It’s all good and all of God

  

“Alleluia. Christ is risen.”
“The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia”

Thus began our Easter Day service by Zoom—different from any service St. James’ Parish has ever held before! It did not feel diminished, though; on the contrary, it was glorious!

My husband Bill and I were talking about the service afterwards. He had not attended church for the last couple of months because of medical issues. He also had really low expectations for attending a service online, but he said that it really was moving and so good to see all those smiling faces and to see John+ celebrating and preaching in the church again. Ok, John+ wasn’t really in the church (no WiFi), but with Zoom technology it sure looked like he was!

There was something very special about this Easter service for me also. After a month of time apart and the changing stay-at-home rules, we came together making the best of our situation with joy! We say a lot that St. James’ Parish is like a large family, and it really was. The Zoom windows gave such an intimate ability to have eye contact and see everyone comfortable in their casual clothes sitting in various rooms of their own homes. Zoom windows connected by video ranged from individuals to whole families; windows of those connected by audio appeared black, but had voices rising out of them! And sometimes our dogs and cats came to church (in silence or not)! It was all good and all of God.

It was wonderful to be back together again! This was such a gift to me after having no choice but to experience a slowed-down and reflective Lent. I don’t know when we’ll be able to physically be together again, but I know that God is present in it all! The reminder that I take away from a Zoom service is the same as when we are in our physical building, “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.” Right now that may involve making special efforts to connect with our neighbors in new and different ways until that day when we can all physically be together again.

Marjie Mack

Coming Into The Out

    

Last week I decided I needed to get out of the house and enjoy the beautiful day that our God created for us. I don't live very far from St. James', so I went to walk on the labyrinth. I was really afraid that the labyrinth was going to be crowded and in these times of "social distancing" I would have to sit in my car and wait for people to finish their labyrinth journey. I arrived in the late afternoon, and maybe because of the time of day, to my surprise, the labyrinth was empty.

To begin my journey, I used one of my Anglican Rosaries that I had received as palanca during a Cursillo weekend. I entered the labyrinth meditating on the Lord's Prayer. I don't remember how many times I repeated the prayer while using the rosary as a guide, but either by serendipity or dumb luck, I finished my last prayer at the middle of the of the labyrinth.

Placing the rosary in the center of the labyrinth, I paused to receive God's grace. I could see the beautiful cherry trees that were in full bloom and the lovely spruce and pine trees around the St. James' property. With a calm mind, I exited the labyrinth in silence. I know that we cannot enter the Sanctuary, but God's Sanctuary is all around us. In the words of the movie Home's alien character Boov we "can come into the out" and experience God's splendor without fear.

I eventually walked around the grounds, past the barn and over to the roughhewed cross on the hill. I wandered over to the Rector's Garden and even looked at the graves. I even had the pleasure to talk with our own Reverend Patti Sachs+ who, with her dog Diego, had just finished walking up and down the hills at the lower part of the extended cemetery. While maintaining social distancing, Patti+, Diego and I marveled at the beauty of the St. James' property.

There are many things that people love about St. James', maybe it's the historic building or the people that make up the church, but I do love the grounds and now I have a better appreciation for those who painstakingly maintain the grounds!

God's peace, Brenda Boucher