Summer in Salisbury

This weekend brought Ron and I back to our Salisbury trailer home. Though it would be a lot more enjoyable if the temperature were closer to 65 than 45 degrees, we are getting settled in. Ron broke his ankle three weeks ago falling down the stairs and he is in his third cast and healing okay. He doesn’t stay off it as much as he should and who can blame him, walking around with crutches is tough. Our thoughts of a nice warm and sunny weekend to bring in the summer are dashed, as all of ours are with this cold, wet weather. And I am trying to be grateful that the rain has tamped down the pollen and watered very thirsty trees and flowers and re-filled streams and ponds. Thank goodness for big windows to watch the chipmunks and squirrels and most interesting of all, a robin siting and feeding their young.  They picked a perfect spot for the nest before we arrived a quiet place near the deck, but they are learning that we will be in and out of the house and this disturbs and causes them to leave the nest. This is the third day we are here, and I noticed this morning when I exited the trailer the Robin did not go quite as far away from the nest as she had been, perhaps we are settling into a quiet co-habitation.

                The one critter who keeps me entertained however is my Chipmunk who last year I trained to come and get peanuts from my hand. I trained her to come with a noise I make and within 5 minutes of arriving here on Thursday she was making that noise at me. I got the hint and when I offered her a peanut in a shell she immediately came and got it from me. Now when she wants to be fed, she appears at the doorstep and makes that noise expecting me to respond. Who trained whom, I ask?

                This Memorial Day weekend we will take time to remember those who died while in military service. Parades will occur despite the rain and cold, flags will be waved out of respect for those who died, and I will remember relatives who served too.  This Memorial Day weekend, I will also be grateful for this summer reprieve 20 minutes from Portsmouth, a peaceful nature filled lovely little place to renew and restore my spirits.

                We are approaching the slowing down time however your staff are still actively engaged in providing you with services. The summer theme will be Change and I will preach, and you will have the opportunity to hear guest speakers and we will find ways to stay and become connected as the spread of the virus begins to abate. As always, we have you in our thoughts and though each staff member will take much deserved vacations, we are here for you. On-line worship services will, committees will meet, fellowship will happen, and the possibility of a summer in-person gathering will be explored. Do you want to help me plan that? Please do be in touch. I need assistance to make it happen.

                Enjoy this weekend.   Warmly, Rev Susan

Thresholds and Liminal Time

February 2, 2021  Ministerial Musings

One of the things I like about this date is that it is a reminder of threshold, of liminal time and space.  Thresholds and liminal space are sacred and special zones where lots can occur:  comings and goings, sleep and awakeness, birth and death, closure and new opportunities, are  just some examples of liminal time.  Thresholds and liminal time hold a certain amount of promise and potential and best of all they are mirrored in the cycles of the natural world.  I have always been rooted in the cycles of the natural world, my mother always told me that her maiden name Fay, meant of the fairies and that I was proof of that lineage.  I use the word cycle as meaning cyclical, ever turning, ever revolving, ever changing, rather than linear,  as in having an end and a beginning but rather revolving and evolving.  

Today was one of those mystical days. “ Groundhog’s Day”  and there is the long standing ceremony to mark this  threshold in the turning of the season’s cycle. The tradition of hoping that the groundhog doesn’t see its shadow and thus forecasting an early spring is wrong about 60% of the time.  Since 1887 the forecast predicted by the groundhog has only been correct only 40 % of the time. But we humans rarely allow facts to interfere with meaningful ceremonies that mark time passing and the eternal hope we rely on to get through winter and to move from one space to another.  The ceremony has meaning and gathers folks together to be reminded of the wonder of nature and the interconnectedness of all life.  And yes, I do know that no matter what the groundhog experienced this morning, after being abruptly lifted from his cave, that we will have 6 more weeks of winter.  By the way a groundhog is in the marmot family, as are squirrels and other rodents, it hibernates longer than any other mammal does and before it hibernates it can put on 8-10 pounds of weight to get it through the winter. Some winters I can identify with that weight gain and the fuzziness and lassitude as I come into a new season. 

As we mark one year into a pandemic and  as I enter 11 months with you during a time of transition, I wanted to take time to reflect with you on the possibilities yet to unfold. Of course the sadness, loss and challenges still inform and effects our days but I do believe that we have demonstrated an ability to be resilient, to flow with the changes, and to be together at all the important times. I am ever grateful for being here with you. 

This season also marks over two years since Rev. Chris and Rev. Lauren left. I want to make sure that you have had time and opportunity to process their leave taking. And Rev. Len’s too, if need be. To that end, I would like to see if there is a desire to set up a group zoom meeting or individual meetings with me to allow you an opportunity to express any unfinished business.  I want you to know that it is okay to still have feelings and most importantly it is okay to talk about them.  You are on another threshold, a time of opening yourselves to new religious leadership. If there are patterns of concern, or ways of being that have left you feeling on the outside then it is important to talk about them. 

My email is revsusanuu1@verizon.net my cell phone is 978.833.0916.  do not hesitate to be in touch. 

Soon we will be shifting the seasons of the natural world again and let us do all we need to make sure that we are open hearted and welcoming to new possibilities. 

Warmly,    Rev Susan Suchocki Brown