Dear Past Pandemic Prospectors,

Four years ago, during the second week of March 2020, the world underwent a profound transformation. Restaurants, schools, libraries, museums, churches, offices, sports arenas—any place where people gathered—shut down for nearly two years. Social connections were reduced to glowing screens, loved ones were glimpsed behind closed windows, learning was confined to laptops, and touch was abandoned. The world functioned at a distance, and remote living seemed safer.

When 'normalcy' returned, there was a rush to resume activities, to gather, to embrace, and to move forward. However, in our haste, we overlooked the need to grieve. Over one million Americans died prematurely, many without traditional rituals and rites deemed too risky for the living. Students were displaced from campuses, losing both classrooms and camaraderie. Masks, which hid the full expressions of our emotive faces, have been removed, but barriers persist. We still protect our hearts, minds and souls from the sorrow that openly acknowledges the pain of what was lost. In our haste to return, we overlook the lessons learned.

Unprocessed grief continues to haunt our interactions. Political divisions, unresolved family conflicts, essential workers no longer recognized as heroes, and declining participation in fellowships once crucial to our social fabric—all are the results of our impatience. Rebuilding trust requires acknowledging and repairing our mutual brokenness. It is time to pause, remember, grieve, forgive and, perhaps, to hope.

On March 9, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., the First Presbyterian Church of La Grange will host a public gathering titled "Dropping the Mask: A COVID Remembrance—what we lost, what we learned." This event aims to assist each other in finding an honest path towards kind reconnection and continuing the task of piecing together the shards of what the pandemic disrupted—our communities, families, friendships, faith and hearts.

The event will feature a keynote address by Adam Maycock, President and CEO of UChicago AdventHealth, La Grange and Hinsdale. Breakout sessions will be led by our own Jody LaVoie, Kris Lonsway, Joseph Yount, and guest presenter Michelle Halm. They will also participate in a pre-lunch panel discussion. The event will conclude with a service of remembrance officiated by Craig Howard, Presbytery of Chicago Executive, and myself.

This conference is free of charge, and lunch will be provided. For this reason, we are accepting registrations, either at the church or through our web page: www.fpclg.org/covid-remembrance. The event logo was specially designed by our daughter, Dee Buis, and special thanks go to the La Grange Rotary Club for their financial support.

My hope is that in these hours together, we may kindle the importance of openness and mutual support to heal the invisible wounds left by COVID. I understand that many wish to move on, and for some, the topic has become toxic, but we still need to talk.

Hoping you'll join us, I remain,

With Love,
Jonathan Krogh
Your Pastor