Apart from one another, yet together

Posted

Kathleen Bright
Bell Tower Reflection for 5/1/20

Apart from one another, yet together

by Kathleen Bright

I remember in the early days of the Thomas Fire in December of 2017 that I got up, got ready for work, and started driving North on the 101 freeway as if it was any other work day. In several places the fire was already down the hillside to the asphalt and burning debris was in the road. No matter, I was getting to work! Then, not long after the Thomas Fire had passed, the Debris Flow happened. My mind raced trying to figure out how I could get to All Saints to help parishioners and staff. This, as we probably all remember, was not possible. It took me quite a while to resign myself to the fact that I had no control over the situation and would have to do as Teddy Roosevelt said “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” It was frustrating and deeply depressing for me, and the rest of the staff. Both the Thomas Fire and the Debris Flow were defining moments in my life, and I do believe that they prepared me, and the All Saints staff, for the current Covid-19 crisis.

Even before the Stay at Home order was announced the staff swung into action to try and figure out the best way to keep “church” going. We also needed to make sure parishioners were communicated with immediately and effectively, and to do what we could to keep parishioners feeling connected to one another. During this stressful and unusual time, a whole slew of new ways to worship together were created: pre-recorded Sunday services; weekly Lectio Divina, Centering Prayer, and Eventide; clergy led Compline three times a week; Book Group; and ACE (Adult Christian Education). And it isn’t just the staff and clergy who are making all of this happen, it is parishioners too: Marcy O’Hara leading Lectio Divina; Robert Brown spearheading Eventide (as well as EfM); Susan Evans leading the Outreach Committee to help those with immediate needs as well as revue the grant applications; the Budget & Finance Committee continuing to oversee our finances; and the Vestry, not only continuing to meet, but making weekly calls to parishioners to check on their well-being. The Sanctuary Preservation and Readiness Project continues due to the good work of the Facilities Committee and Owner Architect Committee. All of this done apart from one another, yet together.

The only reason that any of this is working is because the good people of All Saints have linked virtual arms with the staff & clergy to dive right in and learn how to worship and meet remotely. You have shown, once again, that you are an amazing, resilient, faith-filled people.

This Sunday is commonly referred to as Good Shepherd Sunday. This is the Sunday where we hear the story of the Good Shepherd whose “sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.” Turns out that the people of All Saints continue to hear his voice even when it is proclaimed via the internet. Thank you for continuing to hear the call of Jesus and participate in the life of All Saints by doing what we can, with what we have, where we are.