Coming back from the pandemic

It has been quite a busy time, trying to come back from the Covid-19 pandemic. I realize that it’s not over, but we are approaching a “new normal”. I’m proud of what First Church Unitarian has been able to accomplish, offering most things in multiplatform or “hybrid” mode. But everything has changed; not just for FCU, but for everyone. Time just keeps marching along too, of course. (Whatever “time” is.) It’s a good time to be nimble and prepared to try new things. We are doing our best. I do enjoy the challenge, mostly. But I still miss some things about pre-pandemic times. I still feel like fewer events happen in-person now, and I miss many of the gatherings. No denying that there are benefits, including more online options and less driving and less pollution. I try to keep an open mind.

Fun outdoors and in-person!

One of the biggest treats in this year of Covid-19 has been occasional outdoor, in-person events with some of the church’s kids (from our Religious Education “RE” Program). It’s just simple joy to be outside with other people, having fun. Our RE Program has been led by volunteers this year (following the retirement of our Director of Religious Education or “DRE”), and they’ve done an incredible job.

After the RE lesson, we all walked from the church over to Fay Park and played a few games. One of them was “Strike a Pose”, or “Freeze Frame”. Here’s one picture from when I joined in with the kids.

Rev. Lara Hoke with some of the RE kids, freezing a pose at the sound of the bell.

Later on, we played a spontaneous game of “monkey in the middle”. The kids loved it when I was the monkey.

I can’t thank our RE Committee enough for the leadership and creativity they’ve shown this year!

Remembering those lost to COVID-19

To set the tone for the inauguration tomorrow, President-elect Biden led a memorial to remember and honor lives lost to COVID-19. He asked for churches to turn on their lights and ring their bells on Tuesday, January 19 at 5:30 p.m.

First Church Unitarian participated. You can watch the video above (just click on the arrow in the image). Sexton Henry Whitcomb, Jr. rang the bells (16:06). After the bells rang, I said the names of loved ones (18:17) that members and friends of FCU have lost to COVID-19 : Bud Hunt * Fernando Torres * Jean Champagne * David Friedman * Gail Whittle * Barbara Fleming * Meredith Price * Peter Overby * Yolanda Bartlett * Barbara Anthony * Reed Anthony * I then concluded with a prayer.

Loss in 2020

To say that 2020 has been a difficult year filled with loss is an understatement. Today I’m a little extra sad because today is the birth anniversary of Tom, a member of the church I serve and our office administrator. We lost Tom in early March 2020, just before the pandemic turned everything upside down. (He did not have Covid-19.) The timing was such that we haven’t been able to have a full memorial service for Tom yet. I know many other people have experienced something similar with the inability to have a typical memorial service or funeral this year. We were lucky that the timing with Tom was such that we were able to visit him in the hospital until the day he died, and that was a blessing.

I recently looked at a list of lost “notables” in 2020. We definitely lost some inspiring people this past year, including some of my personal heroes (like Bill Withers and Little Richard). But probably the loss of a “notable” that hit me (and many others) the hardest this year was the loss of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. It was so devastating, with a lasting and difficult consequence. We at First Church Unitarian in Littleton had an online vigil for her, and somehow our humble vigil was mentioned in a Boston Globe article which you can read here (“Ruth Bader Ginsburg remembered at candlelit vigils around the region“).

Tom in red sweater, in his office at FCU. I’m seated at his desk, surrounded by him and other GALA brothers from the congregation. This was just a couple of months before he died.

Neither Tom nor RBG died from Covid-19, though more than 285,000 Americans have died from the disease so far. I pray that 2021 comes with less loss.

Long time, no post

I can hardly believe how long it has been since I have posted here. It’s ridiculous, really. Yes, I’ve been busy… but I should have prioritized this more. I will try to do better.

Left to right: daughter Deva, doggie Digory, wife Emily, and I.

I don’t think I can begin to summarize everything that has been going on in the past year-and-a-half. I continue to love my ministry with First Church Unitarian in Littleton and feel very blessed.

Shortly after my last post, my wife and I (and our adult daughter — and our adorable terrier) moved around the block in downtown Lowell into our condo. I really enjoy living here still, too, so again… I feel lucky and blessed.

Like everybody else, my life has been strange since March 2020. Covid-19 has changed everything. I have been busy becoming a minor Zoom expert and YouTube expert. (I use “expert” lightly.) I’ve become a very amateurish maker of videos. None of this was stuff I learned in seminary, of course. Luckily, I mostly enjoy computers and learning new things, so it hasn’t been all bad. But I so miss my congregants… my family of origin… my friends. Big sigh. (If you want to see any of our online worship, gathering videos, and more, go to our YouTube channel.)

There are silver linings to the pandemic life. It’s great to see my wife and daughter and dog more. I’ve had time to play my guitar and bass more (though I really miss playing with my band). I’ve had time to work on new spiritual practices, and I’m beginning to do more mindfulness meditation. I want to find a way to share this with my congregation, perhaps over Zoom.

So that’s a start at catching up. I will try to post a few times a week here, to stay in the habit.

How is this pandemic treating you?