Dear Friends,
Yesterday, Father’s Day, was my final sermon for this church year. It was a rich, full service, in every way. We had a dedication service for Ellery Price and she melted my heart. My emotional response was heightened by the fact that I officiated at Lauren and Aaron’s wedding, Ellery’s parents, four years ago, and I did a dedication for Lauren twenty-six years ago!
The sanctuary was filled, in every sense of the word: it was filled with congregants, it was filled with Ellery’s extended family, it was filled with the special spirit that brings us to the deeper places of the heart,and it was filled with late-spring sunshine – as well as being filled to over-flowing with our Once-and-Again Folk Choir who were dressed in shades of blue as a reminder of the summer sun which we’re looking forward to.
Speaking of the summer sun, Ed and I gave John Carroll our summer schedules – we’re on call during July and August in case of church emergencies. I’ll be going to Chautauqua the second week in July to serve as minister-of-the week, as usual. I’ll be going to Switzerland the early part of August to officiate at Laura McDonald’s wedding, and I’ll be spending some time in Maine, making sure the waves are still washing the shores of Old Orchard Beach!
It has been a challenging year, on several fronts, including staff changes. I’ve never been more ready for some summer sun…and those waves. And a lobster or two.
One of the things that has helped me through some of this year’s challenges is ifloat. Have you heard of it?
David and Andrew, who own ifloat, have been attending church for a few weeks. They invited me to try it, and I did, and I’ve found it quite helpful.
In a very nice facility over Oscar’s deli in downtown Westport, they have four float chambers, each with warm water, the temperature of the skin, and enough Epsom salt to allow you to lie on your back and relax…or meditate…or simply ‘be.’
I had the experience of floating in the Dead Sea, in Israel, but this, of course, is much different. You are alone in a darkened, soundproof chamber for sixty or ninety minutes – I’ve done both of those times.
It’s a combination of meditation and medication. It’s not only a stress reliever, but it has the potential of being a pain reliever, and it doesn’t require you to do anything or learn some technique. You simply have to be…to be there.
I’ll let you know how it goes.
Meanwhile, I hope things are okay with you, and I hope you will, as Thoreau put it in his journal ‘begin this summer well, to do something in it worthy of it and you…to transcend the daily routines.’
Take good care,
Yours, Frank
