Rector’s Page

 

Dear Friends in Christ,

Advent has provided a time to focus on and remember that God dwells right here with us. I find it especially challenging to stop still and remember I’m supposed to be waiting and participating quietly in this “little lent!” This is especially hard when I’m dodging traffic and shoppers on my own way to the store.

It’s easy to get swallowed up by anxiety or discouragement, knowing that we are unable to do all the planning and preparations we would like to do before Christmas comes.

I draw inspiration and encouragement when I recognize the acts of kindness that occur spontaneously in our community because we are reminded that our relationships are to mirror our Emmanuel – our God with us. If I can only to pause for a moment; I can recognize the presence of God in the joy, love, care, concern, and peace of those around me.

We also need to be aware of how God is present in those who have very little joy or peace in their lives because of physical, mental condition, financial deprivation or the violence of their personal lives. It is here that we meet Christ. Busyness can dull our awareness of the presence of Emmanuel God with us.

Let us listen for the voice of God, and what God would have us be. This year alone in our parish community we delivered 7 Christmas hampers and were able to deliver much needed emergency help to families who need a finacial bridge to better times.

This year let us also take steps to grow your faith in God, a faith that will enable you to expect the unexpected. Begining in Lent I will offer an 8 week course- a follow-up to the “Alpha” courses that you may have heard of. We must be more than hearers of he word we must also be active witnesses to the Birth, Life, death and Resurrection of Jesus.

Our life in Christ challenges us to listen to God in prayer. If we listen to God, through prayer and try to be open I believe we can trust that we will make good decisions as we together work through our dreams for this community of faith. To this end I have invited Diocsean staff to come and lead our Boards of Management in a day of visioning and retreat. This will help put thier ministry in perspective and strengthen our spiritual leaders. This will be a time to reflect on our past and plan for the future.

God is with us if only we can slow down long enough to see.

Peace and Joy to you this Wondrous Season,

Reverend Christine+

 

 

Well, here we are …. another long weekend! Our vegetable garden is up and we’ve eaten peas, beans,peppers and carrots from it. I’ve had a restful time and feel ready to come back and get things started for our fall programms. We have been blessed by having a youth group start this Juy laser tag, a Tigers game and much more is in the works and you can keep up with events here and on our facebook page.

 We need to encourage parents to commit to the religious education of their children. Our volunteers have been amazing Paula and her team at Christ Church, Kathy at St. Andrew’s and, Tammy  at St. Alban’s have done a beautiful job of providing appropriate  programms for our young folks, as have all our junior congregation leaders. But Paula, Kathy, Kathy Tammy and Susan cannot do it alone.We must show we are commited to follow the command that Jesus gave us and that is “go and make disciples of all the world”? If you don’t know how to help or if you can – talk to one of the leaders, get involved – you will be so glad you did.

There are many areas of ministry to be filled prayerfully consider where you might feel called to serve. We need intercessors to pray for our community, readers to proclaim the word of God and folks who love music to sing in our choirs. We need people to read to be eucharistic adminstrators serving wine at communion and servers to assist. I invite you come and chat with me about any of these opportunities for ministry. Over the next month plan how you can get involved in the life of this wonderful church.  Remember the Church is the only institution that exists for the benifit of those who may never join it. Our church is uniquely situated both geographically and spiritually to give much to those who are vulnerable and forgotten or young or voiceless you can become an instrument of change! But for now, remember to relax and give thanks for the gift of leisure, however briefly it presents itself. See you on Sunday!

Christine+