I am writing this after we had just celebrated Ash Wednesday together, and it was such a gift to see so many of you in person again.  I am grateful for our 50 person limit in worship, and grateful that we were able to find ways that limited exposure while also remaining in our tradition of ashes and Eucharist.  Keep making those reservations each time, or Zooming with us, and we will get through this together.  I suspect that for Holy Week and Easter this year, we will have our hybrid approach where we have a limited number of in-person worshipers along with the Zoom and live stream.  For Easter Sunday, I hope to have several services with the maximum number of worshipers allowed so that everyone who desires it can come and take communion (the little cups with bread and wine).  

                This week, following worship, I invite you to stay on the Zoom call (same link as worship) and help us celebrate Mother Lisa’s time with us, and to send her off well to her next call. A purse is being collected, as is our tradition as clergy transition away, and you can contribute online (Select “other” fund and type in the memo that it is for Lisa) or by check with the memo line also stating for Lisa.  

                I also hope your Lent is off to a good start- whether you are fasting/giving something up, or whether you have taken on something that restores your soul, may this time recenter us on all of the things that are truly important.  Jesus said the greatest law is, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:37) How is your Lenten journey bringing you back to the way of Jesus? 

Blessings to you all, and I will see you in church/online!

Jesse+