News from St. Matt's on a rainy Friday
Dear friends and members,
I hope this note finds you well on this rainy Friday afternoon. Last week in the sermon, I called this pandemic time a "strange and unwelcome season". A few people have commented on that this week, on how fitting it feels. In the midst of that season, it's also been a particularly difficult few weeks for this congregation and for our larger community. All of you have been in my prayers. I have a few important things to share with you today, but first and foremost is a reminder that there is help.
If you need help or support of any kind, please be in touch. One of the clear messages of this season is how important our mental health is. We live in a world that prioritizes other kinds of health - but it's becoming increasingly clear that our mental health is what will carry each one of us through this time. If you need help finding a therapist, if you need financial support in order to access mental health services, or if there's anything else you or someone in your family needs, please be in touch. Anything we discuss will be confidential and I have the ability to use discretionary funds to help confidentially as well. World Mental Health Day was just a few days ago - and now is a great time to start something good. Let's start something good together, even in the midst of this very difficult season.
The second piece to share with you today is a reminder that we will not worship in the usual way on Sunday. We will join with the whole Episcopal Church in Connecticut, worshipping together at the end of our Annual Diocesan Convention. Worship is at 10:00am and you can access it here. We will also post this link on social media and in our Parishioner Facebook group. After worship, we'll gather in a Zoom room at 11:30am for a chance to connect together. You can read about what else is going on at Convention here. Your Convention delegates this year are Pam Ely and Sharon Pearson, so bring any questions you might have for them!
The last piece I want to share with you today is an invitation to continue to support the Lucas family. One tangible way to do that is to sign up here to deliver dinner for them. They are so grateful for the support they've received from us and from others in town. Allergies are listed on the page. If you have any questions, please be in touch. Please help as we continue to show them our love and support. Thank you for this and for all the ways you support each other and our surrounding community.
Please take a look at the information below about our first Digital Concert, new programs, new ways to be connected, and all the good things that are happening at St. Matt's.
As Christians, we are a hopeful people - we are resurrection people. We believe - and we can see the proof in generations past - that every difficult season ends. God comes to us in every painful moment. And even death never has the last word, because God always fulfills a promise of life. So continue to learn with us in this difficult season, knowing that it will end and we will be stronger when it does. Continue to share with me the painful moments, and we will wait for God together. And remember that there is nothing stronger than God's love which promises each one of us life abundant. May the rain and the fallen leaves remind you of God's promise of new life and growth, which often comes after a difficult season, and yet...always comes.
Faithfully,
--Marissa +
Tags: Welcome from the Rector