Keep Calm: A Supportive and Caring Learning Community During a Difficult Time

Ken Shuman
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Written by Rev. Judith Schellhammer

I stumbled into Faithwalking’s Keep Calm group seemingly by “accident.” At the beginning of the COVID lockdown in our area, I was quite lost. I am 69 years old so fall into the higher risk category, and I’m also an extrovert finding my energy comes from being around others. These two situations don’t work very well together in a pandemic! Another priest in our diocese had posted a link to this group on Facebook, and it sounded interesting. I was truly looking for fellowship and good opportunities to mitigate the isolation of very long days alone. Since the day I first joined Keep Calm, I have come to realize that this was no accident at all. From discussions on Loss and Grief to God’s Forgiveness to Keeping Our Word, every session has had something for me to consider in my walk with our Lord. In addition, the group of participants has become a supportive and caring community during a very difficult time. 

One topic was especially relevant to me at this time: Be a Blessing. My concerns about COVID have allowed me to be more self-absorbed than I’d like to admit as I worry about taking the best care of myself that I can. God’s call to Abraham, “I have blessed you so that you will be a blessing to the world,” really caught my attention. I have indeed been blessed in so many ways. I need to get my eyes off myself and look to where I might be a blessing to others through phone calls, notes, socially distanced gatherings, etc. I want to pass on the love that God and others have extended to me. At this time, and with all that’s going on in our country right now, I don’t think there’s a higher calling. Faithwalking has helped me move in the right direction.

 

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Keep Calm Podcast Episodes

 

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Recent episodes from this series

How do we be angry and sin not?

In this episode Ken Shuman and a group of Faithwalkers reflect on anger. How do we be angry and sin not? The focused scripture is from James 1:20, Ephesians 4:31, Proverbs 29:11, and John 2. This conversation was recorded in July of 2023.

Christian Certainty: How do we love each other during differences to a watching world?

In this episode Tammy DeRuyter and a group of Faithwalkers reflect on Christian certainty. How do we love each other during differences to a watching world? The focused scripture is from Luke 1 - 4. This conversation was recorded in July of 2023.

Jesus calls Levi and Eats with Sinners

In this episode Ken Shuman and a group of Faithwalkers reflect on the story of when Jesus calls Levi and eats with sinners. When you come to scripture are you curious? The focused scripture is from Mark 2:13-17. This conversation was recorded in July of 2023.

Free forgiveness for everyone?

In this episode Ken Shuman and a group of Faithwalkers reflect on forgiveness. Could it be that part of the kingdom message is to announce free forgiveness to everyone? The focused scripture is from Mark 2. This conversation was recorded in June of 2023.

When We Interpret Scripture We Must Start with Jesus

In this episode Ken Shuman reflects on how when we interpret scripture, we must start with Jesus. If this were the only thing I believed about Jesus, what would it be? The focused scripture is from Mark 2. This recording was in June of 2023.