Shalom Special mid-January 2022 issue

Shalom

SPECIAL MID-JANUARY 2022 ISSUE

ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE ON PANDEMIC EXHAUSTION

"The arrival and continuation of COVID-19 have brought out the best and the worst of us at different times in the last 22 months...

"I am still surprised when people are unwilling to be vaccinated, or believe their 'rights' have been violated when they are required to wear a mask. To me (my perspective), masking and getting vaccinated is a pretty easy way to keep people safe and healthy...

"For those who believe masking and vaccination is a hardship I would remind people of a time my grandparents lived through. And, I might add, I don't remember my grandparents doing a lot of complaining..."

Rev. Hazen then goes on to remind us of how our grandparents went through World War I, the Spanish flu epidemic, the Great Depression, World War II and subsequent wars, and the Cold War. "Yet those grandparents (and now great-grandparents survived through" all those major adversities.

"Just like our grandparents and great-grandparents, we don't have a choice about the situation we are in right now, but we DO have a choice about how we view it and respond. We are called to love our neighbors. We do that by putting others first and doing all we can to mitigate this virus."

Rev. Eldonna Hazen, pastor of 1st Congregational UCC, Madison

CONGREGATIONS RESPOND

TO THE LATEST PANDEMIC THREAT

Several of our congregations are responding to the new threat posed by the omicron virus and the recommendation of the Wisconsin Council of Churches (see article in right-hand column) by suspending in-person worship

In addition to congregations mentioned in the January Shalom, that includes these: Congregational UCC, Whitewater; Salem UCC. Verona; Lake Edge UCC, Madison; McFarland UCC; Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison and Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison.

1st UCC, Belleville, is only suspending other in-person gatherings in the church. Windsor UCC is suspending their adult discussion group at least through January. And Orchard Ridge UCC has canceled th0eir All-Church Retreat scheduled for January 14-16.

Others have considered the recommendation and decided to continue with in-person worship while stressing the several precautions

PASTORAL TRANSITIONS

Rev. Larry Treece, pastor of the 1st Congregational UCC, Lake Mills, died on

December 23, after a brief COVID-19 illness. We wish the best for his widow, Rita. Here is an obituary.

January 23 will be the last day that Rev. Sonja Ingebritsen will be the pastor of Community of Hope UCC, Madison.

On February 27 Rev. Brad Brookins, will end his interim ministry with Immanuel UCC, Darlington, and re-enter retirement.

Rev. Zayna Thomley has been called as pastor of Middleton Community UCC.

Rev. David McDonald has been called as pastor of 1st Congregational UCC, Whitewater.

Rev. Janet Ruark has retired from 1st Congregational UCC, Grand Marsh.

CHURCHES URGED TO RETURN TO PHYSICALLY DISTANCED MINISTRY

"The Wisconsin Council of Churches strongly recommends that churches statewide temporarily return to remote operations as COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations soar due to the highly transmissible Omicron variant in Wisconsin...

"'We recognize the exhaustion born out of two years of pandemic ministry,' said the Rev. Kerri Parker, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Council of Churches...' (And) Pastors and lay leaders of Wisconsin congregations recognize the difficulty posed by remote gathering, while stressing the importance of protecting vulnerable members and neighbors,..." said the Rev Beth Patton, pastor of Faith Presbyterian Church, Franklin.

"The Rev. Dr. Brett Swanson, pastor of Wauwatosa Presbyterian Church, struck a similar note in a message to his congregation, 'We cannot be faithful to our common calling as an inclusive and loving congregation that cares about one another body, soul,. mind and spirit if we do not take this step and do so without delay."

Click here for the complete statement and find "Churches Urged to Return to Physically-Distanced Ministry".