“There is light after darkness,” Rev. Sue Browning of Easton’s Unitarian Universalist Fellowship told the Emergency Operations Center team on Friday. “Light will come and may we have the courage to see in new ways and to forge new paths in these uncharted times.”
As of Saturday, April 11, the EOC has been activated for 30 days in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The team of more than 60 members is organized by the Talbot County Department of Emergency Services and comes together in times of community crisis.
County and town governments, area social services agencies, and public schools all have representation within the EOC.
In the case of a health crisis, the group follows the lead of Talbot County Health Officer Fredia Wadley, M.D.
Daily operational calls keep team members informed and serve as a forum for discussing difficult issues that often arise when responding to crisis situations.
Emergency Services Director Clay Stamp invited Rev. Browning to the call on Good Friday as a special guest to offer words of encouragement to the team.
“I want to lift up, not just to what is being done,” Browning said, “but the grace you are bringing to each task, to each checklist, to your team, to each honest conversation. I believe it is grace that weaves together these many tasks.
“It’s grace that gives the many efforts purpose. It’s grace that keeps this collective effort moving forward, even as you are tired and drained. It is grace that renews.”
The minister ended her comments with a prayer:
Spirit of light, spirit of love, gracious God beyond our knowing, we come together from our many different perspectives in love.
We take time to remember the lives lost across the world, across the nation, and in our own area.
We come in witness to stretched systems and images of suffering.
We ask for blessings for the first responders, for medical teams, and for service workers that are in so many roles.
And we are reminded that we come together in this week, this Holy Week of holidays, in hope.
These are times that remind us that, yes, there is light after darkness.
Light will come and may we have the courage to see in new ways and to forge new paths in these uncharted times.
We ask your blessing for all who are gathered on this call, all who are addressing the needs of this beloved community in hope and in love.
In the many ways we all pray, we say together, amen.
With Easter approaching, please see the below interpretive guidance for religious facilities released April 1 by the governor’s office: Guidance for Religious Facilities and Clergy.
Where to Find More Information
• CDC COVID-2019 Website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
• Talbot County COVID-19 Information www.talbotcovid19.org
• Shore Regional Health COVID Information https://www.umms.org/shore/patients-visitors/coronavirus
• Maryland Department of Health Website: https://health.maryland.gov/pages/home.aspx
• Talbot County Health Department Website: https://health.maryland.gov/talbotcounty/Pages/home.aspx
• Talbot County Health Department Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalbotHealthMaryland/
• Talbot County Department of Emergency Services Website: https://www.talbotdes.org/default.asp
• Talbot County Department of Emergency Services Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/talbotdes
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