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Prayer for the class of 2020

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Compassionate God, for many of us these days feel like an exile.  We remember that your people have walked through exile of many different kinds.  You walked with them, and you walk with us now. We pray for the senior class of 2020.  May your grace be sufficient during these strange and chaotic days.  We pray for students who did not realize that an ordinary school day just like any other might be their only closure to a lifetime of education when they waved goodbye to each other when the bell rang. Be and abide with the class of 2020. May they find a deep breath of peace and love when the air is thin. Be with them when their grief wells up and when they mourn the loss of experiences that might have been. As cancellations build up, sit with them in their grief: over prom, over sports, over awards nights, over graduation. Be and abide with our students, O God. May they love and be loved.  Even in this unexpected “exile,” we hope that they might still be able to discover new … [Read more...]

Tagged With: COVID19 • youth ministry

Breaking News

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The word is that springtime arrives late this week, yet here on the Maine coast we have little to show for it. There are, here and there, green shoots thrusting through the rock hard crust of four months of deep frost, buds are forming out there at the long naked tips of dark branches. But the awakening tingle is absent. That familiar ray of hope and bright anticipation that has touched over eighty such promising seasons has been shadowed, eclipsed in this leap of a year by a portent, a grim tocsin that resounds in the ear like the clattering rattle, clanging bell of a leper, the rumbling wheels of a laden plague cart – “Bring out your dead!” Corona, the word echoes and re-echoes through these days. Corona, ancient Latin for a crown – and “uneasy lies the head…” all heads that wear it. Recalls us, if we hearken, to another jagged headpiece pressed brutal down across the broken brow of one who mended lepers, bore away the festerings and plagues that cursed our … [Read more...]

Tagged With: COVID19 • poetry

Pandemic prayer for college students

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God of acceptance letters, scholarships and internships, we ask you to comfort: Those whose “best years of their lives” were uprooted. Those who dread going home. Those who are savoring every minute of extra time with family. Those whose family members are quarantined elsewhere because they were likely exposed. Those who frantically packed up dorm rooms and said goodbye for now to friends from across parking lots or outside windows. Those whose graduation celebrations are postponed. Those who are relieved to have online classes because they already had complex medical issues. Those who do not feel safe. Those who wonder how long until they’re allowed to study abroad. Those who are scared they may already have COVID-19. Those grieving losses that have nothing to do with COVID-19. Those who barely figured out the first year of college routine, and now have no idea what day it is. Those who are missing all things typical of senior year. Those who … [Read more...]

Tagged With: college/YA • COVID19 • prayers

Building virtual community as a college chaplain

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As COVID-19 continues to grow in cases across the United States, those of us in higher education have been bracing for what life would come to look like for our students. In fact, we’ve spent the better part of our spring semester coming up with plans and systems to help the mission of our institutions continue in the midst of uncertainty. As I watched the spread and the growing number of colleges and universities close, I noticed the panic of our students rise. At that time, with the help of a chaplain network, I created a flyer for our community on ways to remain calm during a pandemic. The flyer listed five steps to help our students remember to be grounded and calm fears that were on the rise. The steps were: remember to breath; unplug; create and cultivate community; ground yourself; and hope. Even as events were canceled, we still entered that particular week knowing that face-to-face course instruction would take place. So, we were to not fear or worry, but rather remember … [Read more...]

Tagged With: college/YA • COVID19

Christian education at home: Passing the peace

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We all have familiar comforts we turn to when times are tough.  A particular blanket or food or even a smell may help center us when we feel unsettled.  Words can also ground us when life feels unpredictable.  This activity helps children identify and draw on Jesus’ promise of peace as a means of bringing comfort during this uncertain and unusual time. Start your time with your children by asking them to share things or activities that make them feel safe and comfortable.  If they need a bit of prompting to get started, share some of the ways that you find comfort.  (“When I’m worried, I look at a picture of our family because it reminds me that we have each other to rely on no matter what happens.” Or: “When I feel stressed, I like to listen to my favorite song.  It calms me down and makes my heart feel happy.”) After you’ve talked about the tangible ways we seek comfort, shift to discussing words that give us comfort. You can ask them what they would say to a friend who is … [Read more...]

Tagged With: Christian Ed • COVID19

Lent in the COVID-19 wilderness: Reflections of a college chaplain

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Guest commentary by Ashley-Anne Masters The last time I saw many of my college students in person was Ash Wednesday. During the day, the Episcopal campus minister, Lutheran campus minister and I hosted “Ashes to Go” at the Free Expression Tunnel on one of the college campuses in Raleigh, North Carolina. Some were thrilled to see us; others murmured that we shouldn’t be there. One refused to take our photo when we asked; another thanked us profusely. My favorite stranger asked as she passed, “It’s what Wednesday?” That evening, senior high youth joined my students for dinner before the combined worship service between two partner congregations and our campus ministry. There was bacon and there were king cakes. There was stress about tests, and hoping against hope to just make it to spring break. There was angst about crushes. There was pain due to hard family situations. It was dusty, finite, business as usual. After preaching, two clergy colleagues and I imposed ashes. … [Read more...]

Tagged With: COVID19

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