Five years ago, the Church was just entering into another season of Lent. But there were other things going on around us. News reports about a virus causing concentrated outbreaks of a mysterious illness were on the rise. It was the beginning of what we now colloquially call “COVID” for short: the global (SARS-coV-2) pandemic that has officially claimed more than 7 million lives around the world and impacted countless more with lasting health challenges from a prior infection.

This week, I’m in Kansas City at the Episcopal Parish Network conference, reconnecting with colleagues and learning about ministry with marginalized communities, adaptive leadership, and capital fundraising. Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe is here, sharing his vision for transformation in The Episcopal Church. And, as always, the backdrop to our conversations is the immense upheaval and uncertainty in our country and beyond.

The profound statement from Ephesians 2:19-22 emphasizes the unity and inclusion within the Christian community, transcending ethnic, cultural, and social boundaries. It reflects the transformative power of the Gospel, which brings people together in the body of Christ.

As I spoke on briefly in my sermon this morning, the First Epistle to the church in Corinth was written to a fledgling Christian community, struggling to come to into its own identity with core theological understandings, values, organizing principles, and commitments—and situated within the context of a secular society based on extreme hierarchy exercise of power to maintain order.

“Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger people for the living of life! Do not pray for tasks equal to your gifts. Pray for the gifts to meet the work in front of you! Then the doing of your work will not be the miracle. But you shall be the miracle. And every day you shall wonder at the grace, mercy, love and power that has come from God through you into the world.”

Next week, this country faces a transition in government that will undoubtedly bring significant change and challenge. With you, I look ahead with a mix of emotions and a sense of uncertainty about what lies ahead, and also with a sense of resolve to do what is given us to do. We are called to uphold values rooted in our baptismal covenant, to clarify our commitments and priori-ties as a parish, and to strengthen our connections to one another in loving and mutually supportive community.

Each Sunday we pray for birthdays and milestones with words that begin, “O God, our times are in your hands…” These times we inhabit are fraught with difficulty and turmoil; and I often wonder what it really and practically means to have our times be in God’s hands.

Our Advent journey is now turning into the wonder of Christmas. Let’s keep walking together.  While all the details are further down in this email, I want to say a little bit about the coming opportunities to gather and pray.

During the past few weeks, I’ve been spending extra time with our Baptismal Covenant—in Youth and Adult Confirmation Groups, preparing families for the celebration of two baptisms (1:00 service on All Saints), and finalizing liturgies for Bishop Akiyama’s visitation to St. Michael’s (Sunday!).