A WORD FROM THE PASTOR….. For everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
Dear Friends in Christ,
I’ve had enough! Have you had enough? Aren’t you tired of COVID and COVID worry? Aren’t the challenges wearing thin – or wait – maybe it’s that we’re wearing thin! I know that I feel stretched to the max much of the time and I imagine you do, too. This pandemic is taking all we’ve got – and then some. And it doesn’t seem to be letting up anytime soon. In fact, my pastor mailbox fills daily with updates and blogs about how to deal with something called “ COVID Fatigue” (which is another name for COVID Depression) and how to be a helpful supportive and positive voice of pastoral support and calm during this time. And I try, but it isn’t always easy. In fact, a lot of the times it’s pretty difficult to stay upbeat, to constantly adjust and adapt and to face the uncertainty of each day. I admit that even answering the phone or emails is challenging right now because too often lately the news brings yet another message about a friend or family member or colleague who is infected or who has died.
Out of curiosity, I did a little research to find out how past generations dealt with times of intense challenge and I learned that all in all – they also experienced fatigue and depression. During the Great Influenza Epidemic of 1918, some people took the advice of experts, but many others didn’t wear masks or social distance while businesses and factories kept going even at risk to employees and patrons, and churches were “hot houses” for infection because people continued to gather in closed rooms, with no social distancing to sing and share communion. During the two World Wars and the Depression, people also experienced “fatigue and depression” or simply didn’t want to make the sacrifice to abide by the rules – and so there was the black market to get around rationing, and some people even refused to abide by the blackout requirements. In other words, we have always had to face the challenges of difficult and dangerous times while also experiencing the emotional downside and exhaustion the crisis brings into our lives. It is just so difficult to know how to deal with it all!
I do hope that you recognize that here in the church we are doing and will continue to do all that we can do to keep everyone safe so that when this time ends we can all be together once again. I also hope that I’m still pastoring when we can have a huge service of celebration followed by a shared lunch – without masks and social distancing and all of our protocols! It will be wonderful to be together again in that way! But for now we (and I include myself in that “we”) have to put aside our negativity, our grumbling and our complaining. I hope you know that none of the staff and I really love doing fully remote worship. It’s harder for us in many ways and, most of all, we miss the human contact that worshiping together provides. I know that many of us have difficulties with the worship service, including hearing (due to some sound challenges), with viewing from a distance, and, most of all, with not feeling the connection with others in the community of faith. We share those challenges with you, but we are trying to assure that the worship life of this congregation continues and that we remain connected by the power of God’s Spirit through shared worship even when we cannot sit together in one space.
At the end of my look back to the history of the past pandemic and ending of the two World Wars, I found that there was something to be learned from those times. People became stronger in their connection with God. Following those early years of the 20th century came years when churches were full and faith communities nurtured disciples. I believe we can also learn from this time and grow as a people of God. Instead of complaining about what we don’t have and don’t like, I hope we can all focus on what we do have and what we are gaining from this time. If we keep our priorities in place – God will help us through this time to become better able to meet life’s challenges and to never let go of hope, joy, love and peace. And isn’t that a message for this Season?
(By the way, if you are having trouble “feeling the season” this year, you might find the “Blue Christmas Service” especially meaningful. It will be available next Sunday, December 13 at 1 pm and on the website for viewing at any time after. I pray that it will help you to feel spiritually closer to the Season of Advent and Christmas.)
Peace,
Pastor Betsy 
Pastor Ott is presently at half-time hours which means she will be in the church for Sunday worship and in the office on average two times a week, usually on days when there are meetings. Friday is usually sermon preparation day, at home.
Pastor’s Office hours this week: Monday 12/7 work at home (Sermon Prep), Wednesday 12/9 office/afternoon and Trustee meeting, Friday, 12/11 worship recording session at church
Next week: 12/14 office/afternoon, Thursday 12/17 and Friday 12/18 worship recording sessions at church
