Spiritual Wellbeing: December 2020 Vestry Papers
Dear Friends,
One thing this strange and difficult year has forced us to do is confront ourselves. Reflecting in the solitude of our homes and quiet moments, we have learned more about our personalities, our coping mechanisms and our strengths. It is no surprise that in this issue about wellbeing, all our contributors have relied heavily on their personal experiences to share ideas for spiritual self-care, especially during the holidays in this challenging year.
How can we connect with God during these stressful times? In Seven Ways to Nourish Your Spirit and Soul, Rebecca Roberts lists practical and simple habits we can cultivate to find the strength to persevere even in the most difficult times.
Have you experienced a Posada? In Las Posadas and the Journey to Bethlehem, Raul Deigo Veizaga explains the cultural significance of this celebration for the Hispanic community, the impact of joyful community gatherings and their unique experience of Christmas. This article is available in English and Spanish.
Perhaps the one thing our souls are collectively longing for at this moment in history is unity. In Wait and Pray, Christopher McNabb raises questions about our values as Christians and Church and asks what it will take for us to turn to Jesus with our body, mind and soul.
What role does community, spiritual discipline and biblical literary play in our overall mental and spiritual wellbeing? In Our Spiritual Evolution, Matthew Cobb delves into each of these essential capacities sharing his personal experience and learnings.
2020 has been a year of challenges certainly, but also a year of resilience, sharing and learning. ECF Vital Practices’ two major resource offerings this year are still available, and I invite you to explore them.
The COVID-19 resource hub we began in March is updated daily and provides resources from across the Church, designed to inform and support us through the current COVID-19 pandemic.
On our Racial Justice resource hub you will find four sections – Read, Watch, Listen and Act, and multiple resources for groups, individuals, children and youth at varying levels of learning and comfort. Our goal is to collect and curate these resources on an ongoing basis, so there are always fresh voices and ideas to learn from. This resource collection is just one part of ECF’s long-term commitment to racial justice.
To learn more about ECF and our programs, please visit our website.
The ECF Vital Practices team would like to wish you and your family an extra measure of comfort, hope and love this Christmas season.
Faithfully,
Charis Bhagianathan
Editor, ECFVP