Dear Friends,
I read an article in The Atlantic last week about the family of Bobby McIlvaine, a young man from New Jersey who was killed at the World Trade Center during the September 11th terrorist attacks. The young man was a writer and kept journals throughout his short life. His family clung to these journals, hoping they could find bits and pieces of his personality that seemed forever lost. Though they couldn’t remember where they read it, they were sure that one of his journals contained the playful phrase life loves on. It became a mantra for the family, marching orders for how to move forward.
It feels like we have been holding on but not moving forward for a while now, doesn’t it? Like a child playing in the ocean, every time we come up for air there is another wave that comes crashing down on us. Every time we feel like we are finally standing on some solid ground, the earth beneath us starts moving again.
Just this week alone, communities have been knocked down by the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, increased violence in marginalized neighborhoods, terrifying effects of global warming, natural disasters in already struggling parts of the world, and this brutal end to decades of military action in Afghanistan.
For me, all of these things have heightened my sense that the stability we long for—the chance to come up for air—is only wishful thinking. Lutheran pastor and teacher Nadia Bolz-Weber wrote this week that the the human condition just isn’t able to take in and process the tragedies around the world that inundate us in our hyper connected world. It’s all too much, she writes.
This too much-ness feels even more overwhelming when it is joined by the sharp ache of personal loss. The death of our friend Susan is incredibly difficult. As a community, we will be carrying this grief for a while. We are invited this Friday afternoon and evening to support Susan’s family in their grief by joining them at the visitation and memorial service. Information about the service is listed below in the Prayers of the Community.
And then on Sunday, we will gather again in the sanctuary for worship.
I am not sure what our Sunday worship will look like just yet, but I hope that during our time together we’ll remember that resurrection lies at the heart of our tradition. We’ll remember that Jesus’ followers experienced him as deeply alive even after they watched him be executed. We’ll remember that those who loved him began to experience his love, his presence, in the work that they did together and in the meals and celebrations they shared with one another.
They discovered that life loves on.
As a community, we’ll remember these stories and we’ll pause and take a full and cleansing breath. For a moment, hopefully, we’ll feel the steady goodness of the earth beneath us as we move forward with our shared work and our shared call.
Grace and peace,
Rob
Join Us for Worship on Sunday, August 22nd
Everyone is invited to join us for in-person for worship on Sunday, August 22nd, at 10:00 am as we reflect together on what it means to live in God’s house. Music will be led by CCW Music Director Winifred Brown. Our guest musician this week in jazz pianist Jordan Baskin. Pastoral Intern Anna Piela will be our worship leader. After worship, cookies and lemonade will be served on the CCW lawn.
As a community rooted in Christian tradition, we will be celebrating communion on Sunday. Everyone is also encourage to bring non-perishable food items to be donated to the New Trier Food Pantry.
Also, this week’s loose offering will go towards the Deacons Fund.
While breakthrough Covid-19 cases continue to rise, we are requesting that everyone wears masks during worship.
Prayers of the Community
Please keep the following individuals and families in your thoughts and prayer this week.
Brian Fischer, Stephen Fischer, and their families as they grieve the loss of their mother Susan Fischer, an active member of our community. The Fischer family will be hosting a visitation and short memorial service for Susan on Friday, August 20th at Donnellan Family Funeral Services at 10045 Skokie Blvd in Skokie. The visitation will begin at 4:00 pm and will conclude with a memorial service beginning at 6:00 pm.
Alistair and Leslie Henderson as they continue to grieve the loss of Alistair’s father.
If you have a prayer concern that you would like included in the Prayers of the Community, please email me at rrawls@ccwilmette.org.