Dear friends,  

Grace and Peace to you in the name of our risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  

If you have not heard the news through last week’s devotional videos, I want to let you know that I was blessed with the opportunity to receive my first Covid-19 vaccination. My arm is a little sore, and I experienced a little fatigue, but all in all things went smoothly.  

I was hesitant about getting the vaccination. Not because of kooky conspiracy theories, but because I felt guilty that I may be taking a vaccination away from someone who needed it more. I spoke with my vaccinated colleagues about it, and they encouraged me to pursue it. But, I wasn’t all the way sold until I experienced two parishioners and two friends in the hospital in one week, and I felt powerless because I couldn’t be by their sides as they sat alone. That’s what kicked me into gear.  

I will get my booster shot on the second of March, and hopefully I will have the opportunity to then be by your sides in your times of need. Thanks be to God.  

I encourage any of you who are eligible to get your vaccine at this time to go get it. This is an important step in getting back to a sense of normalcy, and a step toward the opportunity to gather safely together again in person. And, we can trust, with faith, that God has worked through the Holy Spirit to guide the work of those who created the vaccines and through those who are administering them. Thanks be to God.  

I hope you all are continuing to enjoy the weekly devotional videos, and I hope that you are enjoying our Zoom services in the sanctuary. When we tried being in the sanctuary for the first time, I teased that you all were going to get used to it and I was going to have to do it every Sunday. Well, guess who actually really enjoyed it and now looks forward to doing it every Sunday… this guy! Being in my vestments and seeing all of your lovely faces on Zoom honestly feels more natural than being in vestments and looking at all of you wearing masks in person. It has been very meaningful to me, and I hope that it is meaningful to you as well.  

Soli Deo Gloria,

Pastor Robert