Is there no balm in Gilead?
Is there no physician there?
Why then is there no healing for the wounds of my people?

As summer comes upon us and the rhythms of life change with the long days and warmer temperatures, don’t forget that one of the benefits of virtual weekly prayers is that they are “on demand” — portable and ready when you are ready to have a quiet few moments of reflection.

We want to make a sustained effort at Epiphany, with grace and humility, to be open to understanding our society's systems of oppression and the ways we unconsciously participate. Whatever your response has been this last week or two, you are welcome to the conversation to sort it out faithfully in community.

As more businesses reopen in Rhode Island during Phase II of the state plan, churches are permitted to open for in-person worship at 25% capacity with all physical distancing precautions in place. As St. Paul wrote, “while something may be lawful, it is not necessarily beneficial.” 

Several years ago, the Vestry and I presented these three values as our guide posts for our common life: creativity, compassion and connection. They are guiding us now during this pandemic more than ever.