Each year my family gathers with friends to experience the Jewish celebration of Pesach (also referred to as Passover) with ritual and meal known as a Seder. In my first Seder via Zoom last week, we included moments to reflect our Covid-19 experience. One element of the Seder is the asking of four questions related to why is this night different from all other nights. The questions we asked this year were:
1. What specifically do you miss from your days before physical distancing?
2. What do you not miss that perhaps when this passes you would want to change?
3. What wisdom have you learned about the world, about life, about yourself?
4. What can you do now and after the turbulent waters of this time recede to directly and personally help someone in need?
These thought-provoking questions seem valuable to ponder outside the Pesach ritual. I invite you to engage your household with these questions of how this time is different, and reflect on how we might be better for it.
For Children and Youth
Zoom meetings to find connections with each other, please email me at
revlynne@gmail.com
for links and information. We currently have three Sunday meeting groups: preschool to 2nd grade, middle school, and high school.
In prior weeks I invited you to find a space in your home to have an altar, if you don't already have one, and place a chalice, a sounding instrument (bell, bowl, drum, a spoon in a glass), a gratitude and grace bowl, and pictures and objects that mean something special to you, or represent what you value most.
With
Earth Day
coming up on April 22nd, I invite you to reflect on what you can commit to do to support a healthy planet, then find an object or symbol to place on your home altar that represents that dedication. In prior years we were invited to spend Earth Day engaging in an outdoor environmental project, like a cleanup or restoration. Yet -- with a little reflection -- we can find a commitment of the heart that supports a healthy planet, and leave an item on our home altar to remind us of that every time we pass by.
So, until next week, be safe, stay healthy and sleep well.
For joy and justice in an imperfect world,
Rev. Lynne Scarpa
Director of Family Ministries
