My dear friends in Christ,
What a disappointment it is after a few warm days as we return to January temperatures in early May! It just seems to make the social distancing a little bit more burdensome when the weather continues to play havoc with our lives and our plans. Sigh! I guess we all just need to remind ourselves that it will be warm and sunny with bright blue skies again. In the meantime we watch and wait.
Watching and waiting is a good way to describe what’s going on as we continue our social distancing and the church remains closed. I forwarded a letter from Bishop Bickerton to you this week and the latest news is that churches are not to open at all in May. We are on a hold until we hear more, but even June is still uncertain. The reality is that this is a slow process. Decisions must be made about how people will gather, what events/activities will be allowed, what numbers of people can be in one place – it’s very challenging and the weight of making a wrong choice is very hard for all involved. We must care for those who are at high risk for infections and we also need to be aware that we don’t even have all the information about who and how people are coming into contact with COVID-19. So, we watch and we wait until we have a clear or at least better plan for how we will be together again.
Work at the church continues with painting of bathrooms and the kitchen. We are planning to paint the sanctuary floor boards and have discovered some other things that are priorities for the trustees in the coming weeks. At least we are making a positive use of this shutdown to have a healthy, safe and pleasant building for our congregation and community use when we come together again. Some volunteers, the staff and I are in and out of the building during the week, so don’t be surprised if you see our cars in the parking lot. However, we are still closed to all use except the Food Pantry. Once we’re open again, we’ll be sure to let you know!
The Food Pantry hasn’t had as much use as we expected in these first weeks of the pandemic. However, we know that there are feeding programs through the school that probably won’t continue past the usual end of the school year so we expect greater demand during the summer or as unemployment and loss of income continue to take a toll on family and individual resources. We will update you on any needs we have moving ahead and are grateful for all the financial contributions and support given.
I’ve been thinking a lot about all the changes we’re going through, personally, in our community and in the world. Change is what happens on the “outside” of a situation. Transitioning is what happens within us as we adjust/adapt to the change. There are steps to transitioning through change just as there are steps in the grief and grieving process (see my article for April 30th on grief.). Let’s look for a moment at how we adapt to change which I have adapted from an article from the Center for Creative Leadership titled “How to Transition Through Change”:
Stage 1 – Transitioning: Accepting the Ending
This stage is exactly what it sounds like. Three strategies to accept an ending are:
- Admit to ourselves and others that a change has occurred and be as honest as possible about feelings and grief process. Part of navigating through grief and accepting an ending is expressing the change that has occurred.
- Next, actively seek information about the nature of the change without judgment.
- Begin to pay attention to what has been lost and also to look for what has been gained by the change.
Stage 2 – Live in the Neutral Zone
This is probably the most uncomfortable part of the change process because it is a time of confusion, with no clear ending or beginning in site. Four strategies to help:
- Realize that uncertainty is a natural part of the process and don’t expect to know everything or expect perfection from yourself or others. Accept limitations and acknowledge that everyone is learning as they go.
- Set short-term goals to move forward. Focus on accomplishing things that are doable and fit the time frame you’re in. Enjoy the sense of accomplishment!
- Look back and acknowledge what you had while looking forward to new possibilities. Embrace them both and be thankful for the ways the past has prepared you for the future.
- Connect to your values especially when confused or when you are feeling overwhelmed. This is the time to draw on your personal values and beliefs to help you through.
Stage 3 – Reach Your New Beginning
Think of this time as an opportunity to have a fresh start in a changed environment. Try these strategies to help:
- Jump in to meet new people or give people you may have not known well before a place in creating the new beginning with you. Changed dynamics open possibilities for new relationships.
- Create ways to address new/emerging challenges while keeping the focus on the reason(s) for the change and the focus on new opportunities.
- Mark and celebrate successes and small gains.
Remember that nearly all of us find change, especially unplanned or unwanted change, difficult. However, change is a reality of life. In fact, change IS the reality of life. Nothing stays the same. Each day, when finished, ends as a new day begins. Accepting and then embracing what that means is key to dealing effectively and positively to change. As we continue to move forward through this time, remember we are in God’s care. God made the sun rise and set each day, designed the seasons, and brings surprising winds of winter into spring and spring like moments of warmth and sun into the season of winter rest. God knows and understands change as a time of opportunity to have a fresh start and see life from a new perspective. With God’s help and support we will come through this time and find a new possibility waiting for us. So, as we adapt, we can be leaders through this transition as we help others who are struggling to adjust to a different reality. As we lead, we are witnesses to our belief that: God is good all the time – All the time God is good!
In the meantime, I hold you all in my prayers. I love you and I need you to survive.
Peace,
Pastor Betsy
