A Reflection from Director of Family Ministries, Simone Monique Barnes
Dear People of St. James’,
Be it several days, weeks, or even a month, back to school season has begun for students in Central Texas. Are we ready for this school year? No. And we don’t have to pretend to be. We’re here. Ready or not. Here we are.
With the pandemic, educators and staff are tasked with unparalleled odds and obstacles, bending, pivoting, and stretching themselves to meet student needs, while also trying to meet their own basic needs.
With the pandemic, many parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and neighbors find themselves unexpectedly going back to school, too! As parents leave for work as essential workers, or stay to work from home, parents and extended family members are now serving ad-hoc teachers, teacher’s aides, tutors, and/or tech support for K-12 students who are enrolled in virtual school programs.
With the pandemic, be it virtual or in-person, the student experience has dramatically and abruptly changed. Classes, the classroom, the playground, lunch, recess, after school, and even the commute feels unfamiliar and unlike any year before.
We miss our friends. We miss our routines. We miss ourselves.
But in a season of uncertainty, it’s important to remember who we are. St. James’ Episcopal Church has survived multiple seasons of change. And our church has never been about the building, it has always been about the people. We are a resilient people. So how do we stay resilient during a pandemic?
This summer, St. Jamesian and psychiatrist Dr Nakia Scott reminded our Freedom Schools – Austin families about the importance of faith in times of uncertainty; while Freedom Schools parent and psychologist Dr Naijean Bernard reminded us about the importance of self care, inviting us to write down our plans and needs to care of ourselves and reciting the late poet and writer Audre Lorde’s words “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence. It is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” Leaning into our faith traditions and practices helps us to have faith and thrive. Self care reminds us of how God cares for us. Our faith teaches us that in addition to studying, we are to make time to rest, to keep the sabbath, to pray, to nourish ourselves with healthy food, to seek community support, and care for our body, mind, and spirit. May I remind you that even Jesus took rest.
And as we develop our faith and self care practices, we must remember that church is the people, not the person. It is so important to stay connected and in community. We do that through participating in worship services, Bible study and discussions, connections groups, games, and social hours. We do that through video games with friends, phone calls, meals and care packages, and service projects. We do that by sitting and listening. We do that by reaching out to others to laugh, and to cry, to rant, and to rave, to pray, and to be prayed for.
As we navigate this pandemic, and all the changes it continues to bring, it is vital to lean into our faith, and to support our children, youth, and young adults in doing the same. As we make our way through schedules and assignments for this new school year, let us remember to schedule time with God and with the people of God. Take a moment to ask yourself and each other: what cherished faith traditions and self care practices sustain you? This question has no age restrictions. Then be encouraged to lean into your faith and to lean on one another while we’re here in this moment in time.
Simone Monique Barnes
Director of Family Ministries
