Greetings Church Family,
It was wonderful to be in the sanctuary with many of you on Christmas Eve. I loved seeing your faces; singing with you; and seeing the light from our candles spread across the sanctuary. Deep thanks to everyone who helped, including our readers, all the musicians, the greeters, worship associates, our youth who ran tech, and those who made the joyous reception in the social hall possible. I really hope your holidays have been good ones, and that this new year will bring you and yours many blessings.
To all that is chaotic in you, let there come silence. These are the words of Jan Richardson and comes from a piece she calls, “Blessing in the Chaos.” As much as December offers the invitation of quieting down with its shorter days and theological call towards contemplation, our secular world asks a lot of us during the holidays, doesn’t it? Between travel and hosting; socializing with family and friends; gift-planning and crowded stores; traffic jams and somewhat crispy companions in the world; the joys and sorrows; the delights and disappointments–many of us find ourselves needing some rest and recalibration. To be honest, I have felt a bit out of whack myself these past few days. To all that is chaotic in you, let there come silence. For me, this means making time for my spirit to catch up. In all the wonderful ways that you cultivate peace and silence for yourselves, I hope you will do the same.
This month’s timely theme is Finding Our Center, and I hope you will come to church and do just this alongside us, your spiritual companions. Beautiful things are happening here at First Parish. We are imagining what the future of lifespan religious education will look like; learning about shared ministry and leadership as spiritual practice; engaging in rich conversations about owning our history; celebrating the 20+ newcomers we have in our midst; readying ourselves for Chalice Circles so that we might nurture relationships and engage with life’s important themes; and so much more. None of this, of course, is possible without you. Each of you arrive with a gift to bear out, and, we hope, leave this place with a blessing in hand. I hope you will tell us what your soul needs, and, maybe, what you would like to share with us! We really are stronger with you.
Take good care of yourselves and one another. Thank you for all the good you bring to the world. I am honored to serve as your minister, and so grateful for the connections we share.
Love and blessings,
Rev. Sophia