Dear Church Family,

The theme of last week’s update was Generosity, and we are excited to continue that conversation. Scott Palmer will be hosting a zoom meeting this Friday night at 8:00 pm so that we can dream together about a generous response to this moment individually and collectively. (Link to the meeting here).

Hope to see you there!

The other invitation of our social distancing moment is to our Practices. I (Steve) know for me that in times of crisis and upheaval these can be the first things to go. It’s been difficult to engage with our practices when all my life rhythms are in upheaval.

On the other hand, these moments can be a gift in that we are forced to reimagine life and create new rhythms. Which means we can, in a way, be even more intentional about engaging in the Practices.

I’d like to offer three simple encouragements to help us lean into the practices during this unprecedented moment.

1. Sabbath: Every day feels the same right now. What can you do to make one day feel a little bit different than the rest? Even changing one normal pattern can make the day “set apart” from the rest.
2. Fasting: Join me in giving up one meal in the coming week and setting that time aside to pray. (This could be the pattern change for your sabbath!)
3. Solitude: Find five minutes each day to be alone, to take a deep breath, and to commune with God. 

Don’t try to do everything, even engaging one practice during this time could be extremely restorative!

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. Psalm 23:1-2

In Christ,
GR, Scott, Steve and Yuan