Dear Friends,

In our gospel reading for today, we hear Jesus tell his followers, “Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” If you grew up in the Episcopal Church, you may remember hearing these words at the beginning of each Sunday Eucharist – they were part of the old Prayer Book communion rite and were called “Comfortable Words.” 

When I was a teen going through confirmation class, I used to wonder, what kind of yoke could be easy or burden light? What is so “comfortable” about this? It wasn’t until my seminary years decades later that I learned that in the ancient world, a yoke was a wooden instrument that coupled two oxen together and made of them a team. The yoke, then, is not one that Jesus imposes but one that he also wears; what makes his yoke easy and light is that we don’t wear it or bear it alone. It’s as if Jesus is saying to us, “Become my yoke mate and learn how to pull the load by working beside me and watching how I do it. The heavy labor will seem lighter when you allow me to help you with it.”

As many of you know, our beloved Priest Associate, the Rev. Shelby Owen, suffered a second stroke at the end of June and is now recovering from brain surgery. For me and for many of you, Shelby has been the very kind of “yoke mate” that Jesus had in mind, one who lightens the load, offers guidance on the way, and is just plain good to be around. Her absence is very present with us right now, and yet I feel strongly that Jesus has yoked himself to her in her recovery and to us in our ministry at St. John’s as we journey through this time apart.

Shelby is currently receiving excellent rehab care at Sheltering Arms and making good progress, walking farther each day and restoring her motor skills. She and her husband Steve have been so appreciative of our prayers and offers of support. They have shared that Shelby will not be able to receive visitors in the foreseeable future and is not yet back to her phone or computer screen. Cards and notes are welcome, and you can either bring those to church on Sunday or call our parish office for the Owens’ address. No meals or flowers are needed for now; the Owen family will be in touch with me and with the pastoral care team if assistance is required in the future. 

Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions you might have. And in the meantime, let us be grateful for the yoke mates we have been given in and through one another. I am convinced that my own yoke is easier and lighter because of your love and dedication to our church family.

In Christ,

Amelie+