An Update from Mission Team Chair Lindsay Wyman
I think it’s easy sometimes these days to feel the weight of everything. Because, let’s be honest, there is a LOT. A global pandemic, COVID deaths rising by the day, systemic racism continuing to plague our great country, the boredom of being inside – still, the aching fatigue of not seeing our loved ones. Coupled with having watched everything on Netflix already (literally, everything), major Zoom fatigue to the point where we don’t even want to do it for the fun stuff, and fear. Good old-fashioned fear – what’s to come, how bad will it continue to get, and dare we even HOPE for good in 2021? Can we even let ourselves hope in these darkest of December days?
The short answer is yes. Yes, we can. It’s not easy, and it doesn’t come quickly, but we can. Running our Mission Team and Mission Projects the last 9 months has been challenging to say the least. There are the obvious logistical challenges, but then there are the less obvious challenges – how do we keep up with the promises we’ve made and God’s mission for our hearts when we are experiencing so much personal suffering and loss? Death, job loss, financial insecurity, isolation, illness, fear…it all seems very overwhelming at times. But like in all times of struggle, God asks us to keep going. One foot in front of the other, day by day. He brings the sun up every morning for us, hasn’t forgotten once yet. I will always be grateful for that.
So, in this season of perpetual hope amidst a season of fear and anguish, we set out to do some fairly Herculean tasks as the Mission Team. We gathered thousands of dollars in gift cards for Thanksgiving dinners for our brothers and sisters in Bridgeport, and then reimagined the Giving Tree in a series of bins (where, oh where would we be without the trusty dropoff/pickup bins that have served us so well through this pandemic!) We collected toys, games, blankets, hats, stuffed animals, coloring books, art supplies, and extremely generous gift cards to every place imaginable. Wilton Social Services, Circle of Care, and Open Doors were all overjoyed and extremely touched by our St. Matt’s generosity during this difficult time. As we are seeing everywhere, they are seeing a greater need than ever before, and our support means the world to them and the clients they serve.
There is, indeed, hope in the unseen. There is magic to be found, there is grace in the midst of madness, and there is love, all around us. And even in the midst of these darkest of days, we at St. Matt’s are the light that we need to make it through the rest of this struggle. We can see the end, it is within our grasp, and won’t it be sweet when we can all revel in it together.
Thank you all for your generosity to the Mission projects over this past year, looking forward to carrying each other through this work into 2021!
Tags: Mission / Life Together