What? No RE classes? Where is the faith development happening that is the work you are hired to do?

I’ve been thinking a lot about exactly those questions over the past four weeks. A sudden shift in how I do my work has left me both excited and sometimes at sea. My colleagues’ work ranges from planning and hosting virtual RE classes and sending home packets of religious education materials for families, to putting up resources for families to access as they want and focusing on pastoral care. I’m falling more in line with the latter at this point. As this drags on that may change…

Everyone has a different ability to deal with what is happening in our world right now. I have so much empathy for the homes where parents are trying to juggle work and school from home and everything else, or they have little ones and would just like a moment of quiet. I also recognize we have people living alone, some doing okay and some feeling isolated. You are missing each other.

I’m struggling, too. I miss you, too. I miss greeting the children and youth when they arrive on Sunday morning. Setting all the supplies out for the awesome teaching teams. Talking with adults about the week. I miss the normalcy of scheduling and planning for the future (this has been particularly difficult for me in this crisis). I miss theological discussions with Rev. Joanna and the aha moments that lead to new curriculum ideas. I struggle with what faith development looks like in this time of online meetings and worship. Would a meditation time help? An online class? What more can I do? And then I strive to set that aside, because it is enough to ‘be’ in this moment. There is learning in the being.

And, we are still doing faith development — all of us. When we gather for a check-in and listen to each other, we are flexing our compassion and connection muscles. Those who are stepping up to lead a discussion or host a party or coffee hour are strengthening connections and developing their own leadership skills. Some of you are offering space on Facebook to rant, share triumphs, and help each other through struggles — that’s pastoral care. We are learning together how to care for each other and ask for what we need. Keep it up!

We will get back together again and who knows what faith development will look like then. Maybe a big party to kick it all off! Until then, stay home, stay safe, you are loved.

Carrie