On Sunday I took a picture of the balcony wall with the steel framing complete, and on Tuesday I returned to this view! The sheetrock is up, and now the mudding and sanding can commence. On Wednesday, the floor/ceiling between the pantry and what used to be "the bathroom on the landing" will be cut out: the shaft for our new elevator is beginning to take shape!
Most of us have not set foot in the sanctuary, or anywhere else in the building, in weeks. We have not gathered for worship in person since the middle of Lent, and our souls long for the Easter celebration on the other side of this pandemic. Very little has changed since those early days of life with COVID-19 - we practice social distancing while keeping in touch; we wash our hands again and again while humming various tunes; and when we go out, we wear masks to protect each other from infection. Since Monday, wearing a face covering in public in Nashville is no longer merely strongly recommended, but required. “Face coverings help slow the spread of COVID-19 and save lives,” said Mayor John Cooper. “The health of our community requires every Nashvillian to do their part.” I am grateful for our public health officials, for their well-informed and wise guidance throughout this crisis, and for elected leaders who support their recommendations.
At Vine Street, we will continue to worship online only until it is safe for all of us to gather in person. We are all painfully aware that this is far from what we are called to be and do, far from what we want and long for. For the time being, it is simply the most loving thing to do.
Our sanctuary is undergoing profound transformation in our absence, along with just about every corner of our building. Our nation, indeed the whole world, is undergoing profound transformation in this strangest of years, and many of us witness these changes from afar, confined to our homes, following events on the news, and discussing them on the phone, on video calls, or on social media. In the case of our building, our absence is actually a bonus: the work can proceed without disrupting any congregational activities. In the case of the world and our nation, we are reminded that the Spirit of the living God will overcome any obstacle to free us from captivity and bondage: we open ourselves to the Spirit's challenge and comfort, and we are no longer merely observers of transformation, but the ones most profoundly transformed by the work of God.
I thought this would be just a brief note, but allow me to conclude with words of gratitude, since my heart is full. Thank you to those of you who have said yes when we asked you to serve as Elders, Deacons, or members of the Administrative Council. Thank you to those of you completed your terms of office on June 30 - your dedication, wisdom, and significant gifts of time and energy are beautiful expressions of Christian stewardship. And thank you to all of you who have so very faithfully continued to support our common ministry with your financial contributions. We know that for many this has not been easy, given the current economic uncertainty. We are stronger together, and thanks be to God for showing us the full meaning of "we" and "together."