My dearest family and friends of St. Margaret’s,
Greetings in Christ to you all! Day by day we continue to walk together through the crisis of COVID. Though there is much hope in the rollout of the COVID vaccine, it seems to be slow and involves much waiting. It simply cannot be distributed fast enough! We cannot rest easy until there is massive distribution.
But despite all the harsh, dark realities of the pandemic, there is reason for hope and yes, even thanksgiving for all the people who are faithfully braving the situation by continuing in their work of service: especially the courageous health care workers in our hospitals and clinics. For the childcare workers, the bank tellers, the grocery store workers, and all the people who keep our society going.
A friend of mine recently made an offhand remark during a conversation that touched me deeply. And that was the topic of gratitude – of thanksgiving. She said that we need to keep a balance during these extremely difficult days by daily naming our gratitude. It was a gift to me that she said it. It was a word of encouragement. It was gospel truth!
The appointed Psalm for this week is Psalm 111. It is a song of praise and thanksgiving. Two verses stand out to me particularly at this time: (verses 1 and 10)
1 Hallelujah!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, *
in the assembly of the upright, in the congregation.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; *
those who act accordingly have a good understanding;
his praise endures for ever.
Let us all remember our blessings and give thanks to God who is the Giver of all good gifts. Please continue to observe strict adherence to COVID safety guidelines. Let us bind our hearts together in prayer and love for one another – supporting one another – leaning on one another. I thank God every day for our beloved St. Margaret’s community.
Be safe, be well, be YOU! BLESSINGS to each of you,
Jane+
Included below is the Inaugural Poem, “The Hill We Climb” by Amanda Gorman in text and video.
Amanda Gorman’s Inaugural Poem
“The Hill We Climb”
When day comes, we ask ourselves, where can we find light in this never-ending shade?
The loss we carry, a sea.
We must wade.
We’ve braved the belly of the beast.
We’ve learned that quiet isn’t always peace.
And the norms and notions of what just is, isn’t always justice.
And yet the dawn is ours before we knew it.
Somehow we do it.
Somehow we’ve weathered and witnessed a nation that it isn’t broken, but simply unfinished.
We, the successors of a country and the time where a skinny Black girl descended from slaves and raised by a single mother can dream of becoming president only to find herself reciting for one.
And yes, we are far from polished, far from pristine, but that doesn’t mean we are striving to form a union that is perfect.
We are striving to forge our union with purpose.
To compose a country, committed to all cultures, colors, characters, and conditions of man.
And so we lift our gaze, not to what stands between us, but what stands before us
We close the divide because we know to put our future first, we must first put our differences aside.
We lay down our arms so we can reach out our arms to one another.
We seek harm to none and harmony for all.
Let the globe, if nothing else say, this is true.
That even as we grieved, we grew.
That even as we hurt, we hoped.
That even as we tired, we tried.
That we’ll forever be tied together victorious.
Not because we will never again know defeat, but because we will never again sow division.
Scripture tells us to envision that everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree and no one shall make them afraid
If we’re to live up to our own time, then victory won’t lie in the blade, but in all the bridges we’ve made.
That is the promise to glade the hill we climb.
If only we dare it’s because being American is more than a pride we inherit.
It’s the past we step into and how we repair it.
We close the divide because we know to put our future first, we must first put our differences aside
We’ve seen a force that would shatter our nation, rather than share it.
Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy.
And this effort very nearly succeeded, but while democracy can be periodically delayed, it can never be permanently defeated in this truth.
In this faith we trust for while we have our eyes on the future, history has its eyes on us.
This is the era of just redemption.
We feared it in its inception.
We did not feel prepared to be the heirs of such a terrifying hour, but within it, we found the power to author a new chapter.
To offer hope and laughter to ourselves.
So while once we asked, how could we possibly prevail over catastrophe?
Now we assert how could catastrophe possibly prevail over us?
We will not march back to what was, but move to what shall be a country that is bruised.
But whole benevolence, but bold, fierce, and free.
We will not be turned around or interrupted by intimidation because we know our inaction and inertia will be the inheritance of the next generation.
Our blunders become their burdens, but one thing is certain.
If we merged mercy with might, and might with right, then love becomes our legacy, and change our children’s birthright.
So let us leave behind a country better than the one we were left.
With every breath, my bronze pounded chest.
For there was always light. If only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we are brave enough to be it.
View our Virtual Service on YouTube
(Available 9:00 AM the Day Of Service and Thereafter)