Easter 2020 Celebrate the Possible with God in Easter How can we lean into Jesus in times of uncertainty?
Table of Contents
2
03
GRACE AND COVID-19, PART II
04
WHILE WE WAIT ...
Fr. Robert shares further thoughts on grace in this time of heightened anxiety.
How can we walk with Jesus during this time of self-isolation? Can we even??
05
BE STILL ...
06
SCHOOL AT THIS TIME
07
THIS TOO WILL PASS ...
08
HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE
A reminder to remember God in the midst of our anxiety and practices to help in being still.
Sandy Skorput reflects on the changes that have come to Good Shepherd School.
In this time of uncertainty, Matt Harbison encourages us to be still and watch for God in the quiet confininement of this moment.
Holy Week at Good Shepherd - now online!
10
EASTER AT HOME IDEAS
11
YOUTH NEWS & DATES TO SAVE
Some resources for celebrating Easter at home this year.
Youth programs during Lent and spring and summer information for Grace Point Camp.
On the cover & above: Life online for Good Shepherd’s staff members - weekly online staff meetings.
Grace and COVID-19, Part II or “No Man is an Island” Most of us have heard the phrase, “No man is an island,” but I suspect few of us know where it came from. The poet and Anglican priest, John Donne, who died March 31, 1631, used that phrase in Meditation 17 of “Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions, Several Steps in my Sickness,” published in January of 1624. Donne had been critically ill in December of 1623 suffering from either a relapsing fever or typhus. Many were sick and dying in London at the time from similar aliments. With each death during this period, there would be a tolling of the bells from the local parish church. As he lay in bed wondering whether he would live or die, Donne heard the bells tolling and had an epiphany. The tolling of the bells for the one who had just died were really tolling for him and all of us. In this meditation, he said, “never send for whom the bells toll, it tolls for me.” Though he was certainly concerned and worried about his own health and wellbeing, Donne became acutely aware of the interconnectedness he and all of us have with each other. Each of us is diminished by the death of another. We are involved in humanity. This time of COVID-19, social distancing and stay at home/shelter in place, is not unlike the time John Donne and the people of London experienced nearly 400 years ago. We are isolated, worried, anxious and fearful about our health, well-being and future. And we should be. Yet, John Donne has much to say to us in these uncertain times. We are ALL part of humanity. This virus reminds us that though we may differ in race, creed, nationality, political beliefs, sexual
Robert Childers, Rector
identity, and many other ways-we are all vulnerable and susceptible to COVID-19. We are all flesh and blood, all made in the image of God, all precious in the sight of God. Donne said “[anyone’s] death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind…” If the death of another somehow diminishes us, then our reaching out to, and caring for, each other must enhance, build up and strengthen us. One of the gifts and grace—if I can call it that—of this COVID-19 pandemic is that it has made us aware of the truth that we all matter, that we all have value. Realizing that we are interconnected to each other in this crisis, what can we do for each other? Few of us are doctors, first responders, or health care providers. Fewer still are providers of “essential” services. Nevertheless, we can do something. Be a friend. Reach out to another who might be alone or isolated. Mend a broken relationship. Reconnect to old friends. Above all remember to pray—for those who are sick and for their families, for those in the healing and health care profession, for our leaders, for the many in the world who were struggling to live before this crisis and now find themselves in a more dire situation. Trust and believe that our prayers not only matter, but are the very fabric wherein our Holy God uses us as an aid and partner to hold this world together. Always remember, we are in this together, & we are the church—the body of Christ. Grace and peace, Robert To read Part I of this reflection, click here.
3
While we wait ...
