During the last weekend in February, we held our annual Vestry retreat - only this year it was on zoom. It was predictably bittersweet, for while we enjoyed socializing, getting to know each other more, and discussing our hopes and expectations for the coming year, we felt the conspicuous absence of in-person connection. Even worse, our beloved retreat destination of many years (the Wayfarer Resort along the McKenzie River) was damaged by the Holiday Farm fire and much of where we stayed last year is gone now. This seems a fitting symbolic image for the start of our second pandemic year: even if we wanted to go back to what we had before, we can’t.
So, in this transitional moment at the start of a new Vestry year and another pandemic year, the virtual retreat forged ahead. Although it was definitely not the same, it was a success. It reaffirmed that we can still be together; that we are together; and that we have been together throughout this entire experience. It also made us reflect on just how much we have adjusted our lives, and how amazing it is that things we would never have imagined last year at this time have now become familiar habits.
As the Vestry looks to the unfolding of 2021, we are primarily concerned with how our community can and will transition to more in-person activity and eventually to worshipping together in our building. When we do reach that point, it might still feel a little strange because it won’t be the same as we left it. What’s more, we are not the same people. It might take some time to reacquaint ourselves with our ways of being together. We have become quite skilled over this past year at not breathing the same air or sharing the same space, and when we finally do get to stand close to one another and even sing together, we may feel like we’re doing something wrong. After an entire year built around fear, risk, and reactionary decisions, it is understandable that we will have to retrain ourselves slowly, when the time comes. The Vestry, like many of you, is eagerly awaiting that time, but we also recognize and anticipate the possibly conflicting emotional responses that we will each have to deal with.
Since the conversation about resuming in-person worship will be at the forefront of our thoughts this year, we’ve decided not to set specific goals or committees and instead focus our efforts on “re-opening.” As we’ve said many times, this phrase doesn’t properly express the complexity of our situation and - to reuse the metaphor because it is still the right metaphor - it is not like flipping a switch. We are aware of the subtleties involved, and more than just, “when can we” re-engage with each other, our discussion centers around “how will we?” When the time comes, we want to have a clear picture of what connections will need to be rebuilt, along with a plan for how to begin that work. We will do our best to cultivate the perspective of “re-opening” not as going backward but moving forward. Our emphasis, as always, will be on the well-being of our community and our ability to thrive.
Even though the Vestry didn’t have our usual retreat full of in-person fellowship and homemade waffle breakfasts, we still, as ever, have much to be thankful for. We want to thank (and thank again) Carl D for his photography and creativity this past year; Sharon R for her help organizing the video and in-person services; Robin O for making virtual choir and multi-part music happen; and Dick Z for his leadership of the Saturday Breakfast ministry. We also send a big thank you to John S for his help with our ongoing ventilation and HVAC system upgrade project. Of course, we want to thank all of you - St. Mary’s parishioners - for your resilience throughout the past year and your patience as we move into this transitional time. Remember that we are on this journey together and we will see it through - not to an end but to somewhere new that will be the beginning of the next journey.
Submitted by Vestry member, Robin O for the Vestry column of the Easter 2021 Bellringer
