Thursday Reflection
From Daniel Lawlor, Ministerial Intern
Dear First Church,
What a week! We are hearing so much from so many directions and voices. We are both very connected, and, physically, distant. Wherever you are reading this, no matter how tight the quarters, you are on our mind, and in our heart.
I have been remarkably heartened by the kind notes and words I've seen exchanged by members of this community just in the last few days. From attention to the Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence to imagining different ways to connect digitally, so many First Churchers are doing much behind the scenes to keep our community connected and in dialogue, with each other and our wider neighborhoods.
This Thursday, I simply offer a little moment of pause. Would join in this moment of meditation?
Our meditation was written by Lee Allison Paczulla:
blessed are the elderly, and the immunosuppressed
blessed are the fearful, the anxious and irritable
blessed are the ones who use humor to get by
the ones who could use a vacation anyway
the ones who fear for their life
blessed are the ones who are sick of it:
all the flawed logic, the security theater
blessed are the ones who cry out “this is why we need a safety net! a kinder society! a new world!"
blessed are the health care workers, the administrators catching heat for every decision, the messengers with no power over the message
blessed are the sad, and the lonely
blessed are the healthy and the sick,
the well and the unwell
blessed are all of us just trying to do our best
blessed are those who stay kind and clear, who keep our eyes open to each other
blessed is our neighbor
blessed are we all
blessed are we all
blessed are we all
Don't forget to look out the window. Don't forget to take a deep breath.
With Hope,
Daniel
PS:
As a particular note to our artist and musician friends, the City of Boston has established a short term grant fund to assist artists and musicians who are struggling due to cancelled performances and loss of income. See this link here. Please share with any local musicians or artists who you know in the First Church community and beyond who may be in need at this time.
PPS from your humble Editor:
We attach our draft Order of Service for this coming Sunday, March 22, in case you wish to follow along with our virtual worship at home. Remember, we are supplementing our usual WERS broadcast with live-streaming video on our Facebook page! But bear in mind also that in this age of coronavirus, meetings of 25 people or more are dangerous and unlawful, and so in compliance with state and municipal regulations ;only participants in the service will be admitted to the building; this really will be an all-virtual service!
