Dear Friends,
I am comforted by the strength of this community.
During our many conversations this past week (some planned, some unplanned) I shared that the leadership of All Saints has been preparing for the outcome of the election, regardless of which candidate won, for almost a year.
We knew we needed to have a strong community and so focused on these principles: deepening our connection to God, to one another, and to our local community.
That’s why we’ve been talking about refugia, forming small groups, meeting with our alderpeople, preaching about God’s grace and taking up the cross, and inviting members to share how their faith influences their civic and work lives.
Those are normal churchy things, you say? Well, yes, yes they are. And people grounded in the peace of God that passes all understanding can do brave, hard things. We can know and share joy and hope when others have lost theirs. We focus on doing what is loving and morally right, not on doing what we’re told to do. So, Beloved, here we are.
There will be much more to discuss and pray about and do, but I wanted to share another set of three guiding principles for this time. These were shared with us by a parishioner who has spent his life working with organizations across the country to strengthen our democracy.
In this time, we need to do three things: strengthen our resilience as individuals and as a community, choose ONE thing we want to do very well so we don’t burn out, and prepare to come out strong in support of the first group attacked.
We’re living in a time where algorithms and media and consumerism are all shaped to separate us, outrage us, and keep us from feeling our power. Our faith community provides connection, hope, and joy—all antidotes to authoritarianism.
The great rabble rouser, pacifist, and Catholic worker Dorothy Day reminds us that we Christians have the “duty of delight.” The brave, formerly enslaved Sojourner Truth, abolitionist and agitator for women’s rights, encourages us: “Life is a hard battle anyway. If we laugh and sing a little as we fight the good fight of freedom, it makes it all go easier. I will not allow my life’s light to be determined by the darkness around me.”
Life IS a hard battle. It might get a little harder. Let’s still find and share joy and hope and delight even as we do hard things.
Faithfully, Suzanne
P. S. One way to stay connected is through small groups, which will start up again in January. Look for the upcoming announcement about signing up!
Faithfully, Suzanne+