Dear All: I hope you are reasonably well in these strange and unexpected times.
Perhaps you had a chance to pray with us yesterday. Fr. Dean posted a simple service on line. The site can be a little hard to track down: https://deanmercer8.wixsite.com/stpl/sermons.
Whether we want to or not, all of us are experiencing some aspects of sabbath these days. We probably have more time on our hands, perhaps are trying to think of things to do. We are not supposed to travel or to go to places where we’d mingle with other people. There are many downsides to be sure and a lot of us are worried about our jobs or futures or income or loved ones. But we can also revisit sabbath. Strangely, while many church people in recent decades stopped taking sabbath seriously, others in our culture – even those who are not religious – began to realize that we need sabbath and are advocating regular breaks from technology for example. Sabbath is a time when we set aside work and worry, set aside trying to achieve and trying to control. Sabbath is a time for us to relax into the conviction that God is finally in charge; that is why Christians traditionally worship and pray on that day. Think about how you can build some sabbath sensitivity into how you experience this enforced hiatus.
And, finally, my favorite nurse practitioner is on the front line, working with frail elderly people, and tells me that this week will be key in seeing whether Canada manages to level the surge of infections. She regularly reminds impractical me of these practical priorities: wash your hands at least ten times a day; don’t touch your face; stay six feet away from anyone with a cough or any tiny sniffle.
Pax,
Fr. Arthur+