Faith groups and trucker convoy; different points of view

 

In order to fit the space available, my Feb. 5 article on this topic in the Winnipeg Free Press was edited to fit the space available in the print edition. Find the full article below, followed by the statements issued by faith groups in Winnipeg about the use of hate symbols at the trucker's convoy.

A prominent local pastor has thrown his support behind the trucker’s convoy, currently occupying streets in Ottawa. 

Leon Fontaine, senior pastor of Spring’s Church, released a statement about the convoy on January 28 on the Facebook page of the Miracle Channel, a Christian TV station in Lethbridge, Alberta, of which he is also CEO. 

“This trucker’s convoy has exploded,” he said in a video message, adding “people, regular Canadians, pouring into the streets to support their fellow citizens, actively exercising their rights to peacefully protest. Wow! That’s encouraging, to say the least.” 

He went on to say “If you’ve ever felt the last two years has been an absolute vacuum of common sense and reason, the sheer number of donations and the speed at which this thing has been galvanized, just proved that you are not alone. 

“I think this trucker’s convoy is sending a much deeper message. It’s awakened in people this thought: If we’re all in this together was simply a lip service line from elites during COVID, boy, Ottawa is about to see what ‘we’re in this together’ really looks like.” 

In a printed statement on that page, he added: “I will be praying for this movement and that it remains a positive force. I will continue to pray for our leaders. Pray for change. Pray for reason to prevail.” 

In addition to his messages of support, Fontaine sent a news crew to Ottawa because he wondered if Canadians are “getting the whole story.” 

He went on to say “I don’t agree with how this convoy is being betrayed by mainstream media. It’s divisive. This video from our crew on the ground proves otherwise. This movement is for all Canadians no matter race, religion or culture.” 

Fontaine acknowledged there were “a few individuals tainting the main message” of the convoy in Ottawa. “I do not agree with this behaviour but my crew there says this does not reflect the majority of these peaceful protestors.” 

Calls for additional comments about Fontaine’s support for the convoy were not returned by Spring’s Church, which is separate from the Miracle Channel, or from the Miracle Channel itself. 

Three other local evangelical pastors also weighed in, under condition of anonymity.

The convoy "is an amalgam of various people and groups coming together to express their frustration two years of government overreach," they said in an e-mail, acknowledging there have been "small elements of unseemly behaviour."

That has made the convoy "an easy target for those who are unwilling to show some empathy and religious compassion for the people who are understandably upset about losing their livelihoods . . . in the name of tolerance, Canada has become an increasingly intolerant country."

The faith response should not be to join in the chorus of inflammatory language and disparage those who think we should be on the other side of this issue," they added. Our job should be to invoke empathy and understanding, to respond kindly and positively while trying to lower the temperature."

Other faith groups have also spoken out about the convoy. 

In a statement, the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg said: “Across Canada, including here in Winnipeg, a small minority of individuals have shamefully used Nazi symbols, the Confederate flag, and misappropriated the Star of David as part of their protests. 

“The Nazi flag is an emblem of evil. It has no place at a public protest in Canada, or anywhere else. We condemn the actions of those who are employing these symbols to advance their political objectives.” 

Shahina Siddiqui of the Islamic Social Services Association said: “This recent blatant show of hate should wake all of us to the threat this hate poses to our social harmony.” 

Added the Manitoba Multifaith Council: “The use of the Nazi flags, the swastikas, the yellow star at the truck convoy protesting the current health measures make an absolute mockery of the experiences of the victims of the Nazis and of all those murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators. 

“The Confederate flags and the appropriation of the “Every Child Matters” slogan further illustrate the depths to which some of the participants in the convoy will stoop . . . The organizers have a responsibility to condemn these hateful symbols.  All people of faith or no faith should be standing up to oppose these worrisome developments.”

Statements about the trucker’s convoy

For my Feb. 5 article in the Winnipeg Free Press about how the pastor of Springs Church is supporting the trucker’s convoy, I also asked other faith groups to share their statements. I didn’t have enough room for them all. Find them below.

