Minister's Blog

Imagine you were able to go back in time exactly 12 months and find me here in my office at the church, writing my column.  I am not sure I would believe you when you described what this November has been like.  I think I would have been shocked to learn that people are restricting themselves to their homes and offices, and that more than 250,000 Americans have died from a new emergent virus since February.   I would also be surprised when told that our some of our elected officials have intentionally downplayed the dangers of this disease and that common sense public health recommendations had become this politicized.  And I certainly would have been incredulous when told that the President of the United States was now spreading flat-out lies about the results of this months’s election.  No President in our country’s history has attempted to reject the results of a federal election quite like this.  All of this would have left me in disbelief.  Perhaps some of you feel the same way.  Truth is stranger than fiction, as they say.

Hopefully there will continue to be state and local officials from both parties stepping forward – and up – and insisting that the results of the election were accurate.   Even so, like many of you I have found the last few weeks disconcerting to say the least.  As a result I find myself much more inclined to speak up for the rule of law, and support people from across the political spectrum who believe that our leaders should be people of integrity who do not lie about major issues of the day.  This should not be partisan to write or say and yet I know right now it is.  Hopefully in the days to come, there will be opportunities for people of good will and character from across the political spectrum to come together.  This is an important part of our civic life and practice.

In the meantime, we are all facing an unusual Thanksgiving week and holiday, with many of us canceling plans and scaling back our gatherings.  All of us are looking for some hope and light right now.

Please join us this Sunday for our Thanksgiving service.  It will feature a virtual reading of the Governor’s Thanksgiving Day Proclamation and special music provided by local banjo player Larry Unger and fiddler Eric Boodman.  I think you all will enjoy this celebration of gratitude and the fall harvest.

I wish you and your families a happy and safe Thanksgiving this week.

See you in church,

Jeff