Dear Grace Church|Red Hill,
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you. (2 Corinthian 13:14)
What a strange and troubling time.
People are suffering and dying from COVID-19 in staggering numbers. In the United States, the number of COVID-19 related deaths is close to 190,000 people. The number worldwide is 850,000. The loss—loved ones, friends, neighbors, co-workers—cannot be calculated. The disproportionate suffering of Black and Brown people lays bare inequities in our nation’s health care and economic system. Incompetence and deception in our government have exacerbated the tragedy. And the numbers grow daily.
The murder of George Floyd sparked renewed protests for an end to police brutality, for a reshaping of our American culture (most visible in the tearing down of “Lost Cause” monuments), and for confronting white supremacy in all its forms. Righteous anger found a stage and an audience with ready ears to hear that Black lives matter. And it found the alt-right hungry to mete out its vigilante justice.
The 2020 presidential election deepens the conflicts in our country. Anxiety brews as we fret about democracy itself. Can it withstand the blows of voter suppression, the shouts of divisive rhetoric, and the stench of lies?
And, almost forgotten, the world burns. The globe is collectively barreling down the highway to catastrophic ruin. Glaciers melt, wildlife disappears, species go extinct, temperatures rise. Where are the butterflies?
So, what does the church do in such a strange and troubling time?
We grieve. We confess our complicity. We protest. We work for justice. We envision a better world and start living it. We vote. We do so now without hugs, without the sacraments, without the embodied community. We do so by wearing masks and keeping a social distance. We do so by living virtually, as unfulfilling as that is.
On Sunday September 20, during its Zoom service, GC|RH blesses students, teachers, professors, administrators, staff, schools. We acknowledge the strain and distress that has come because of the drastic changes in how schools and classrooms operate and the restrictions imposed to keep all of us safe.
And there is much going on:
Emily Wright has come on as the GC|RH Community Engagement Facilitator.
Janie Beck Kreider organizes Children’s Church.
The vestry continues to lead the congregation in an active way.
GC|RH is conducting a survey to help determine if folks support organizing outdoor worship.
Contemplation online.
Evening prayer online.
A virtual poetry reading is in the works.
Plans for a retreat on grief and resilience.
The men’s group meets online.
The racial justice group meets online.
The eco-group is restarting.
Plans for a graduate student/young adult group.
Plans for a women’s retreat.
The Charis Community is thriving.
During this strange and troubling time, God remains the constant force of grace and love. May you experience God as the ground of being, in you and about you, in this time, at this place.
Be well,
Neal