Janice Robbins, Deacon It’s 1953, the city of Chicago is expecting the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize winner. The reporters and city officials hover near the train platform anticipating his arrival. The train rolls into the station and a giant of a man - six feet four inches with bushy hair and a large mustache - steps from the train. The crowd lurches forward with cameras flashing. The man politely thanks them for their welcome and then, looking over their heads, excuses himself for a moment. He quickly walks to the side of an elderly woman who is struggling with two large suitcases. He picks up the bags and with a smile, escorts the woman to a bus, wishes her a safe journey, and returns to the welcome party. He apologizes, “Sorry to have kept you waiting.” The man is Dr. Albert Schweitzer, the famous missionary doctor who has spent his life helping the poor in Africa. In response to Schweitzer’s action, one bystander remarks, “That’s the first time I ever saw a sermon walking.” In recent days, we have been waiting... waiting for statistics to change, waiting for limitations on movement to be lifted, waiting for sunlight in the midst of rain, waiting for good news, and waiting for THE Good News...AND most of all, waiting for the resurrection of Jesus!. In our isolation, one minute begins to look like the next...how do we look outward when we are so caught up in what’s happening directly in front of us? But there’s the rub... the world (our community/state/nation) is also “in front of us.” To be a Christian we must love Jesus which in turn means we must look beyond ourselves. 4
The stone is rolled away from Jesus’ tomb
We must offer our talents, be generous with our gifts, pray with and for one another. In the coming Easter Season, we are called to find ways to look past our immediate selves – to reach out to others: to help the hungry, the sick, those who are alone, those whose new normal was barely imaginable two months ago. We are called to use our imagination and our brain to help. In other words… to look across the crowds to see the people Jesus loves; to see both the need and ways to help - to help carry the suitcases of our neighbors – to be a walking sermon. If you would like to get involved with any of our outreach activities during this time of sheltering in place, or if you are looking for ideas on how to get involved, contact janice@gslookout.com.
Be Still ...
Kathleen Crevasse, Director of Christian Education So, I have been poring through resources, searching for and saving anything that might possibly offer support, respite, solace, or entertainment in this surreal time. I have ached to gather you all under my mother hen wings and draw you close and let you know it’s going to be okay. I’ve live-streamed Godly Play stories, tried to figure out the best way to be in touch (email, text, special social media accounts, apps I can’t figure out …). I’ve started calling and texting many of you to check in but worry about intruding on already chaotic days that you’re figuring out how to navigate. I’ve sent links to explore museums, zoos, and aquariums, suggested prayer rituals, reminded you when Godly Play and yoga classes are about to play. (For big time “doers” who find peace in activity, this is a wonderful and meaningful way to do Holy Week at home with objects found at home and easy prayers: https://rowsofsharon. com/2020/03/31/a-household-holy-week/amp/) But here’s what I’m doing for now. I am going to keep it simple. I am going to slow down and encourage you to as well. I am going to: 1. Pray for you and your kids daily. I have made a prayer wall. Some of you have shared photos of your kids for me to put on the wall. All your kids’ names (0-11) are on it. Still accepting photos. Also accepting specific prayer requests. I will light a candle for them in my daily morning prayer livestream on Facebook. 2. Encourage you to seek stillness. Even if it’s just brief moments. Be still and let yourself feel God’s presence. Imagine those mother hen wings enfolding you. Breathe. Slow down. We can’t do it all. We don’t even know what “it all” is these days. 3. Record Godly Play stories. They are part of how I live and move and have my being. I will make them available for the asking. I’ll continue to live-stream them on Wednesdays and Sundays, but I encourage you to let me know if you want to opt out of texts or emails about them. You should feel absolutely no pressure to watch them or arrange for your kids to do so. 4. Remind you to POUR a little love into each day: ‘P’ray – alone and as a family. ‘O’utside – get out there. Even if it’s raining. ‘U’ – ‘you’ time. Take it, even if you must retreat to the bathroom to do it; you need and deserve it. ‘R’each out, rest and remember. This is not the time to try to be supermoms and dads or aim for perfection. Give yourself a break – often. Ask for help if you need it. You have my phone number and you shouldn’t hesitate to use it. Re-member your family members to themselves. In this chaos we can lose track of who and whose we are. Remind them with stories and shared memories. (Figure out how you’ll keep track of this season of our lives.) Remind each other that you are beloved children of God. Go gently, friends. With yourself. With each other. Breathe deeply. Be still and know that God is God.
