The Oasis - January 29,2025
Author: Rev. Eric Dupee
January 30, 2025
The world can be a scary place. Recently, many of us were literally shaken by a 3.8 earthquake. Apparently, it centered in York Harbor. I watched as two items fell from shelves in the parsonage. In subsequent church meetings, the initial topic of conversation has been, “Where were you when the earthquake struck?” And “What did you initially think it was?”
Speaking of the world being scary, I was reading the Harper’s Index. If you’re not familiar, it’s a collection of enlightening information from Harper’s Magazine that provides a snapshot of the world at a given time. In reading the February 2025 Index, I came across a term I had never heard before: “Sunday scaries.” The Sunday scaries are feelings of anxiety or dread that people experience on Sundays before returning to work.
As you can see below, 45% of Americans experience the “Sunday scaries” as they anticipate returning to their place of employment. Nearly half of working people feel dread about going to work the next day. I don’t know how they determined this, but the average time of day when they strike is 3:54 pm.
Percentage of Americans who report experiencing the “Sunday scaries”
: 45
February 2025 • Source: Talker Research (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
Average time at which their onset is felt
: 3:54 pm
February 2025 • Source: Talker Research (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
In a world with so much to fear and dread, having a community of faith to which to belong is vital. In the Bible, God repeatedly instructs God’s people to “fear not.” Worship is a place to bring one’s fears and to surround oneself with a caring and supportive community. As February approaches, I thought I’d share with you, my First Parish Index.
Number of days until the First Parish Church Annual Meeting
: 25
Number of families that have contacted me regarding interest in Confirmation
: 1
Average in-person attendance in Sunday worship in December
: 149
Number of people I’m looking for to join the Stewardship Committee
: 2
Blessings
Eric
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