Minister’s Message
Hello UU Friends and Members,
Today Gov. Baker issued a stay-at-home initiative for all residents of Massachusetts starting tomorrow, Tuesday, March 24th at noon. All of us have been asked to stay inside except to go to the drug store for essentials, the grocery store, or to get gas, if needed. We all need to heed this directive.
When I returned from Florida last Wednesday afternoon from my vacation in the Keys, reality hit hard. My first inclination was to figure out what our church could do to help our community. I have initiated a letter writing campaign to residents at area nursing homes and residences for older folks and am attaching the flier regarding that hereto. If you wish to participate, please do so. I had hoped and planned to hold a brown-bag pick-up lunch on Sunday, April 5th from our church at which area residents could order and then pick up bagged lunches which would have included a sandwich, an orange, some chips (in a bag), and a pre-packaged dessert. In light of today’s state mandate and also after hearing the dire predictions this morning that “this thing will get worse over the next two weeks” (paraphrasing the surgeon general), I have placed a hold on the brown-bag lunch program for now. I do not want to place any of our workers or anyone in the public at risk.
This virus is deadly…make no mistake. Anyone of us is susceptible to getting it. We owe it to ourselves and others to stay in and stay safe. By far, this is the hardest thing that most of us have ever faced. Surely, those among us who lived through WWII and 9/11 have felt terror, but at least then we could physically be together and help one another. Now we are asked to physically isolate ourselves at a time when we need each other most. For those who do not have access to the internet or a cell phone, the loneliness and fear can be life-threatening. I urge all of you to reach out to your neighbors and friends, as well as, of course, family. Call them…text them…email them…write to them. Just hearing a voice can ease worry and help us all to feel connected and loved.
The mission of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Weymouth is to practice radical kindness. Unfortunately, how we do that now has changed. No longer can I hug my daughter. No longer can I hug my granddaughters. No longer can I hug my friends, my neighbors, my parishioners…nor can you. The only thing left for any of us is to reach out via technology to those with whom we cannot be physically, and to hold close those with whom we actually share living space.
We owe it to ourselves and to our fellow Americans and world residents to literally back off, hunker down, and stay inside. As the medical professionals are saying, “We are going to work for you, so please stay home for us.” They are doing all that they can to save our lives. We must do our part.
For most of us, this is the worst thing that we will ever experience. It is unbelievable that we are in this predicament, but we are. Together in spirit, we can overcome this. Vigilance will prevail as we all make sacrifices.
PLEASE…everyone stay safe. Meditate and pray as you can, read, keep a journal, binge watch anything and everything, do jigsaw puzzles, bake cookies, make stews, reach out to those you love via phone, email, and text. We will all be together again, and, when we are, we will be changed forever and possiblye for the better in many ways.
All that said…please feel free to text or call me at 617-347-6360. Email me if you want. Send me a note. Be well.
With love to you all,
Barbara
Rev. Barbara Dingwall Mills
Minister UU Church of Weymouth
Follow Us! @uucweymouth
www.uucweymouth.org
Hello UU Friends and Members,
Today Gov. Baker issued a stay-at-home initiative for all residents of Massachusetts starting tomorrow, Tuesday, March 24th at noon. All of us have been asked to stay inside except to go to the drug store for essentials, the grocery store, or to get gas, if needed. We all need to heed this directive.
When I returned from Florida last Wednesday afternoon from my vacation in the Keys, reality hit hard. My first inclination was to figure out what our church could do to help our community. I have initiated a letter writing campaign to residents at area nursing homes and residences for older folks and am attaching the flier regarding that hereto. If you wish to participate, please do so. I had hoped and planned to hold a brown-bag pick-up lunch on Sunday, April 5th from our church at which area residents could order and then pick up bagged lunches which would have included a sandwich, an orange, some chips (in a bag), and a pre-packaged dessert. In light of today’s state mandate and also after hearing the dire predictions this morning that “this thing will get worse over the next two weeks” (paraphrasing the surgeon general), I have placed a hold on the brown-bag lunch program for now. I do not want to place any of our workers or anyone in the public at risk.
This virus is deadly…make no mistake. Anyone of us is susceptible to getting it. We owe it to ourselves and others to stay in and stay safe. By far, this is the hardest thing that most of us have ever faced. Surely, those among us who lived through WWII and 9/11 have felt terror, but at least then we could physically be together and help one another. Now we are asked to physically isolate ourselves at a time when we need each other most. For those who do not have access to the internet or a cell phone, the loneliness and fear can be life-threatening. I urge all of you to reach out to your neighbors and friends, as well as, of course, family. Call them…text them…email them…write to them. Just hearing a voice can ease worry and help us all to feel connected and loved.
The mission of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Weymouth is to practice radical kindness. Unfortunately, how we do that now has changed. No longer can I hug my daughter. No longer can I hug my granddaughters. No longer can I hug my friends, my neighbors, my parishioners…nor can you. The only thing left for any of us is to reach out via technology to those with whom we cannot be physically, and to hold close those with whom we actually share living space.
We owe it to ourselves and to our fellow Americans and world residents to literally back off, hunker down, and stay inside. As the medical professionals are saying, “We are going to work for you, so please stay home for us.” They are doing all that they can to save our lives. We must do our part.
For most of us, this is the worst thing that we will ever experience. It is unbelievable that we are in this predicament, but we are. Together in spirit, we can overcome this. Vigilance will prevail as we all make sacrifices.
PLEASE…everyone stay safe. Meditate and pray as you can, read, keep a journal, binge watch anything and everything, do jigsaw puzzles, bake cookies, make stews, reach out to those you love via phone, email, and text. We will all be together again, and, when we are, we will be changed forever and possiblye for the better in many ways.
All that said…please feel free to text or call me at 617-347-6360. Email me if you want. Send me a note. Be well.
With love to you all,
Barbara
Rev. Barbara Dingwall Mills
Minister UU Church of Weymouth
Follow Us! @uucweymouth
www.uucweymouth.org