A Note from Rev. Alex
Dear Friends:
Bloopers is the topic for this little essay greeting to you today, that I am writing on April 1, for the April 3 weekly email. The fun of April Fools Day seems like a far cry from this world of disarray. Nonetheless, humor is one of the six traits of resilience, according to medical scholar Marie Earlino-Ramirez.
I can list for you the bloopers in the sermon video I made last week: the price tag from the thrift store on the chalice; the text message tone that chimed at the end of the prayer; the cat jumping up and distracting me. All of these unexpecteds I chose to keep in the recording, and say it is good enough.
When I heard that Rev. Pam Philips was inviting us to fill out a google form with Joys and Sorrows for this Sunday, I was slightly terrified. But, I will muster my courage and experiment with one more new piece of technology to keep us connected.
I have a new twist on the Buddhist blessing for zoom calls:
May you be free from suffering, May you be at peace, May your face still look reasonably okay if your internet connection fails and your face freezes on the screen while others wait and wonder.
Fear of technology is one more thing that can keep us isolated. If you know someone that hasn’t shown up for online worship, or might be feeling overwhelmed by joining a virtual covenant group, I encourage you to give them a call. Offer to be a technology buddy. It used to be that a person might need a ride to church; now they might need a tech ride to church. Laugh together as you figure it out.
A psychological principle is that one of the reasons that things are funny is because they were unexpected. In this time of horrifying things we never wanted, there come along with it odd twists and tumbles. May we be blessed with the ability to laugh at the bloopers as we learn new ways of coping. I can assure you that the nurses and doctors at the hospital are crying and laughing, both.
I provide you with this link to a song about singing during hard times.
May there also be laughing during hard times. Keep on staying connected in whatever ways work for you. Sunday morning worship continues to unfold: come join us and see what bloopers we have each week!
In peace,
Alex
Rev. Alexandra McGee, MDiv, BCC, serves this congregation as the half-time Assistant Minister, and also serves as a half-time chaplain at Martha Jefferson Hospital.