fall

I had a wonderful time traveling in Sweden visiting with my family, but I am glad to be back writing to you. Your vestry has been busy working behind the scenes this summer to plan for fall, with great ideas for stewardship (in October) adult education (our Tuesday class continues, starting Sept. 30), and discernment about the future of Christ Church (look for a letter from Senior Warden Marcia Luce to come in a few weeks). Bishop Gayle Harris will be visiting with us on September 28.

There are also some exciting diocesan events coming up too, with parish resource day on September 27, held here in Waltham at Bentley College. Workshops will be offered on such diverse topics as environmental stewardship and ending global poverty and parish leadership and financial practice. Each of our bishops will also be speaking—Bishop Tom on a new book of his on Scripture; Bishop Bud on “Worshipful Work for Vestries and Committees” and Bishop Gayle on “Anglican Evangelism: Telling our Stories.” Here at Christ Church, we will be hosting the diocesan Eucharistic Visitor training on September 20. As you know, we have recently initiated a pastoral care team for people to visit the homebound. Whether you’d like to visit the same person regularly or if you’d just be willing to be “on hand” to bring communion to those who are in the hospital once in a while, I hope we’ll have a good turnout from Christ Church on that day. There are many ways to participate.

Yet another event is happening on September 23, when WATCH (The Waltham Alliance to Create Housing) will hold a community forum at Christ Church to talk about the future of downtown Waltham and local development. It’s not just about housing! There is much in store for us, and you can read more about each of these events in the Fieldstone Crier, which will be mailed in early September.

At the same time as I am looking forward to the fall, I have to remind myself that we still have a full ten days before Labor Day (and hopefully many more sunny and warm days before New England’s October chill). We are constantly looking forward, constantly plotting and planning for what is to come ahead. Of course, we need to plan, and it is good to get excited about the year. Even though I haven’t been in school for a while, the fall always still reminds me of new classes, new teachers, and new possibilities. But it’s easy to get ahead of ourselves and forget the Sabbath rest that these long days hope for us. I’ll close with the prayer for Saturdays from the Book of Common Prayer (p. 99—it’s in the rite for Morning Prayer)

Almighty God, who after the creation of the world rested from all your works and sanctified a day of rest for all your creatures: Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties, may be duly prepared for the service of your sanctuary, and that our rest here upon earth may be a preparation for the eternal rest promised to your people in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.