Message from the Rector, Tuesday October 27, 2020

Message from the Rev. E. Ragland Coxe:

Dear Parish Family: 
Have you heard this? "Everyone is tired".
 
Pandemic fatigue is real according to an article published yesterday in the Wall Street Journal. I tend to agree. Surveys show people are better at keeping up with the latest rules and advice when it comes to personal hygiene, like hand washing and masks. But problems begin when the rules run up against the need for social connection. Surveys show that the number of Americans avoiding small gatherings with family and friends has fallen from 71% to 45% between May and September.
 
Too much much pandemic fatigue can fuel a vicious cycle: A tired public tends to let its guard down, triggering more infections and restrictions that in turn compound the fatigue.
 
Ok enough of what everyone agrees is reality.
Enough of "Maybe after the pandemic...after the election...once the economy is at full speed again...once I ________ then we'll return to normal."
 
Last week, Bishop Lawrence spoke to the Diocesan Clergy about Living in Hope. 
He referred to a life in quarantine when Israel's exiles in Babylon longed to return to their homeland. Essentially Jeremiah Ch. 29 verses 1-9 could be summarized as "God says live and don't wait on things to get back to normal. Don't put off living while in exile. Live the life God is calling you to where you are planted in this season of life."
 
Ask yourself: What is one act of moving forward with God that I can do safely?
 
"We have to get practical. Really practical. The most practical thing we can do is hear what God says and act in appropriate response to it." (Eugene Peterson, Run with the horses p.174).
 
Living in hope means we have to double down in God's Word and then responding to His invitation to live forever. Living in hope means we could start a small group or a Bible Study or tune into one of our Virtual Men's or Women's Studies (Wednesdays). Living in hope means making a "porch visit" to pray with someone who is down. Living in hope means going to our website and taking a look at some of our Upcoming Events where you might plug into.
 
It takes courage to move forward:
"Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God."
(2 Samuel 10:12)
 
It takes a mighty God who strengthens us:
"I can do all things through him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)
 
"Every man dies, not every man really lives." William Wallace
 
Let us live in hope together as God leads us!
Faithfully in Christ,
Rags+