Dear All,
It’s hard to believe that this Sunday is our last Sunday in the Sanctuary for worship until September. Next Sunday, June 7th, we are at Frances Moore Park for our worship and lunch. On June 14th, we will begin our summer worship in the Merrifield Room, while the children that day will have chapel with me in the Sanctuary. This is a good chance for them to learn a bit more about what I do at the altar and how to behave and participate in it. Something adults also need to know, which I will cover in my class on the Sacraments during Advent, 2026.
At this time in the church year, we usually wind things down as folks go on vacation, or “up north,” or sleep in, or plan for an early tee time. If you are in town, it would be good to see you on Sunday morning. I always wonder what God thinks during the great summer exodus. Do we forget God in the summer unless we have a crisis? Does God need to rest and rejuvenate as we do? Mental health is something we need to tend to, as we have a tendency to burn ourselves out. I guess the question really is, does God take a vacation? And if so, what happens to us during that time? Something to ponder.
There are a number of ways to stay connected to God while on vacation. Of course, you should continue your prayer time. You could attend Sunday worship – whether at St. Paul’s or a local church, wherever you might be. How about maintaining a journal? Did you know that writing to God in a journal is a form of prayer? Or, when you are hiking outside, give thanks to God for the beauty of the creation?
The world will not stop turning while we take our summer breaks. Unfortunately, wars will continue, gun shootings and other forms of violence may escalate in the heat of the day; national disasters – wildfires and tornadoes will continue to upset the natural rhythm of life, and we will need to stay strong in our faith and prayer life. God always encourages us to pray – to stay connected to the divine.
Last, Trinity Sunday is always the Sunday when the clergy like to find someone else to preach. The Trinity is a difficult doctrine to explain – it is literally not possible. But what I can say is God, Son, and Holy Spirit have been around since the beginning and will always be here. For now, we have the Spirit to keep us going, so try adding a prayer or two to the Holy Spirit. It will feel strange, I guarantee, but it is a good thing to do.
See you on Sunday!
Karen+