Manitoba Northwestern Ontario Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada & the Diocese of Rupert’s Land, Anglican Church of Canada

Over the past number of days, we have seen people from across our country exercise their right to gather and protest what they believe to be unjust laws. We fully support that right and encourage people to speak up when they believe something is unjust.

However, we also stand with many across the Christian Church and other faith traditions in unequivocally denouncing the symbols, words, and actions of white nationalism being expressed in Ottawa and across the country during these rallies. There is no place in our faith traditions to promote anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, or racism.

Our faith demands that we call out injustice. However, our response can never be a further display of intolerance and hate at the expense of others. We cannot support groups that have an underlying ideology of racism and white supremacy. As Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church: “Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 2:4-5)

To those who feel compelled to protest vaccination mandates, we support your right to do so. But please let your protest be about healthcare mandates. Do not give power or a platform to those who promote division and intolerance masquerading as ‘freedom.’

We are calling on each member of MNO Synod and Diocese of Rupert’s Land congregations to remember that in all things we follow God who calls us to love everyone across all expressions of race, religion, gender, and ability.

Manitoba Multifaith Council

The use of the Nazi flags, the swastikas, the yellow star at the truck convoy protesting the current health measures make an absolute mockery of the experiences of the victims of the Nazis and of all those murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators: six million Jews, including a million and a half children, the Roma, who were also targeted for genocide, the mentally and physically disabled, Slavs, gay men, Jehovah’s Witnesses, political opponents, and some “dissident” members of the clergy. All because they did not fit the worldview of the Nazis and their collaborators. 

The Confederate flags and the appropriation of the “Every Child Matters” slogan further illustrate the depths to which some of the participants in the convoy will stoop. With that, there have been many memes, messages, and conspiracy theories that are clearly affiliated with the white supremacist movement. Then of course, there is the desecration of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier – a symbol of the sacrifices made so that we may live in freedom, and the memorial to Terry Fox. All this, two days after International Holocaust Remembrance Day and on the anniversary of the murderous attack on the mosque in Quebec City. The organizers have a responsibility to condemn these hateful symbols. All people of faith or no faith should be standing up to oppose these worrisome developments. 

Jewish Federation of Winnipeg 

Across Canada, including here in Winnipeg, a small minority of individuals have shamefully used Nazi symbols, the Confederate flag, and misappropriated the Star of David as part of their protests. 

The Nazi flag is an emblem of evil. It has no place at a public protest in Canada, or anywhere else. We condemn the actions of those who are employing these symbols to advance their political objectives. 

Shahina Siddiqui, Islamic Social Services Association 

This recent blatant show of hate should wake all of us, to the threat this hate poses to our social harmony, none of us are safe from the fire of hate and if we do not stand together as one against this vile rhetoric none of us will be spared. 

Tanis Moore, Sensei, Manitoba Buddhist Temple 

Buddhism teaches us about peace, compassion, harmony, and equality.  Right Speech and Right Action are two teachings from the Eightfold Path, which helps us to alleviate suffering and discontent.  Right Action is to see that our deeds are peaceable, benevolent, compassionate and pure; and Right Speech asks us to refrain from harmful talk, and to speak kindly to all. These two teachings state that words and acts of hatred, racism and inequality are not to be condoned.  

We do believe that people have the right to protest non-violently (and properly informed) about issues that support those in suffering and need; however, in this situation we are seeing people being harmed through bigoted imagery, hurtful words and actions causing fear and trauma.  There are better ways to constructively acknowledge and discuss their frustrations without creating an atmosphere of hatred and anger.  

We know that people in general are frustrated during this pandemic time; however, we have also seen the wonderful good and helpful deeds people are doing to assist those in need; let us not forget our true nature as compassionate, caring, loving human beings.  

Mennonite Church Canada

As leaders within Mennonite Church Canada, we unequivocally denounce the symbols, words and actions of white nationalism being expressed in Ottawa and across the country.

While we support the right of people to gather peacefully in protest of government laws perceived to be unjust, we cannot support any action that promotes antisemitism, Islamophobia or racism. Jesus calls us to love our neighbours as ourselves as an expression of our love for God across categories of race, ethnicity, religion and gender. 