5
School at this time
Sandy Skorput, Director of Good Shepherd School On Friday, March 13th, the worst Friday the 13th I’ve ever experienced, Good Shepherd School closed, out of an abundance of caution, to help flatten the curve of COVID-19. While we hoped initially it would be for two weeks, we are now on our third and at this point are not sure when we will re-open. In the meantime, we have started our Summer Registration for currently enrolled students and members of the congregation. If you need an application, please email me at sandy@gslookout.com and I can send you one. We are having people either mail them in with their $35 Registration fee or place them in our mailbox on Franklin Rd. Please be sure they are in an envelope. Probably not surprising to any of you, we had to cancel the King of the Mountain Road Race. The race had been scheduled for May 9th, which was still inside the timeframe during which we could not have gatherings of more than 10 people. I’ve been asked if we plan to hold it later in the summer or possibly the early fall. At this point, I really don’t know. The truth is, I don’t know much of anything right now. I’m disappointed, mostly in myself, that is the best answer I can give you. But it is the most honest one and for now, that is the best I can do. The silence around Good Shepherd School these days is deafening. While the bedrock of our school is lifelong learning and daily affirmation of God’s love, the essence of this place and the people usually in it is joy! That’s what drew me here and that is by far what keeps me here. The love and the joy that I see, hear and experience every day is like no other. The feedback I’m getting since we closed are constant reminders of that. While understandably, a lot of it is laced with anxiety, it is all part of this hiatus we are on. I know we will get through this together, while separated. We will continue to use our amazing creativity and our technology to meet and hang and interact with each other. Teachers will continue to send activities to help keep the children engaged and entertained. Hopefully, we will continue to receive pictures and videos of them to post on our Facebook page. And for now, that may just be the best we can do. I can tell you that the staff is healthy and very ready to return to work. And from what I’ve heard, I think it is also true of all the children and their parents! We miss each other and all our students and cannot wait to be reunited at Good Shepherd School. For now, please know we are thinking of you, praying for you and holding you all in the light until we return. Happy Spring!!
6
This too will pass ...
Matt Harbison, Director of Youth Ministry Greetings all... As I prepared for Lent in January, my mind was filled with millions of little things... What curriculum would we follow? What special events would we have? But, never in a million years would I have thought, “Hey, I bet we’ll all be practicing social distancing and quarantine procedures come Easter!” Well, here we are. It’s definitely been a shock to my system. I find my mind wanders to places of, “What would I be doing if...?” all in vain because, of course, we are here. We are truly in the wilderness- a never-imagined, never-dreamt-of scenario where we must be patient and still. We must wait. I think I’ve become vulnerable to waiting over the years. We live in such a fast-paced world. I generally don’t have to wait. I usually schedule every 15 minutes of my day. Confession time: I often manage to go through my day oblivious to anything outside of my goal. I guess in a world where I think, “Don’t just sit there; do something,” I’m having to now remind myself to NOT DO something and actually sit here, pray and listen. Sure, I stopped before to read and pray. However, now, it feels like it was squeezed into a mold. I find myself remembering something I’m sure I knew... or know... or did know. I’m positive that I’ve learned that the best comes to those who wait. I’m sure I know that the best things are sought after for years. I know I’ve known that the words of my Creator mean the most when I’m at my end- in the midst of worry, out of willpower, patience, and strength. I know THAT is when I hear the God of the Universe the best. Class work. Work/team responsibilities. Prior commitments. Envisioned celebrations. Parties. All those things. They’ll be back eventually. But today, while we are still and while we wait in the wilderness, maybe we just listen. It’s as if we have all been running a giant race, and now we’ve taken a break. To borrow from the New Zealand Book of Common Prayer: “It is rest, after a long race... What has been done has been done; let it be.” I’m reminded of our bible study last week. Elijah was in the cave hiding, speaking and listening for God. God wasn’t in the noise. God wasn’t in the earthquakes. God was in the quiet, gentle breeze. So rest, students. Rest your minds. Quiet your worry. Sit, think, and be still. Immerse yourself in the wind or rain on a quiet afternoon. Remember what you already know- that this too will pass. And then think of a God greater than ourselves. Think of the return to normal because it is most assuredly coming. Don’t miss this time to experience the still. We’ll soon be back to the normal, and we will begin again to slowly forget how important it is to be still. Open our hearts and minds, Lord. Teach us something about You and something about ourselves. Amen.
7
8
For the interactable, online version of this information, click here
9
10
11
The Church of the Good Shepherd 211 Franklin Road Lookout Mountain, Tennessee 37350
Return Service Requested