Dear friends and members of University UMC:
Earlier this week I told my husband Paul that I kinda’ feel like I did at the beginning of the pandemic. I remember those early days of the shutdown during Covid. I often felt like I was in a fog. I was eager to stay on top of the news. I was also overwhelmed and dismayed by it. Physically my sleep was off and I found it harder to get out of bed. It was also a time of renewing connections with old friends and some extended family members. While these two seasons of troubling news events are quite different, I find similar emotions and sensations are lodged within me. As I described my increased lethargy in the mornings to Paul and my increased worry throughout the day, he responded with humor saying, “You’re not baking a lot of banana bread, though!”
I don’t share these words to make you worry about me. Rather, I share because I want you to know that whatever you are experiencing and feeling these days, chances are you are not alone. I preached in Sunday’s sermon about the importance of good self-care and I strive to practice it myself. I have a good therapist and spiritual director. I’m exercising and even carving out time for hobbies. I’m spending time with friends and family. A loving church community helps, too. I trust you are finding ways to tend to your soul. If you do find yourself struggling, I hope you won’t hesitate to reach out to me or someone else. We are not made to go through life alone, especially in these worrisome days.
I also shared in my Sunday sermon what many others have said - this is a marathon and not a sprint. In other words, pace yourselves! When it comes to everything from keeping up with the news to protesting and contacting legislators and the like, we cannot function non-stop 24/7. After worship, a member of our church Jan Hames shared with me the wisdom of one of our mutual friends who described the work before us as a relay race. What a fitting image! Not only do we pray for perseverance to continue the ongoing work of justice, but we do our work knowing that at times we pass the work to others so that we can rest and vice versa. This image was described beautifully in writing by this dear friend of ours Rev. Amelia Fulbright entitled “Rest. Resist. Repeat.” You can read her good words below.
This Sunday is Reconciling Ministries Network Sunday. We remember our affiliation with RMN years ago and acknowledge there is more work to be done for full inclusion. In this political climate, we value giving voice to underrepresented persons and the service is designed and planned by our Queer Council.
Below you’ll also find a link to the RMN website for the denomination with a message about what we’re experiencing in 2025 so far. There’s also a link to the letter from our Council of Bishops to the president regarding foreign assistance for humanitarian relief. You’ll also see a couple of old photos I found from the early days of the pandemic when my sister Deanna and daughter Clare created some sidewalk art with chalk. I particularly like these two messages “More Love, Less Fear” and “We are in the same boat.”
What a joy to be your pastor!
Teresa
