Dear diocese,
Through the magic of technology some of you were there when the Diocesan Environment Network (DEN) recently hosted a session on energy efficiency in church buildings at one of our weekly on line gatherings.
As many of you know, every Thursday evening we begin with a short reflection. This past week, I wanted to kick it off with something that would be spiritually engaging and set the stage for a conversation about being functional, greening church buildings.
It is my habit to begin sermon/reflection prep by reviewing sermons from previous years, in this case sermons for Lent 3, then delve into other research. In the end, each week’s reflection or sermon is most often completely different than anything I said in years past and the preparation is always a journey that is more of a surprise to me than anyone else. Why?
Circumstances change and needs change.
In the midst of preparation last week, I realized that we were going to be gathering that particular evening to talk about buildings. Buildings that have barely been used this twelve months. Buildings we miss.
Yet, we still gather. We have adapted to the circumstances because it is the community, the people, who are most important. A year or so ago an incredible number of parishes quickly, almost instantly, found innovative ways of sticking together. And as a result of the pandemic, our virtual life on the internet superhighway was born.
Throughout the pandemic, like the tide flowing in and out, we adapted to the ebb and flow of gathering online, then tentatively gathering face to face (or mask to mask) in the “usual” fashion albeit in unusual times. We also had to learn, as communities of faith, how to manage our time together in buildings. Doing a new, socially distanced dance in buildings, in times past, that we had felt so comfortable in.
Today, protocol has become critically important. Our new normal. Wear your mask. Keep your distance. Sanitize, sanitize, sanitize… Change or re-arrange the environment so we can be together, whether it be face to face or in front of a screen.
Congratulations! In spite of the church’s reputation for not accepting change, we have proven that we can be adaptable. That we can keep each other and ourselves safe in times of crisis.
It make we wonder, knowing that by nature we are pack animals and that coming together in a common “home” is so important, if, like the disciples who had to quickly deal with change, following the Messiah, feeling the comfort of his and each other’s presence, suffering the shock of changed circumstances, but sticking together, then experiencing the Resurrection, change, change, change… we might, just might, be ready to make the changes necessary to respond to the other crisis, climate change? Something that will affect generations to come?
The changes necessary involve those buildings we love and have been so committed to gather in. Having seen how our parishes can adapt to the pandemic, I believe that we can also adapt to the climate crisis.
As we prepare for the next leg of the journey, the end of our imposed separation, this is the time to develop and implement a plan for the buildings we gather to ensure a future for the church that includes a better normal.
So, I pose the question: What would a better normal look like for your church building?
The answer might be found on videos posted on the DEN You Tube channel that can be accessed under DEN: Videos through our webpage https://www.nspeidiocese.ca/ministries/diocesan-environment-network.
And you might want to check out the new Application for Funding for Renewable Energy Project on our diocese website: https://www.nspeidiocese.ca/pages/administration-policies
Blessings from the outer world,
Rev. Marian Lucas-Jefferies
