These are the words that have filled my mind this past month, and I have invited you to take a moment to share in reflecting upon them. Of course this is not inclusive of all that we have been thinking and feeling over the last few weeks and months. I fortunately have more than 25 Sundays in 2020 to continue this rollercoaster of a ride with you. Luckily, rollercoasters require a seat belt these days so while the ride may be rough, if we hang onto our faith, we will remain grounded until the ride slows down to become a more steady pace. Until then, let’s buckle up!
And talking about speed, where did May go? Did it feel as fast for you as it did for me? Of course, starting a new job definitely makes the time go by faster. It definitely was not the beginning I personally had in mind, but in the end, I am pleased with all that has occurred. In the month of May many of us transitioned from being a community that met frequently at 5135 Sperling Avenue to one that meets at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/….(whatever number that follows). And goodness, look at all we are doing online! I have been thrilled to see so many people who have tuned into YouTube to watch the Live-Stream service. I also have appreciated being able to “meet” and see so many faces during Fellowship Time after the worship service. It was a joy to hang out with the men during their annual Men’s Retreat, and thanks to technology, I was able to crash in the Women’s Retreat for a few minutes. Everyone has been so open and welcoming to me! Thank you for your warmth and your patience with me as I continue to settle into the community.
Looking ahead, I hope we can continue to build community in new (and safe) ways. I have begun to meet with the different committees including the Board, Worship, Communications, and M&P as well been in email contact with the Trustees and Pastoral Care committees. I will continue to be reaching out to the other committees in June to set up a meeting with each one to learn about all the wonderful work you have been doing.
I also plan on arranging “Telling Our Stories” in small groups over Zoom starting Monday, June 15. I will be sending out an email inviting you to sign up using OneDrive or calling Pam in the office. This will be limited to six people along with myself to meet as we tell our faith stories and begin to converse about what’s next for Deer Lake United. There will be multiple date and time offerings to accommodate differing schedules. Each session will be roughly 90 minutes.
Further, I will be starting a mid-week check-in on Wednesdays beginning on June 17 at noon on Zoom for anyone who wishes to build community this way. We will keep to a one-hour check-in for those who are working and checking-in during their lunch break. This will be a time to say hi to each other, as well take a look inward to care for our spiritual side. I will lead a small devotion at the end of the time to send us out.
Lastly, also starting on June 17 at 7:05 pm, I will be hosting a post-sermon reflection group for congregational discussion and thought on the topic of the previous Sunday’s worship service. This will be a great time to bring your musings and your questions to make worship even more engaging and lasting as we continue to process the message during the week.
This part of the rollercoaster has definitely been shaky, and I am quite sure that we will continue to have more changes in the future. Therefore, hold these plans lightly as they might change and adjust depending on participation and the needs of the community. If you have any thoughts, suggestions, or needs, please do not hestitate to reach out to me. While it may take a few days for me to return non-urgent emails (it’s always a weakness of mine), I will reply as soon as I can.
All I can advise, friends, is buckle up! The rides not over yet – and that just might be a good thing!
See you soon!
Joseph