Michael Wilson, Minister, Charleswood United Church

The accounts of harassment and abuse at a homeless shelter, and the failure of protesters and their supporters to condemn it, says it all. To paraphrase Paul, without love we gain nothing.

This display of apathy for the common good, and this expression of anger that leads to hatred should and will amount to nothing. 

From three Winnipeg evangelical pastors (who requested anonymity)

The convoy is not a monolithic unified movement. It is an amalgam of various people and groups coming together to express their frustration for two years of government overreach. There have certainly been small elements of unseemly behaviour. The protestors who are displaying confederate flags, swastikas and unkind slogans are a fair target of criticism and condemnation as they taint the entire group. This in most unfortunate as they are not officially representing what the protest is about at all. 

Because of this, the protest has become an easy target for those that are unwilling to show some empathy (and religious compassion) for the people who are understandably upset about losing their livelihoods. The vast majority of the protestors are not white supremist, racists or Nazis. They are blue collar workers trying to have their voices heard in a political and cultural environment that now shuts down not only dissent, but the free exchange of ideas in the public square. In the name of tolerance, Canada has become a profoundly intolerant country. Our own PM (and many others) regularly insults and reproaches not only the protestors, but other sincere people who have their own reasons to refuse forced medical intervention (vaccine or vaccine mandate). 

It should deeply concern all Canadians that our civil liberties have been suspended without parliamentary debate and consensus, and that the unprecedented vaccine mandates strip Canadians of their right to work and make a living. Two years ago, all Canadians would have considered this unthinkable. All politicians, including the PM called vaccine mandates unfair, unconstitutional and unacceptable just a year ago. The Overton Window has shifted dramatically over the course of the pandemic. 

The nation has become deeply divided and it continues to get worse. The faith response should not be to join in the chorus of inflammatory language and disparage those who we think might be on the other side of this issue.  Our job should be to invoke empathy and understanding, to respond kindly and positively while trying to lower the temperature. Sometimes we forget that irrespective of our position, we are all in this thing together. And when it is over they will not remember our position, only our behaviour. 

Pandemic rituals, or what's getting you through this tough time?

 

A couple weeks ago I asked people what rituals were helping them get through the pandemic. It was for a column in the Free Press, published Feb. 5. I got more responses than I could use in the column; find them printed below. 

Doug Koop 

I do crossword puzzles and listen to hymns. It certainly pre-exists the pandemic, but its  importance is amplified in this season. 

Crossword puzzles are a form of distraction or retreat from the cares of the moment. They plunge my concentration into fragments of knowledge, trivia, and wordplay. They tease and confound at every step, and generally succumb in the end, which is gratifying. That's one element of transcendence they offer. 

Another is as a concentrating agent. I used to do crossword puzzles in graduate class seminars because it focused the restless part of my brain while another paid attention to the classroom. Without that sideways focus, my mind would wander to distraction. Ironically, focusing on a task at one hand enhanced my apprehension of the other. 

Crossword puzzles offer a ready retreat from daily stresses, generally for mere minutes at a time. The pastime calms my spirit, focusing my intellect on an abstract problem while another part of my mind floats, my emotions settle, and I gain better perspective on the agitations of the day. Escape? Perhaps. Uplifting? Often. 

As for hymns, much more could be said. I was subjected to a lot of hymn singing in my childhood and it was probably my most enjoyable experience of religion. 

I'm amazed by how many lyrics are stuck in my head, and how songs neither heard nor thought of for decades will pop into my mind at opportune moments. They arise unbidden and often have direct relevance to a situation at work or home. Last week it was "Blessed Quietness." On other occasions it's been "Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me," or "He Giveth More Grace," or .... 

For the past few months, Sunday morning "church" for Margie and me is to listen to about 30 minutes of music. Steve Bell's work has stimulated genuine worship on our part. And hymns. In this season, music from the Christian tradition has been resonating more deeply than Scripture. 

