Combined Deanery Meetings – February 9,10,11, 2021
Psalm: 121:7-8
“The Lord will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”
As we face the continued saga of Covid-19 I would like to take a few minutes to talk about our role as women in the church and the world. We are all facing that new term of “compassion fatigue”. We may be growing weary of the requests for help on all fronts in this isolated and precarious time. How can we “give” any more than we already are? Time, talent, and treasure are beginning to run thin.
Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner of Great Britain spoke about the need for resilience during this time. Her message was delivered at a virtual worldwide symposium on January 28, 2021 entitled; The Role of Religion and Faith Based Organizations in International Affairs. “Dream and hang on” are her words for us. Dream of Covid-19 being over and reaching our new normal. She suggests that we use our “emotional language” of caring for others and “call things out” such as gender disparity and inequality for us as a church family. Yes, it is difficult for us to go on.
As Episcopal Church Women the comfort ministries often find their way to us. Women of the National Episcopal Church will celebrate 150 years of comfort to the world in 2021. In our Diocese of Southwest Florida, we are beginning our 51st year of service.
As I visit the seven deaneries in our diocese, I am always moved by the way in which women are serving in their local parishes. In one, the ECW supports women of low income by providing free mammograms. They also, comfort women who are going through treatments for cancer and other diseases by driving them to appointments, providing meals and childcare and just being there.
ECW, in some churches, brings comfort so often by providing mourning families with beautiful funeral receptions. These women are the quiet force behind preparing the church with tissues, lovely memorial service bulletins and even serving at the altar during the service.
It is our joy to bring comfort to others through serving on prayer support groups; holding in thought and prayer those in our parishes who are charged with the tasks of searching for a new rector, preparing for stewardship campaigns, and bringing communion to our shut-ins. In our weekly prayers on Sunday, we ask that God will “… comfort and succor all those in need, sorrow or any other adversity.”
Comfort for me is the bringing of hope to those who feel hopeless, lost, unloved and those crying out to the Lord. Sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ and his love for all of his children is a way for us to comfort each other.
I know that I personally turn to the Psalms when searching for comfort. Psalm 121:7-8, “The Lord will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” is especially comforting during times of uncertainty. Also, there is much comfort in Psalm 23 not only in times of grief but also in those times that anxious thoughts fill my mind. He is always there.
Think about that small baby, born in a stable, to parents of few means. Where did they find comfort? Surely, most of us would not consider a stable as comfort however it gave shelter and comfort to this family and to a great miracle. He came as a baby. He taught us an itinerant preacher. He brings us joy and comfort to this day to those who believe in Him.
We need to think about these words from Rachel Martin as we remember our role as women in the church and world.
“Cheer when you friend wins.
Hold her when she’s sad.
Love her when she needs hope.
Care for her when she says she’s fine.
Believe in her when she doubts.
Show up for her when she’s alone.
Be the one she knows is in her corner
not because she’s perfect
but rather because you are the friend to her that she needs there.
In good and bad and fabulous and hard and normal.
That is friendship.
Cherish it.”
Michelle Schombs,
President, ECW Diocese of Southwest Florida