Sunday School, Youth Group and other meetings
Several Sunday School classes, committees, and the Youth Group will meet this week by Zoom video as will the Wednesday night chapel time, “For the Living of These Days”. We’ll continue to reach out and offer opportunities for all Watts Streeters as well as assistance for groups who would like to utilize this helpful online “space.” It was just a few weeks ago that we were wondering whether this new-to-us platform would be heavily utilized among us. How little we knew then!
Watts Street Mission and Ministries
As we shared in a previous email this week, we have two task groups at work right now—one for connections and needs within our Watts Street community, and one for listening and responding to needs in the wider community beyond Watts Street. We hope to share information from them with you soon. Though they are taking on new shapes, our Watts Street ministries and missions will continue and we ask for your continued faithful financial support. You can give online here anytime through our website or mail a check to the church office (c/o Financial Secretary, 800 Watts Street, 27701). Please let the staff ministers or your deacon know if you have a need with which we can help.
Tending Your Soul
Brother Richard Hendrick is an Irish Franciscan priest-friar who wrote a prayer that many have shared in these days. His primary ministry has been in Youth Ministry and it seems apt that we share a portion of his prayer in closing. You will find it below.
We love you Watts Street. And hope to “see” you on Sunday.
Grace and peace,
Dorisanne
Prayer excerpt from Fr. Richard Hendrick, OFM, written March 13th 2020:
All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting
All over the world people are looking at their neighbors in a new way
All over the world people are waking up to a new reality
To how big we really are.
To how little control we really have.
To what really matters.
To Love.
So we pray and we remember that
Yes there is fear.
But there does not have to be hate.
Yes there is isolation.
But there does not have to be loneliness.
Yes there is panic buying.
But there does not have to be meanness.
Yes there is sickness.
But there does not have to be disease of the soul
Yes there is even death.
But there can always be a rebirth of love.
Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now.
Today, breathe.
Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic
The birds are singing again
The sky is clearing,
Spring is coming
And we are always encompassed by Love.
Open the windows of your soul
And though you may not be able
to touch across the empty square,
Sing.