June 21, 2019
First, THANK YOU to all who made last Sunday's Bishop's visit and welcoming of new members and blessing of our new vision statement stone such great events.
Bishop Goff was touched by the gift the children of the parish presented to her -- and sent THIS lovely thank you note.
Second, hurray, today -- June 21 -- is officially the first day of summer.
Ah, summer.
While we maintain a regular (combined, 10:00, Historic Church) worship schedule in the summer months, and while staff and many volunteers are still busy preparing for Vacation Bible School (July 8-12, see below), the Bishop's visit marks for us the end of one of the busiest times in the church year, and a welcome start to a less busy time.
It may surprise you to know that the last month of the program year is for us, like many churches, an even busier time of year than just before Easter and Christmas.
That's because, in just the last four weeks, we hosted our Memorial Day booth, bid Jim Councilor a good retirement farewell, launched, with Julie, a mutual discernment process for our ministry of music, wrapped up our annual Inquirer's Class, re-launched and invigorated our Invite-Welcome-Connect ministry, pulled off a big Pentecost and Children/Youth Sunday, and -- last Sunday, celebrated our adult baptism, confirmations, receptions, renewals, and welcoming of new members at the biennial Bishop's visit! This in addition to paying as close-as-possible attention to "regular" matters of parish life such as pastoral/grief care around funerals and deaths, and vestry meetings which consider long-term property interests of the parish -- not to mention welcoming and on-boarding Jason Norris as our new facilities manager!
I realize that the start of summer is not the start of a slower season for everyone -- and perhaps for some of you it is the start of an even busier season!
But for me (as well for many clergy and church program staff), the start of summer does, thanks be to God, mean a more sane schedule. July and (much of) August is a time to remind ourselves of what the Old Testament passage for this Sunday tells us: that at least for the great prophet Elijah, God is not found in the great wind or earthquakes or the fire of big, crazy-busy times, but rather in "in the sound of sheer silence."
May there be such times for each of us this summer.
See you Sunday, John