A Message from Rev. Telos

Community is first of all a quality of the heart. It grows from the spiritual knowledge that we are alive not for ourselves but for one another. Community is the fruit of our capacity to make the interests of others more important than our own. The question, therefore, is not ‘How can we make community?’ but, ‘How can we develop and nurture giving hearts?’             – Henri Nouwen

Dear ones,

Deep gratitude to all of you and your giving hearts who were able to attend my Installation Service in person or on zoom on Saturday, June 13th! A beautiful and inspiring service of words and reflection, poetry and music, ah the music of our Choir and the grand Community Choir! And to the music that Eva G. and Peter G. offered. To many of you who worked so hard these past months in planning this service, helped in the days leading up to it, to those of you that brought food and flowers, gave me incredible gifts of my Peace Crane stole and pillow, handwritten Commitment and Star pieces. To you who helped with parking, flowers along the walkway, set up and cleanup, and just your very presence on the day, I am deeply grateful. And I am inspired and called to deepen our relationship, to learn and grow together. All Souls Church offers such care and wisdom to each other, courage and connection with our larger community. We are living our values in the world, together. 

And now we enter the days of Summer, with the abundant green, breezes and brilliant sunshine. It can be a time of rest and renewal. All of the many projects we might have planned do not have to be completed. They can rest too! We are living in troubled times where the news and headlines can catch and throw us off, where we might feel fear finding its way in. So it is even more important to come together for connection and relaxing joy – gathering for our Summer Picnic on Saturday, July 11 at noon at the Vernon Recreation Center is one opportunity! And each Sunday, this summer we are offering a wide variety of worship services to inspire thought, ignite curiosity, offer comfort, with music to carry us and opportunities to sing together. There is an incredible Worship Team at All Souls, and I am grateful to work with you! 

So please, let us each hold these precious days of summer close, allow ourselves to be in the present moments, let the beauty in. Take gentle care, do not feel that you have to always “keep on the news” for it is often too much, and often fearful and overwhelming. Instead, reach out and call a friend, for we are not alone. We have each other. We have the truth that we can come back to our breath and to this moment. And the knowing that this dear community of All Souls is holding us. These times call for strong and vibrant faith communities whose doors are open wide, who welcome in all who enter, and who invite creativity and new ideas, compassion and insight. This is who you are, this is who we are. 

I am grateful and inspired to serve as your minister in these times.

Blessings,

Rev. Telos