Where did June go?

When national, local, congregational, and family events collide

The month of June proved to be one of the busiest months I have experienced in a long while, even when compared to the barely contained chaos that is life in the coronavirus era. There was so much going on in our family, our congregation, our community, and in the nation that it has been challenging to keep up with it all. Fortunately, I have not been going through this time alone.

Through it all I have been incredibly grateful for the support, love, and prayers of so many people in my life. Over the past few weeks I have been consistently impressed by the capacity, wisdom, and faithfulness of the leaders of our congregation, the people of Dexter and medical professionals who work so hard to keep others healthy.

Seeking justice in our world

It is no secret that events in our nation hit a boiling point this month. We saw cities around the country embroiled in protests over the recent unjust killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and other black Americans. It has taken far too long for the issue to make it back onto the radar screens of white America, but I have been gratified to see just how much more traction the conversation has gained in recent months. 

Here in southeast Missouri that engagement has taken on several forms. In Cape Girardeau various groups have organized teach-ins, prayer vigils, public advocacy days, and peaceful marches. I have had the privilege of attending a couple events myself. The visibility and leadership of the members and pastor of St. James AME Church has been especially helpful. The local Junteenth celebrations were far more heavily  advertised than in past years. Dexter has had multiple Black Lives Matter gatherings in the West City Park. 

What has most impressed me throughout this whole process is how willing the organizers and the police have been to engage with each other on an ongoing basis. We have not experienced the violence that has damaged cities in other parts of the country. It has not been perfect and, like any grassroots movement, there are many voices at the table. Not everyone will agree on every particular solution, but in my lifetime I have never seen so many people from so many different parts of society so actively engaged in conversations on racial justice. 

Community begins to reopen

In Dexter the month of June was marked by a gradual transition to a more open way of life. Many of our local traditions began to return to the calendar. The Ben Kruse 18 Fore Life charity golf tournament was held. Baseball and basketball tournaments resumed. The campgrounds and boat ramps at Lake Wappapello accepted an increase in visitors.

The impact of the coronavirus has meant that many of these activities occurred in a modified format. Spectators were asked to bring their own chairs to games and sit socially distanced from each other. Stores and businesses operated at reduced capacity. The 18 Fore Life opening banquet was held virtually via an online live stream. 

This transitional moment has been marked by some people in the community feeling ready for more openness, while others are more cautious and continue to restrict their own movements and engagement with the rest of society. Too many people think the only two choices for society are fully open or totally locked down. In reality, local leaders face a constant balancing act of how much risk to permit while still seeking to keep people as safe as possible. 

This balance is a constantly moving target. Regulations have changed. The CDC has learned more about the disease over time. Local infection rates have gone up and down. It has not been perfect, but overall I have been incredibly impressed by how well our city and county officials handled the uncharted waters of recent months.

Transition in the church world

This has mirrored the experience of our congregation. Members of our church are not all on the same page as to the best response to the ongoing danger of the pandemic. We began face to face worship in June with a gathering outside. We moved inside the next week and have been worshiping in the Disciple Center because the gymnasium setting allowed us to better meet the Stoddard County Health Department guidelines which were in effect at the time. 

The expiration of the 25% seating capacity rule has allowed us to transition back into the sanctuary. Starting in July it will be feasible for us to worship using a modified order of worship designed to minimize risk yet still gather in one place. 

Just like the rest of the community, this transition has not gone perfectly for the church. One of the many things the past few months has taught us is that having an online presence is critical for those who are immunocompromised, in high risk age categories, or those who no longer live in the local area. Unfortunately, our improvised live streaming process has often suffered from poor sound quality and occasional connectivity issues. Because of this we are working with Dexter Music Center to upgrade our sound system and get a purpose designed streaming camera.

Despite all of the challenges, I remain eternally grateful for the way the leaders of the church have handled this. The elders and I have been in regular discussions about the right level of openness for any particular moment. Volunteers have come together to ensure that school children were fed, seniors got prescriptions, and the shut ins received cards and phone calls. The board handled some surprise financial and property issues with care, openness, and an intentional focus on how God can best use this congregation to make a difference in our community.

Focusing on family affairs

This has been incredible to experience and I am especially appreciative because it has allowed me to focus on the most critical personal issue in our family. This month Lily was finally able to have a surgery to deal with an ongoing medical situation. Because of the pandemic things were delayed by several months. The procedure went precisely as hoped. She is doing well in her recovery and should be back up to full speed by the time school starts again in the fall.

Needless to say, this has been our focus throughout the last several weeks. One of the strange silver linings of situations like this is that Lily and I have been able to spend so much more time together. It has become my responsibility to do the cooking, assist with medication, and coordinate logistics. Our anniversary and my birthday were low key, but extremely enjoyable, affairs. 

Huge thanks to everyone who has helped make this challenging time a little bit easier. Members of the church and the Dexter community have provided frozen meals, cards, and phone calls. The leaders of the church have allowed me the flexibility that I have needed to best care for her. People have consistently lifted her up in prayer. 

Having this church and so many wonderful people in our lives is an incredible gift. Thank you all. Even so, I would not mind if the month of July was a little less exciting than June has been.