A Word from the Fold
Easter 2020 edition of the Seasonal Shepherd's Staff
Alleluia!
Christ is Risen!
He is Risen indeed!
Alleluia!
Lately it’s been hard to to remember that we are still in in the Easter season and that it it lasts through the 50 days following the great celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord. Each day seems to f fold into the next and apart from the schedule of Zoom meetings, it’s sometimes a challenge to keep track of what day it actually is. And yet, somehow the heartbeat of life continues; the sun comes up each morning, the moon in the sky at night. Spring flowers push up out of the darkness of the winter soil, and trees that stood bare are showing signs of life in little green buds sprouting from their tender branches. This is indeed a time to consider the lilies of the field and all the precious signs of Spring, as the earth enjoys a chance to breathe again.
For all the difficulties of this global shutdown - of which there are so many - it is impressive what the global community has done in its efforts to break the spread of COVID-19. Before this pandemic, I could not imagine that the roadways and skies would be so quiet and still; that the hustle and bustle of life would be brought to a virtual halt. Yes, I remember the Blizzard of ’78, the stalled out cars on the highways and the blanket of white that covered New England, but that now pales in comparison to the present state of affairs.
There are lessons to be learned from this experience and an opportunity to move forward with intention and care, so as not to simply jump back to the way things used to be. We have before us a moment to “consider the lilies of the field” and think about this as a metaphor for the bigger picture of life and the future we’d like to create. It’s an opportunity to think about what’s important in this life and grab on to the good will that many people have so creatively shown in this most difficult time. Think of restaurants, an industry hit particularly hard by this shutdown, how they have rallied to the cause providing meals to hospital employees and other essential workers. People teaming up, though socially distant, to make masks and shields with whatever items they can find to assist medical personnel. Teachers and educators who almost overnight have transformed their classrooms to an online learning program. The creative ways parents and teachers are finding to celebrate this year’s graduates who likely won’t make that memorable walk across the stage to receive their diplomas. We’ve seen birthday brigades organized by parents to bring some cheer to children having birthdays in this time of quarantine. The list goes on and on.
We as church also have much to consider as we think about what worship will look like when we come back together. How will we continue to reach those who for a variety of reasons may not be ready to come back to the building? What will church school look like in the future? Indeed these are the kinds of questions that the leaders of our churches and the Diocese are considering as we reimagine what it means to be church and how to celebrate the sacraments in this new reality? I look forward to exploring these topics with you in the weeks and months to come. In the meantime, continue to take good care of one another, offer prayers for all in need, and keep being the loving and generous community of faith that is a hallmark of the Church of the Good Shepherd.
In the peace of Christ,
Melissa