2ND HALF STAYS

2ND HALF STAYS CONNECTED

by E.T. and Sally Manning

Thank goodness for Zoom! When we went virtual at the Fig, we were able to attend even Sunday Services in our pajamas and with our coffee cups! Thanks to a dedicated group of volunteers recruited by Mother Rebecca, we were able to virtually attend Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, and Compline services every day.

And our Formation Offerings have flourished. There have been separate and distinct offerings, so we didn’t have the conflict of deciding which we would attend. We had classes offered at different times, on different days and on different topics so we were able to attend them all. It worked out great!

Perhaps one of the best results of meeting virtually is that we’ve changed the day and time for our “Second Half” group meetings.

For those who don’t know, Second Half was the result of conversations between our Pastoral Assistant, Nancy DeStefano and a small group of parishioners led by Stephen and Karen Kahl who felt that we needed a class geared toward those more mature members of the Fig who were entering their “Second Half” of life. The group began to meet in the parlor, with up to twenty members meeting during the Formation hour. We met for over a year. Then COVID hit.

Pastor Nancy immediately moved Second Half meetings to a virtual format that now meets each Wednesday afternoon at 3:30 which Nancy dubbed “Tea Time.” Our meetings have drawn together more than 50 people who have registered for the group, and attendance fluctuates between 10-20 and up to 30 members each week. Everyone has an opportunity to share. Our meeting topics have included a little of everything:

• Legal and death issues we’ll all face • Books on aging and related medical issues • Prayer requests for ourselves, our families and our friends • Sharing where to get vaccinations when they first became available last year when everyone was scrambling to get a shot and where to get boosters • Speakers, including our priests, both active and retired, and many of our staff sharing their lives and what led them to their vocations • A speaker from Suicide Prevention • Talking about favorites books, movies, and restaurants • Exploring our individual experiences and life-histories

One of the blessings of meeting virtually has been that we have found a way to become better acquainted with each other, particularly with new members who found us virtually before ever stepping foot into the Fig. And during the difficulties of COVID, campaigns and elections, and the turmoil of events beyond our control, we have found a place where we experience calm and laughter. We have made true friendships through the weekly virtual “face-to-face” meetings as we continue to share deeply with each other.

The Second Half group epitomizes that YOU BELONG HERE! 15