Tag Archives: Covid

Pastor’s Letter September 14, 2022

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An image of a man siting and praying with a mask on.

Good Morning Beloved,

I pray you are all well and healthy on this beautiful fading day of summer. A time which brings us a new year of school and with it all the reuniting of friends, returning of cooler weather, and, of course, resurgence of colds, flu, and Covid. This latter reality has come into the life of our church community as someone who was in church on Sunday has tested positive for Covid. May God continue to keep their case mild and heal them quickly along with all who may come down with this illness. As such, it seems reasonable to assume all who were in church this weekend were exposed. Sadly, this reality is what we can and should expect from time to time in our current world. 

That said, vaccines, good health practices, as well as a virus which has mutated to become less lethal has lessoned the risk for all of us; therefore, I am praying this outbreak will remain limited and everyone affected will heal well.

Speaking of good health practices, I would invite everyone to follow the CDC guidelines to the best of their ability. The explanation of exposure can be viewed here and the guidelines as to what to do if exposed  can be viewed here. Guidelines which suggest mask use for anyone who has been exposed for 10 days. Day 1 would be Monday if you were in church. I also encourage everyone to take a Covid rapid test after day 5, or on Friday. Next, please let me know if you come down with Covid; so, we can continue to do contact tracing and determine the risk to our community. We are also encouraging (not mandating) everyone wear masks while at the church this week and next to hopefully limit any additional spread. Finally, please remember that if you are feeling ill or are homebound, we will find a way to share worship with you. So stay home, rest and recover; so, you can come back healthy and join us in community sooner.

The church will currently remain open as the exposure seems limited and contained. If anything changes, I will share the information with all of you immediately via email and Facebook. Again, I am thankful we have various tools at hand and talented members in our faith family to adjust to changing situations which may come up during these times of expected surges. Sadly, it simply is today’s Covid reality.

Many Healthy Blessings,
Pastor Brian 

During the fading summer and early fall, let us consider how to live out our love each day. Remember love and faith is not just a feeling but an action we do every day. Feel free to text, call, or email me always to share as I am here to support you and your relationship with God wherever you are on the journey. My number is (207-350-9561) if you need anything or simply want to talk. Next week, my pastoral care hours are Tues. 12-5, Wed. 11-3, Thurs. 10-2. Many blessings to you all.

Pastor’s Letter August 8, 2021

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The image is of two twin bridges over a rather large canyon. The bridge in the background does not look to be completed.

Hello Beloved friends, 

I pray you are each well and may the peace of Christ be with you all, especially today. For even though we share this blessing  each week during our passing of the peace, I believe we all need to feel God’s Divine peace – right now. We need to feel this peace because many people in the world today are angry – frustrated – and afraid. And why wouldn’t we be? We thought the pandemic was over and now, people are getting sick and dying, once again. All “because of them,” those people who are endangering my family – “because of them” who are forcing me to endanger my life by taking an unapproved vaccine. “Because of them who…” Wait!

Who, beloved, who are “them”? Are the “them” that we are angry at not us – Humanity – and the one beloved people of God? It is true we are afraid – afraid of Covid -19 or afraid of the vaccine – fear is fear and we are afraid. Frustrated by government mandates or frustrated by vaccine hesitancy, frustration is frustration and we are frustrated. Angry that people are dying or angry that we are about to die financially, anger is anger and we – yes, WE are angry. And, these emotions. beloved, are what all people are dealing with throughout society, our community, and in our fellowship. 

The problem is this type of anger, frustration and fear (if we are true and honest) has little to do with “them” and more to do with an unseen threat. Oh, “they” – “those” people are a great target as “they” are physically in front of me – endangering my life or the life of my loved one. Yes, “they” are a great target that I can vent all my frustrations and anger on. Yet, “those” people – all of us – I believe are doing the same thing as you: we are making the best discernment we each can for our life with the information we both have and believe to be true. This type of faithful discernment is not wrong, especially amongst a pandemic which no one was fully prepared to deal with over the last year. So perhaps, OUR fears, frustrations, and angers are misplaced and should really be focused on this unseen virus. The virus which we cannot convince – shame – or threaten into leaving us alone. The virus which has taken our lives – our friendships – our livelihood – our safety – our freedom in some way, shape, or form. The virus which has come back to threaten us once again. Maybe, if we let our anger be towards that virus, we can finally let go of our anger towards “them” and find peace; so, we may work together once more to find solutions for all.

May the Peace of Christ be with you all,

Your pastor, Brian

P.S. 

One more thought, beloved, for I am not sure if anyone who hears these words is a virologist, politician, or reporter; but, you are a beloved child of Christ who has a voice. A voice that can bridge the gap in grocery stores and on Facebook. You can hear the fears, frustrations, and angers of people in our world. Share compassion for the concerns which our beloved people are feeling. Help these souls feel heard, accepted, and validated as another human being. So, we may all let go of judgement and focus on the solutions to not just the virus but all the problems in our world. Yes, we may not be a reporter, politician, or virologist; but, those souls who are determining vaccine safety, making laws on vaccine passports, or reporting only one viewpoint may witness your example of peace and set aside their tribal views to also find the peace of Christ. In the end, my beloved friends, love and peace must start somewhere; so let it begin with us as we have no need for the anger, frustration, and fear which blocks us from God and one another.

As always please call (207-350-9561) if you need anything. For the next two weeks, I am shifting my pastoral care hours to Tuesday and Wednesday 10:30 – 6:30; Thursday 8- 4. I may be writing from home on Mondays and Fridays but feel free to stop in to the church if the outside light is on, for I am here. Many blessings and Love, always.