I have learned that small positive changes add up and make a big difference. This is true in a parish. This is true in our lives. When I was younger I was either all in or all out. Lent helped me change my approach. Lent provides a great avenue to make positive changes in my personal life and I am always looking for small positive changes to make in our parish.
I've told you a few times about my first Lent as an Episcopalian how I gave up Diet Pepsi. I was drinking more than five a day. It was a small change. It sounds almost silly to me now, but more than decade has passed and I still don't drink Diet Soda. I can't stand the taste of it now.
Our parish recently made a small change. Before Vestry meetings our Vestry Clerk sends an e-mail out to the Vestry with the minutes from the last meeting. Cindy McVey sends an e-mail out with the financials from last month and finally the Senior Warden or I would send an email with the agenda. Someone always missed at least one of the e-mails. Well, our new Senior Warden Holly Wilson Byrd suggested that the Minutes and the Financials come to her and then she would add the Agenda. Now the Vestry receives one email. It's a simple obvious solution that over time could make a big difference.
What small change do you need to make? I would like to suggest one. Maybe instead of giving something up you could take something on? Maybe for Lent it's time to come back to church? It's just a small change. It is only an hour a week. You might be thinking, 'how could that make a difference?' It can. It takes time to form a habit.
Small changes are good because they are reasonable and achievable. This is a reasonable suggestion. Most of our older and most vulnerable members have been vaccinated. We have so many health care workers and tribal employees in our parish so a good number of our younger members have been vaccinated as well. It is an achievable goal as well. Other l
Lenten disciplines take time out of every day, this change only takes an hour from one day.
See you in church or online.
Tom +