Back to Gainesville

Posted on Jun 16, 2016 in Blog, Onward and Upward | Tags: Appalachian Trail, AT, bulletin, combined service, Gainesville, James, James Manley, joint service, mourn, Orlando, pew bibles, staff, vestry

I’ve just returned from my yearly hike along the Appalachian Trail. There’s nothing like climbing mountains all day, searching for water and hoping you have enough food to make it all week to realize how blessed my life is here in good old Gainesville! We covered 75 miles in five days including our conclusion over Roan Mountain State Park in Tennessee. Thanks for your prayers.

Upon my return to the outside world, I was shocked and saddened to hear of the tragic shooting in Orlando. We mourn with those who mourn and pray God’s peace to be with the survivors and families who lost loved ones. Next week I will be in Orlando with a good friend and Church leader. I will find out if there is anything we can do as a congregation to support our brothers and sisters in Orlando.

Despite that tragic news, I’m back refreshed and ready to serve the Lord through another summer of ministry. Vacation Bible School is just around the corner (June 26 – 31st) and then in July (July 18 – 23) we will have the eleventh year of Camp Araminta. Many of you enjoy supporting campers who otherwise could not attend this diocesan camp for discipleship and Christian community. In early July, there will be an opportunity to give once again to this worthy cause.

Before I conclude, I do want to say a word about the changes coming over the next few weeks in our service. As most of you know by now, our leadership (Staff and Vestry) have decided to go to a joint 9 AM service from June 26th through August 14th. There were a lot of compelling reasons to try a combined service over the summer; low attendance, the possible need for one service if we acquire a new space, conservation of human resources during the summer, interest within the congregation to try a combined service. Ultimately, I made the decision to give it a try because I felt both our 8 AM and 10:30 AM services would benefit spiritually from the interaction of the two congregations. Only a few of us travel between the two services and know the quality of folks in each service. I think each of us will have an opportunity for growth in discipleship as the two congregations share in corporate worship this summer. I realize that for a few this is a huge inconvenience and I have attempted to talk to those persons individually. Also, I’m excited to tell you some changes are coming to our bulletin, which will enhance worship in invite guests to participate more fully. James Manley has added some historical context to our liturgical elements to instruct the congregation. Last, we will also be adding new ESV Bibles in the pews and encouraging the Church to read the Scriptures of our service from those Bibles or their own. I am thrilled that we will all get to know the Bible and our liturgy in more depth.

I realize that all these changes may not be exciting to everyone. I promise that we have made these decisions prayerfully, and in hope that all we do supports our core purpose of making disciples, learning to do all that Jesus said. Join us on Sunday as we continue this journey together.

Onward and Upward,

Alex +