Janet Epp Buckingham  

My husband is part of a reading group reading the Bible in a year. They have an online discussion group. We are also doing the Renovare book club together. The book club reads 4 spiritual books over the year and has podcasts and a discussion forum.  

Richard A. Kauffman  

Hiking on trails. Listening to music on YouTube. Reading a book a week. I am also trying to be more mindful of Sabbath (on Sunday). I want to grow in this regard.  

All the things I listed in response to your original question were true for me the whole way through the pandemic except for the one about Sabbath keeping and hiking. We've recently started a series on Sabbath-keeping at the church where I'm an interim member of the pastoral team. It has really been a challenge to me in the best sense of that word. I preached the first sermon in the series. I've committed myself to being more mindful (observe) the Sabbath and yes, on Sunday. 

A few years ago I startled the slightly jaded members of my baby boomer Sunday school class when I told them I enjoy going to church and I feel something missing when I don't. But I see now that there is much more to Sabbath than going to church. That's like eating the appetizer but not the rest of the courses. Keeping the Sabbath entails rest, repose, recreation, reading, ceasing from commercial activities and one's work. I'm not legalistic about this, but it's something that I want to work on. The real challenge for me is social media: should I give it up on Sundays? I'm not ready for that but may try during Lent. 

I'm coming to the conviction that if we were to take the Sabbath seriously it would lead to a renewal of the church. The Jews believed that if Jew would faithfully keep the Sabbath some week the kingdom of God would come. As Walter Brueggemann has said, “Sabbath is not simply the pause that refreshes. It is the pause that transforms.” 

Here's where the hiking comes in: I think Sabbath, since it is the 7th day pause from God's work of creation, should put us in touch with the creation. (It should also put us in touch with the mighty works of God in history too.) So I'm committed to taking Sunday afternoon walks on nature trails that I haven't been on before or not for a long time. Of course once we have biking weather again, I'll be out on my bike.  

Carolyn Wood Carkner  

I get my brain in gear with Wordle, pray and read daily scripture before I’m out of bed. 

Justin Eisinga  

When the pandemic started almost two years ago, a group of fellow spiritual friends and I started a daily centring prayer practice over Zoom. We meet every morning, read a meditation, sit in silence together for 15-20 mins, and end with some yoga stretches. The practice is still going to this day.  

Haide Wall Giesbrecht  

It was pretty close to the start of the pandemic. I have always been someone who loves to travel and explore. With those options being cut off as a result of restrictions, it meant we had to get creative. We started to explore different areas of our neighbourhood at the beginning—different parks, streets we hadn't walked down before, trails we didn't know existed. 

Over time, as the 'stay in your local area' restrictions lifted, we explored areas in surrounding communities. I find that I find my spiritual well-being and my emotional well-being improves when I'm in nature. I see God's beauty and wonder at creation through the lens of my camera. Each day has been a minimum of 4-5 kms. In warmer weather, I would often do several 10 km walks per week. 

It honestly has been a sanity-saver. I was never someone who exercised regularly. However, walking has become such a part of my life that I miss it if ever there is a day where I don't get a regular walk. It's been a way to get out and explore, to have adventures, to have time and space to listen to audiobooks (usually fun and quirky mysteries to give me a break from the heaviness of my work), or to listen to my walking playlist of upbeat music.   

It has also been a way to connect me with people. As I have posted photos on my walks, more and more friends have reached out and asked to walk with me. There is rarely a day when I don't have someone to walk with, which has also helped fill my need for connection. 

Angeline Janel Schellenberg  

I am doing centering prayer, Visio Divina, the Examen. These practices are part of my training as a spiritual director. Would I have started these practices without the training? Would I have thought of taking the training without the pandemic? I think so, but the pandemic did play into it. By removing the expectations of church involvement, the pandemic gave me time to reflect on how I connect with God.   

At the beginning of the pandemic, I started setting my timer for 5 p.m. on weekdays to join st. benedict's table's evening prayers on Facebook Live. I joined a book study group with st. ben's. In November I started attending online Sunday evening services at st. ben's too. I've been seeing a spiritual director for years. I researched different schools and decided on Sustainable Faith School of Spiritual Direction, started by the Vineyard in the U.S. One Sunday they do Lectio Divina, another someone shares a testimony, another they do a group Examen, another a homily, and one Sunday/month they take a Sabbath from meeting. 

