Good morning…
Every August since 1995, my husband Steve has started a new school year as a chaplain at The Lovett School (minus our brief, beloved stint in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania from 2001-2003). Hands down, this August has been the most unusual, unsettling beginning of school, ever. Unable to gather all the upper school students in the chapel with social distancing restrictions due to COVID, Steve hosted by video his opening chapel of the year. I admit to being biased, but I loved his inspiring message, the outreach opportunity presented by members of the student service board, and the special, unpracticed music presented before the final blessing.
To be honest, the final music felt like it went on and on and on, which mimicked for me the exact experience forced upon us by this global pandemic, as it also lingers on and on and on. Invited to improvise, let’s hang in there together as lasting blessings will appear in life, as sure as the final benediction appears on this screen.
As a final blessing of his earthly life, Jesus said, “You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed and placed and purposefully planted you, so that you would go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit will remain and be lasting”(John 15:16a, AMP). We each have been chosen, appointed, placed, and purposely planted here and now, so that we might go, bear fruit, and keep on bearing, even during the most unusual, unsettling school year in modern history.
Please enjoy this service led by Steve on this Sabbath morning.
…Sue…
P.S. First photo by Florencia Viadana from Amsterdam, Netherlands on Unsplash
