The Reverend Greg Asimakoupoulos, chaplain at Covenant Living at the Shores, has published his latest book, “Sheltering in Grace; Hopeful insights in Uncertain Times.”
The 288-page book is a compilation of 120 daily meditations written during the first nine months of the coronavirus outbreak. When Covenant Living campuses across the nation were forced into lockdown, president Terri Cunliffe directed each of the campus chaplains to write and broadcast daily messages over the closed-circuit television channel as a way of encouraging the residents. Asimakoupoulos has maintained that daily regimen since March.
“The on-campus restrictions, separation from extended family, social distancing and cancellation of all in-person programs took an emotional toll that none of us could have predicted,” Asimakoupoulos said. “I looked for ways to signal hope in creative ways in my daily missives.”
The chaplain, now in his eighth year at Covenant Living at the Shores, broadcasts the five-minute meditation “live” from an empty Fellowship Hall where weekly worship services used to be attended by residents. The features are then recorded and rebroadcast each evening. Sunday services are also recorded on each Thursday afternoon in an empty room and broadcast on the campus TV channel twice during the weekend.
“I like to think of those first nine months of COVID as a kind of spiritual pregnancy,” the chaplain said. “Our community experienced a growing awareness of God in our midst.”
The book cover features a photo of the campus willow tree against dark storm clouds brewing over Lake Washington. The 110-year-old tree represents a parable of perseverance that is contained in the book. Two years ago the tree collapsed and appeared to have died. Arborists removed the tree except for an eight-foot stump. Within a few months, the tree regenerated and stands as a symbol of hope.
To order the book, visit https://tinyurl.com/y4h463q8
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