Karen Kelsey writes: Are you tired of singing Happy Birthday while hand washing? Pick a favorite hymn instead! Here is my choice: “I’m gonna live so God can use me, anywhere, Lord, anytime!” This line repeats of course, making one verse the perfect 20 second suggested hand-washing length. Even if you choose a different hymn - one that means something special to you - let’s live so God can use us!

This is a note from Pastor Travis that will appear in the April newsletter:     Living through this global pandemic, and all the upheaval that comes with it, has given me a new appreciation for rituals. By rituals I mean not only what occurs on Sunday in the sanctuary (though I miss this too), but also the everyday rituals that give our lives a sense of order and purpose.  When performed intentionally and mindfully, we remember that rituals, like the sacraments, shape the disposition of our hearts and mold our spirits. They are powerful precisely in that they require us to do something over and over again.  For example, as my wife and I take on  the joint ventures of  homeschooling  two boys  while working from home, we have found that creating new structures for family and work life is essential  to sustain  everyone’s mental, spiritual, and physical health.  A week without a jog for dad is not a good thing for my mental health. ...

Tim Woodcock writes: In these strange times, under the shadow of Covid-19, our economy is temporarily stripped down to the basics. The shopping malls are empty but the parks are full. Our workplaces, schools, and community organizations are migrating into our homes. Everything feels off-kilter. Churches worldwide are asking themselves how can they operate in the absence of regular services and the use of a physical building. This blog is an attempt to make an online space in which the Second Pres. community can stay connected and can offer each other spiritual sustenance and encouragement. I'd like to invite people to share their spiritual insights related to the pandemic experience: spiritual revelations, great and small; new appreciations and evolving understandings; reflections on what you've been reading and watching recently; hopes for the future. If you have an idea of something you'd like to write about, please drop me a line at timwoodcock [AT] speedpost.net . ...