Thoughts on Communal Healing and Strength
I read a very thoughtful and timely New York Times opinion piece last week. Regular contributor, Charles M. Blow, wrote a piece entitled, “Our Collective, Violent PTSD.”
While Blow’s piece began by reflecting upon the growing societal impact and trauma caused by gun-related violence, he also reflected upon the ways in which the pandemic has marked and changed us individually as well as collectively. And perhaps most importantly, he suggested ways in which we might move forward and begin the long process of healing so badly needed by each of us. Blow writes,
We have to find a way to collectively deal with what happened to our country during this pandemic, something beyond stimulus checks and infrastructure bills. To do that, we have to acknowledge this trauma and work through the soft power of congregation, sharing and listening.
This is not a Congress initiative necessarily. This is a kitchen table initiative. This requires neighbor-to-neighbor outreach, communities communing. This requires some dish towel diplomacy: standing in kitchens over a cup of coffee and confessing to how hard this all has been and being seen, truly seen, by the person doing the hearing.
I think Blow is on to something both very important and yet often forgotten. We need more and more “kitchen table initiatives,” “neighbor-to-neighbor outreach, “dishtowel diplomacy,” and especially “being seen, truly seen, by the person doing the hearing” in the weeks and months ahead. We need to get together, be together, laugh and even cry together, and listen together in order to move forward happily and wholly, not to mention holy!
Blessings…
Mark
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Prayers and Reflections for the Easter Season
We have heard that the daily reflections and scripture readings provided during Lent were appreciated. Those of us writing them have also found it an enriching experience and have decided to continue. The meditations are written by persons from Saint Andrew’s, Gobin UMC and Beach Grove UMC. The daily meditations will be in the newsletter each week and go from Wednesday to Tuesday, except for Sunday. Whether you enjoy these every day, or as the Spirit moves you, may this resource continue to bring you spiritual food for the journey. Blessings!
The Second Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday In-Person Worship, June 6
You can connect to the service via Zoom. Click on this link to connect. If you have not used Zoom before, you will be prompted to download Zoom, go ahead and do that. When you enter the meeting you should be able to see and hear others and others can see and hear you. If you come in a little late, please listen for a moment before speaking. In order to see everyone, go to Gallery view (upper right on PCs and upper left for Macintosh). When we get started everyone except the speaker will be muted. If you are reading or playing music, please be sure to unmute yourself.
If you are connecting via telephone dial 301-715-8592 and when prompted enter the Meeting ID: 847 8600 1703 and press #, then enter the password: pray and press # again.
Click here for the service booklet for June 6
Non Food Pantry Latest
Saturday, June 26
• Noon to 3:00 p.m.
There will be a drive through distribution coordinated by Kate Berry. We are very grateful to Martha Rainbolt, Carl Huffman, Karen Hirt Mannon, and Christiane Wisehart who have worked very hard to obtain supplies for the Non-Food Pantry. Kroger is not able to acquire enough products for us so the items are being purchased from a variety of sources. This is much more expensive. Donations to help offset this extra cost will be gratefully accepted!
Top 4 Needed Items
Your prayers are asked for:
Lorrie Anderson, cousin of Joanne Haymaker
Beth Benedix, friend to many of us at Saint Andrew’s
Jo Ella Burns, friend of Terry Noble
The family of Margaret Anne Ervin, sister of Bob Haymaker
Jeanne Fitzpatrick, friend of Jim and Karen Mannon
The family of Eric Fladeland, friend of Tim and Caroline Good
The family of Tom Gibson, brother of Gwen Morris
The family of Micah Grimm, friend of Zac and Savannah Johnson
Mary Ellen Gurnon, aunt of Daniel and Stephanie Gurnon
Rena Hale, sister of Thea Warren-Simpson
Steve Jones
Keith Keysor, friend of Andy Cullison
Lisa Breese Kincaid, daughter of Bob and Mimi Breese
Grayson Lyons, great nephew of Peggy Angleton
Art Mannon, brother of Jim Mannon
Stanley Morris
Mary Mountz
Marilyn Mourouzis
Sue Murray
The family of Rev. Bill Novak, friend of Fr. Mark Van Wassenhove
The family of Bruce Ploshay, friend of Page and Narda Cotton and former member of Saint Andrew’s
Gordon Redden
Jordan Sanders, sister of Jim Ensley
The family of Jeff Sheffler, son-in-law of Page and Narda Cotton
The family of Peter Staats, friend of Suzanne Hassler
Skip Sutton
Sydnor Thompson, brother of Harriet Moore
The family of Phyllis Wright, grandmother of Zac Johnson
Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: Clergy in hospital chaplaincy, including The Rev. Mary Bargiel.
Our companion dioceses: The Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil: The Most Rev. Mauricio Jose Araujo De Andrade, Primate of Brazil and Bishop of Brasilia. The people and Diocese of Haiti and Saint Andre’s in Mithon.
Anglican Cycle of Prayer: The Church of the Province of Myanmar (Burma).
Birthdays: Charlie Knuth, June 8 . Lucy Wieland, June 8 . Martha Rainbolt, June 9
Anniversaries: None
GCYG
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