Summer Resting and Reading
Every once in a while, I am reminded that I am not in the Midwest anymore. At our last staff meeting, I was surprised to discover that our diocesan office has a long history of closing early on Fridays in the summer. This must be a remnant (though still true for some) of the era of summer lake homes. I encountered it last year when visiting Christ Church in Sodus Point, St. Luke’s in Branchport, and Garrett Chapel at the other end of Keuka Lake. Several people greeted me by telling me which Episcopal Church they usually go to. I am so glad that people continue to go to church in the summer, and very thankful for the faithful year-rounders who keep these parishes and chapels open. (Try out St. James in Hammondsport, St. James in Watkins Glen, St. Mark's in Penn Yan, Trinity and St. Peter’s in Geneva, St. John’s in Canandaigua, or St. John’s in Honeoye Falls in the morning—and the nearby lakes in the afternoon!)
I know bishops have traditionally taken the entire month of August off; however, due to my busy fall travel schedule, I decided against this. Certainly, things are quiet in July and August in parishes, though as a teacher and then as a rector, the last weeks of August were an important time to ramp up for the new program year. And maybe this is my Midwestern side showing—I like the pace of summer work. With fewer distractions, summer can be a generative time to work on large projects that always get put at the bottom of the to-do list in the busy season. Summer work can be meditative—a slower pace with more daylight hours—a time to reset our frenzied pace. And summer is a time for reading!
This year, your leadership groups have been reading and reflecting together. If you are looking for a summer read to enrich and inspire your Christian life, consider these titles:
- The Dream of God by Verna J. Dozier (Commission on Ministry)
- Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman (Standing Committee)
- Decolonizing Wealth by Edgar Villanueba (Trustees)
- Faithful, Creative, Hopeful; Fifteen Theses for Christians in a Crisis-Shaped World by Jesse A. Zink (Diocesan Council – The Rev. Dr. Zink will be our Convention 2025 speaker)
- Psalms for Praying: An invitation to Wholeness by Nan C. Merrill (recommended for simple morning devotions by the Rev. Julianne Buenting, Christ Church, Rochester)
And whether you read or not this summer, take time to think about all you do as prayer. Gardening, hiking, relaxing at a lake, boating, going to summer festivals, barbecuing—all our moments are moments to rest in God. Have a wonderful, generative summer!
God’s Blessings,