Visio Divina is typically a meditation on a piece of visual art. The way our spiritual director class is doing the practice this module, we draw an image that represents a strong emotion we've experienced that day. For example, I painted a grey vase full of blue-grey emptiness with arcs of pink and yellow on the edge of the page representing the warmth and joy of others that couldn't reach me. 

As I asked God about the image, I realized that the vase was open on top, ready to receive, and even if I couldn't feel God's love coming down to me, my emptiness could reach him and my grey-blue could blend with his life, which I added as a green arc above me. Then I extended the vase downward because I felt it needed a foundation, and I noticed that it was "dipping its toes" into the pink warmth. When we did this in our class on the weekend, each of us saw our picture transform from pain to hope. Stress has a way of sucking the words right out of us, so sometimes praying through images is what we need. 

Centring prayer unlocks the pandemic knot in my gut. If I can leave God to solve the world's problems for 20 minutes straight, this makes it easier to trust during the other 23 2/3 hours of the day! The Examen gives me a chance to savour the moments in the day that I felt close to God, beauty, nature, or other humans in the middle of this isolation.  

One of the things I love most about contemplative groups/practices is that there is so much trust that God is at work. I was growing tired of what I was feeling in sermons, committees, conversations, etc. The pressure to serve more, evangelize more, give more, believe better, live more rightly. The emphasis on keeping each other accountable. In traditions that value listening to God through spiritual direction relationships, poetry, silence, Lectio Divina, etc., such as the Anglican and Vineyard and Imago Dei communities, there is no need for us to inspire/convince each other how to live because we trust the Holy Spirit to do that. And spiritual maturity often looks like doing less, not more!   

Tim Enerst  

I do scripture & conversational prayer. Dedicated time with God is more of a delight now than a discipline. Or a need. Time in his word & presence is re-orientational. So much difficult news today—in the world, in my city, in the church. I daily need the reminder of who I am in Christ, and that I belong to God. 

From that centre of being, I am free to act from love, purpose, humility, ancient wisdom & hopefully, with a bit more poise & kindness thru the day. Also helpful spiritually, I meet with a man on the phone weekly, outside of my ministry, who serves as an accountability partner & prays with me for help with my weaknesses and faults.

Patricia Paddey  

When I was commuting downtown three days a week, there was a lot of walking involved in my morning commute. Then the pandemic hit, I shifted to working from home, and started drinking too much wine and eating too much party mix. So after a couple of months, we started walking, mostly together, once or twice a day. But sometimes apart. I actually like walking alone sometimes because I put in ear buds and listen to an audio book or podcast.

The walking helps purge stress at the end of the day, wake me up at the beginning of the day, and push away from my desk for some fresh perspective in the middle of the day. 

In terms of affecting me spiritually I would say that I firmly believe we are created body, mind and spirit—the- the whole package. So if we work to keep the body healthy, then the mind and spirit will benefit. Getting out in nature –a little walk along a wooded trail near our home—soothes my spirit and lets me notice God's handiwork in meaningful ways. The walk helps me process stuff that needs processing. 

Laura Marie Piotrowicz  

I do intentional prayer during jigsaw puzzle time, with a lighted candle. With the intensity of information and uncertainties in the world at large, I have been using puzzles as a means to filter out some of the noise. I’ve long enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, and often do them for fun while watching the Jets play or listening to the radio. 

For prayerful puzzling, I turn off my phone, light a candle, read an opening prayer, and read a passage of scripture, usually from the daily lectionary. I then reflect on that scripture while I am doing the puzzle. So the puzzle itself is almost like a fidget device, using the part of my brain that is stimulated (and over-stimulated) by the busy-ness of the world, while allowing the more contemplative part of my brain the space (and grace) to delve deeper into prayer. After a time (I try not to set a clock) I gently come out of the meditative space with a closing prayer. 

