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Dear friends,
Growing up in Northern California, I have always felt joy and renewal when I am near the ocean. The cold, windswept Sonoma Coast reminds me that I am just one part of our ecosystem, and I love to walk along the beach in my windbreaker and boots, no matter the season. My favorite beaches are those which don’t have sand, but instead are made up of thousands, millions really, of small rocks. I can sit for hours sifting through piles of these tiny stones, remarking on those which are particularly bright, translucent, or round. Time takes on a different quality there, listening to the ocean and sitting with the stones. I love the contrast between the small stones and the infinite ocean.
This Sunday, we will each reflect the perspective and wholeness that the ocean brings to us. We will sing songs and participate in a ritual to explore this connection. In one hymn, “I Brought My Spirit To the Sea,” the writer describes the sense of peace that comes from closeness to the ocean:
“ And then there came a sense of peace,
some whisper calmed my soul.
Some ancient ministry of stars
had made my spirit whole.”
I love the sense of mystery, hope, and wonder that this hymn evokes. Whatever life has brought you lately, I hope you join us on Sunday to explore your own connection to the ocean, and to our community.
With care,
Rosemary
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