of our community.

And I feel it and see it in the plans being made, the concern for others and for justice that I hear—our September newsletter is chock full of upcoming events, some Zoom, some in person—and I encourage you to check them out, plan on joining in whatever way works for you, along with joining us for worship on Sunday mornings either in person or livestream . . . . God created us for community, and hard as it is right now—let us all do what we can to BE God’s community in this place and time.