Dear friends in faith,
I’ve been thinking about this thing they’ve been calling “The Great Resignation” recently. (No, not that…)
This is the name given to so many folks who’d been in the active (and frequently over-active) workforce who, because of the time spent at home during COVID, have been reflecting on their lives, and have decided to get off the runaway train of being overworked, overtired, overstressed, and plain just spent and worn-out. So, they’ve resigned their positions, and…well, who knows. Changed careers, retired, took a long road trip, you name it.
There’s no doubt about it: COVID has changed things in a big way. Changes that will have a lasting impact on many aspects of our (previously-thought) “normal” lives.
And just today, I read something from the Episcopal News Service that indicated that although churches are now pretty much all open again, attendance has not increased much over COVID levels, which is definitely a cause for concern.
I may be wrong, but I think so many of us are not only feeling tired in our work lives, but so many of us are tired in our church lives, too.
I get it. (I am, too!)
But here’s the thing. As with any of these major shifts that force us to reexamine our lives and our growing edges, we have the chance, now, to decide this: WHAT IS IT THAT GIVES ME TRUE NOURISHMENT AND SATISFACTION, AND WHAT GIVES ME REAL ENERGY AND SPIRIT?
You know what I’m going to say: Experiencing God. TRUE COMMUNITY. REAL RELATIONSHIPS. A willingness to begin again, in a new way, with a new spirit. Trust. Hope. Gratitude.
Faith.
Indeed, the last two years have been challenging (to say the least!) for our little church with a big heart and GREAT faith. We have so many church leaders among us who share the heart of a lion. Our doors have been open every Sunday for almost a year now.
And in just about one week, the masks will be coming off (I say: let’s have a MASK BURNING!)
But however we need to move into our future, I know there’s ONE THING we need most in order for all of us to enjoy the great gifts of faith and love God has so richly bestowed upon us here at St Andrew’s Church, for our mutual joy in companionship and grace:
That’d be YOU. You are loved, you are beloved.
We love you.
And although I know this ‘going back to church’ thing may be an effort for many of us, please know there are so many of us here praying for you, praying to see you, and share our joys with you as we gather at the Lord’s Table.
Please come, please just come.
And share with us the God that is within you.
Faithfully yours,
Father Chip+
Good News of Note: The Feast Goes On…
- Breakfast every Sunday: “Breakfast-in-Between,” anytime between 9:00 and 9:45 am.
- Announcing EMMAUS DINNERS: Small Groups (7-8) sign up to have dinner together. Fun! Email back if you’re interested!
- A New Uncommonly Good Bible Study is forming (meets only twice a month for an hour, beginning May 16. Fun! Email back if you’re interested!