Today is a good day. Today (April 22nd), my antigen rapid test has turned negative, meaning I am “no longer shedding active virus.” This means, I am no longer contagious with COVID, and I have passed unscathed through this valley that I had been dreading for two years.
I am grateful today. I am thankful for the genius behind the vaccines that made my time with covid tolerable. I am thankful for your cards and get well wishes (and the fantastic soup, lasagna, and raspberry kringle that made their way to our home). And I am grateful for a place of work that encourages working from home when able and doesn’t make me feel bad for missing my favorite holiday (and the biggest week of the church year). There is much to be grateful for in my household.
May is always when I have a lot of gratitude because it has always served me as a natural reflection point on the previous ten months. And it’s incredible to think of how far we have come in 10 months.
The church and our programming are operating at mostly pre-pandemic levels. We were able to have our All Church Retreat. We had close to 600 people worshiping with UCG on Easter if you include our youtube viewership. We survived a congregational discernment time that required quick action with our processes still in place and our hearts remaining loyal and loving to our fellow congregants. And we come to the time of the year when we get to dream big dreams and plant seeds of hope for what the year ahead will bring.
This month, we’ll confirm a giant batch of new members through our confirmation process. We’ll have our Spring Congregational Meeting, honoring the service of those who have chaired our boards and committees through the most confusing time in modern history, and elect new leaders to guide us into the year ahead. We’ll start to map out plans for worship and programming that will inspire, challenge, and change our hearts and minds for the better, and we’ll give thanks for the beloved community we are and that we continue to strive to be. I sure am grateful for our United Church of Gainesville. And I hope that you are too.