Panegyrics from the Probationer

“Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change.
The sun might shine, or the clouds might lour: but nothing could appear to me
as it had done the day before.”
― Mary Shelley



​It would be an understatement to say that we’ve been experiencing rapid changes this year. All of us have been forced to make uncomfortable yet necessary decisions as to maximize the safety of our homes and communities. One of those most pervasive extremities has been the way in which we worship. Several innovative and willing members of our community have stepped up to embrace virtual and now digital worship services online, and we cannot thank them enough for their contributions. Liturgy is the work of the people, and we will always need volunteers to offer their voice to our worship. In equal measure, I thank the leadership of our elected Council Members, who have worked hard to keep our Congregation together. Thank you for your phone calls to those assigned to your Phone Tree. Thank you for the letters that you have sent out. Thank you for late-night conversations on Zoom every Wednesday Night. The Council looks forward to meeting with Pastor John Wertz, the Assistant to the Bishop of the Virginia Synod. He will discuss options for our first Council Retreat, which will help us navigate our future together as a Church. We will be using Digital Worship via Zoom during August. Please join us for Worship and Music if you are interested in being a Servant Leader. We thank Mrs. Margaret Grimes for her faithful service as the WAM Chairperson, and we look forward to embracing the leadership of a new Chairperson.
I am still hosting Pastoral Care on the Pink House Porch for anyone seeking conversation,
painting, and musical fellowship (we can’t sing, but I have been practicing on my Ukuleles!) Whatever you do to keep yourselves and our Community safe, be of good courage, for God is still with us. Take up an online painting class, learn Gaelic on YouTube, or compile recipes from old cookbooks to create a scrapbook including pictures. You can even call up your old band to a strike up a cacophony via FaceTime. Now is the time to try it at home if we’re all going to be there for a couple more months. Take care, and I look forward to writing you soon from beyond the page.

In God’s Abiding Love,
Pastor Jeniffer Tillman, M.D.