May!

Dear friends and members of St. Matt's,

I can't believe it's May already! Can you? These next few weeks are very busy here at St. Matt's and I know that they're incredibly busy for some of you as well. I hope you'll be here as much as you can in the weeks ahead and that you'll participate in the many celebrations that are ahead of us. We'll celebrate our Confirmands and our Seniors. This week our former intern, Meg Stapleton Smith, will be here to preach and to spend time with you. Next week, the Rev. Canon Nicholas Porter will be here to preach and to lead a forum after church (May 22) about his work with Jerusalem Peacebuilders. We'll also have a Parish Picnic on June 12th. We'll mark the date of Juneteenth together in worship. And a whole host of other exciting things. We have so much ahead of us in the next seven weeks.

This week, I've had a few conversations with folks who are feeling stretched thin, stressed, and overwhelmed by the busy-ness of this season. I know that many of you feel that way. In many ways, I share the feeling that there just aren't enough hours in the day and there's always more to do. And so, I've been giving some thought to how to claim a little bit of time each day for me and for God. Even if it's just a few minutes at the beginning and the end. For me, what's helpful is quiet - a few moments of quiet breath, of silence, of peace. To clear my mind, to intentionally silence the noise of the world, the conflicts of the world, and to choose to wait in that silence for God. In the midst of the truly hard and busy days, this practice of quiet for a little bit at the beginning and the end helps connect me back to God and centers me for the day and the night - letting me work better during the day - and sleep better at night.

I wonder for you what the simple, easy, even short practices are that might ground you? What could you do for just a few minutes a day that would grant you a little more peace? A little more certainty? Maybe the silence isn't your thing - but I suspect that there is something that brings you comfort, that reminds you of who you are, and that hopefully reminds you that you are beloved of God and other people - and I wonder if there aren't a few concrete ways you can work that into your day or your week so that you feel more settled in the midst of this world that is ever changing. As always, if I can be a conversation partner or a companion, I'd be glad to.

Please take a look through our newsletter this week and mark your calendar. We're looking forward to seeing you, celebrating with you, and sharing in this season together. God loves you. And so do I.

Faithfully,

--Marissa +