So much has changed in the past few months. With the drop of mask mandates and closing of testing and vaccination sites across the country, it almost seems as if life has returned to a pre-pandemic “normal”. Although the pandemic still rages in many parts of the world and cases are still very present here in Fairfield County, it seems to have faded into the sidebar of our collective attention.

Perhaps the biggest sign of this is that many of us are finding ourselves busier than we would like to be, rushing through daily activities. While we are happy to travel and reconnect with old friends, some are less excited by a return to office jobs. We may be overwhelmed by the brisk pace of resuming patterns we thought we had left behind.  Here at UUC we will be serving coffee once more beginning this Sunday, which adds both community connection and an added volunteer responsibility to the list!

Of course the “return to normal” narrative does not work for all of us.  Our community includes those who have lost loved ones, people still experiencing long Covid symptoms, and the immuno-compromised still living with anxiety.

Maybe it doesn’t work for most of us, as our lives have dramatically changed. We all carry stories of the past two years in our bodies, as physical and mental health impacts continue to linger. We also carry lessons, gifts, and intentions we had hoped to remember and carry with us. And yet, this requires that we slow the pace just a little to take a reflective look at our lives.

As the pace of life picks up, it is important that we take time to reflect and create meaning in community together. Our Care Team at UUC has created space for us to do this on Sunday. So grab your coffee and join the caring circle in the sanctuary after service, as we take time to reflect and listen to one another’s stories- and shape a new collective narrative together.

In faith,
Rev. Terri