I don’t puzzle every day, and some puzzles take much longer than I expect, but it’s one of the tools in my toolbox. And puzzles themselves are full of great analogies for spiritual journeying, of course!  

The intentionality of it is that sometimes I don’t feel like praying—part of my doctoral research looked into “dry spells” and how praying through those helps to build resilience. 

Part of it is not getting caught up in the craziness of the pandemic, where “pivot” has become a functional normal (but goes against our spiritual desire to be still with God). Add to that the need to make multiple plans for each event, in case of another fast pivot. (For example, last Christmas we were shut down on December 22, so we had a lot of changes to make in a very short time.)  

Part of it is the benefits of prayer are tangible and beneficial: I’m feeding my soul with prayer, so I am intentional about that—the same way that at meal-time I am feeding my body.   

We know that the pressures upon us during the pandemic are not sustainable in the long-term; this is why burnout (clinical, not just the common use) is increasing. Increased workload + increased stress + increased uncertainty = more busyness; prayer can often be the first thing ignored from our daily routine (like physical exercise or sleep; these healthy habitual routines suffer when we’re busier.)  

If I am not intentional about taking time to pray, I lose the connection with God. And if I am not grounded in God, my ministry suffers. So I aim to be intentional (finding whatever way works for me, and being open to new ideas) about embracing these realities (including boundaries) as a spiritual leader. 

Byron Burkholder 

I do walks on the river. "Pray as You Go" (a Jesuit, online, guided scripture meditation) over breakfast. These practices aren't new, but they seem to have taken a different kind of power in the context of the pandemic. The value of walking as a spiritual practice came home to me in 2017 when I walked the 800 kms of the Camino in Spain. 

The Jesuit practice of using imagination in meditation—placing yourself in the story—is also something I've tried to do for years. I'm far from an expert on both counts.  Both practices are "old" and yet the pandemic seems to draw me more fully into connecting what's going on spiritually with the suffering and uncertainty of these days. When the dots are connected, there's a strange joy--which keeps me coming back for more.  

Susan Warkentin  

I love knitting very simple designs and I have taken to knitting prayer shawls for people going through difficulties. I mostly knit every day in the evening and more on weekends. The knitting gives me purpose while also giving me time to think and pray for the person I am knitting the shawl for. 

Dougald Lamont  

Others have baked or taken up crafts. I've played more music. During the pandemic, I have found that I will see, hear, or read some piece of art and it will stop me in my tracks. It could be an old poem like the Second Coming by Yeats, or a painting, but suddenly there's a moment of peace and clarity and insight in the hurricane of chaos and misery we're living through. 

I have played more music because I couldn't leave the house. Mostly guitar. 

 I have been jamming with friends for over 30 years and for the first time in over a year we had a chance to get together and play. A friend had died, two of us had been in hospital, so it was bittersweet, though mostly sweet because we are glad to be alive, which is gratitude at its most basic. We were all rusty at first but eventually got going. We trade instruments, improvise, don't worry about lyrics and make up solos, and playing like that is always spiritual. It is an act of creation. You are creating something out of nothing, and when you play together, especially with harmony, you make something that is more than the sum of the parts. 

Jamming a Neil Young song, in a Winnipeg basement, has arguably been a spiritual ritual in this city for more than a generation.   

Old songs also felt completely new in startling ways, like "You can't always get what you want" which has lines like "I went down to the demonstration, to get my fair share of abuse" and as I sang it I started to laugh, because as a politician who gets angry phone calls and threats, I had never sung that before. 

But in a pandemic, the line "You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you get what you need," has a completely different resonance. All songs do—songs of love, and loss and sadness—even party songs. And it's only in singing the song that you experience the insight on loss and your life. So it is a healing insight, and that is very spiritual. 

Don Engle  

We always liked the outdoors. Hiked with our kids. Picked wild berries "God's garden." In the spring of 2020, I somehow injured my back and was deteriorating. I started physiotherapy and only got worse. The physiotherapist said, "You have to walk." I bought a walker and walked hallways. Then walked to physio and back—1,600 steps. My first target was 6,000 steps. We walked every day in Birds Hill and Assiniboine Forest with my walker. By August I was up to 10,000 steps a day. I ditched the walker for hiking poles. As much as possible we walk in parks and along the rivers in Winnipeg. 

