“There’s a thread you follow. It goes among things that change. But it doesn’t change.”
It is curious that for 380 years, through massive changes in society and history, one thing that hasn’t changed at North Parish is that we gather on Sunday mornings to spend an hour or so in religious and spiritual community. In 1645 or 1775 or even 1895 or 1955 most folks didn’t work on the weekends, or bring their kids to sports events, go to the gym, watch Sunday morning tv, travel, visit far away family members, go skiing in NH, or visit second homes out of town. In the earliest days, you had to “go to Meeting” on Sunday mornings. How times have changed.
One thread that doesn’t change is our desire to care for one another. In practical terms, this happens most often through various small groups in the congregation. When people know one another, they naturally support each other when we all (inevitably) go through the ups and downs of life. When life throws us curveballs, folks who know us from various small groups tend to be the ones to visit, cook, call, listen attentively, arrange playdates, write notes, pick up groceries, light candles, and send out hopeful intentions or pray prayers for us.
For years, we’ve had a Caring Team to help support those who don’t yet belong to a small group or those in need of some extra crisis care. But, as in many areas of congregational life, the “volunteer capacity” doesn’t quite fit the congregational expectations or needs anymore. Some of the Caring Team’s ministries will continue under the umbrella of our “milestones ministries”- something that congregtions of all faiths do best. We not only conduct rites of passage but we pay attention to and celebrate each others’ milestones with rituals, candles, cards, gifts of prayer/meditation shawls or baby blankets. All this will continue, and of course I am also always here for you and happy to meet or visit. But for now, other Caring Team ministries are on hiatus as we figure out how to adapt to new realities.
This presents the question: Who is connected to some sort of small group and who is not? Usually, it is newcomers who have not “found their group” yet. Over the next three months, some of us will be reflecting on this and how we can better provide a spiritual safety net and practical crisis support for all who come to North Parish- including newcomers. The thread that doesn’t change is our desire to be there for one another when times are tough; what may change is how we ensure that happens. If you were a ‘newcomer’ once but found folks to accompany you through your life from a North Parish small group, if you made friends here who have supported you and if you would like to work with the staff team to help pay this forward to others, let me know.
Yours, in a time of browns, purples, white, and yellow,
Rev. Lee
To easily set up a meeting with Rev. Lee, click here: https://calendly.com/revlee-northparish