I marvel at the beauty of the outdoors, the changing of seasons, the flora and fauna as life springs forth and flourishes through the seasons. Truly "God's Garden." 

I love to sit and hear the wind, rustling of leaves, birds singing. This is My Father's World. I often catch myself singing hymns to myself as I walk in these quiet places. We try not to walk along busy streets. We walked the trails along Bunn's Creek when we lived in NK. Now we live in St. Boniface beside the Cathedral. There are many places to walk.   

Many friends and relatives have been widowed. During COVID we committed to calling them. Last Saturday a friend was so thankful for my evening call. "This is the first phone call I had today," he said. I am a retired pastor still serving. I call people in the parish on my dime just out of concern for them. To help us remember them we name them in our daily morning prayer.  

Steve Plenert  

I have been journaling for five years or so. It was a very important for processing thoughts and feelings.I write about the weather, family life, physical health, how to stay focused on goodness and a bit about my work. There are always things to think about and reflect on!  

Janice Biehn  

I do morning Prayer on Zoom, twice a week. It’s a ministry of our church. I used to go in person maybe once or twice a month but now it’s on zoom and I say it twice a week with our priest, It helps give my week structure, which I find I really need working from home.  

Val Pierce  

We try to walk every day. A new pooch keeps us motivated. We pray for our children and their demanding work, all health. We pray for those who are sick in our circle of friends, we pray for our world, the divisions that are currently growing more deeply entrenched, for our leaders, people who are particularly stressed right now. 

I also journal. I’ve been doing it for years, but with Covid I have found it immensely grounding. I write my prayers to God but also write in response to others who point the way. Tim Keller has been a highlight. Journaling and walking prayers and a few other practices have created sacred spaces which are a respite and relief from the daily news cycles and mundane routines of day life. 

Rob Robotham 

During Covid I have more time to pray and I'm realizing I need God more than ever and that prayer is really important. I feel very grounded after doing this. I've always enjoyed hiking but have gotten into it even more during the pandemic. As soon as I'm in the woods on a hike, I get a sort of "nature buzz" where I feel relaxed & any stress starts to disappear. I think this is fairly common. I also enjoy the physical exercise elements as well.  

Kathie Gillis  

I knit. I do it many times a day. I weave intention into each stitch. If it’s a gift for someone each stitch has a mantra for them, like a prayer. From pandemic perspective it keeps me connected to the recipient, as well as feeling productive outside of my job. The repetitive motion keeps me in constant meditation, which also allows the freedom to keep the person in my thoughts and send blessings, intentions of healing, abundance, deservedness.  

Belle Jarniewski  

I do morning prayers online with Congregation Shaarey Zedek and of course on Shabbat. It's really become a new thing since my daughter began working at Shaarey Zedek as lay clergy. So she is doing several services a week. 

Before she began working there I also tuned in but less often. They are generally an hour long. I find it very comforting to hear the service and see the messages in the chat from people tuning in from near and far. The prayer for healing is traditionally part of the daily services and people can add to the list of names of those in need in healing through the chat. There is such a wonderful feeling of unity and support.  

Theo Robinson  

I spend time reading, researching, and trying to write. I do try to carve out time, although I'm not always successful. I have two projects on the go—an autobiography and a book about Transgender Pastoral/Spiritual care. I am mostly doing research still. I have definitely written more over the last two years than I have before.  

Because I have been reading about theology, it nourishes my spiritually by increasing my knowledge.  

Nicolas Greco  

I participate in daily online mass. It has connected me with an “imagined community” of faith, all coming together at the same time to watch the same thing. It has been (somewhat) constant in this turbulent time. In terms of spirituality, it is really access to something transcendent in a mostly mundane “frame” of the TV (in my case, a livestream). I was Protestant (I grew up Pentecostal) and entered into full communion with the Catholic Church in 2016. I knew of the Daily TV mass before a friend alerted me to it, and we watched it together for a time (messaging each other throughout).