Dear Servants,

 

Let me try and recap the last week and a half. August 28th we had an excellent parish meeting following our combined 9:00am service where the congregation heard updates on our facility search and the financial strength of our parish, and we shared about the experience of a summer combined service. I will say this was probably one of the best congregation discussions I think we have ever attempted. Thanks to all of you who sought to “understand before you were understood.” Mid-week we all began preparing for the hurricane winds and rain projected for Thursday night and Friday morning. Many households lost power but are now restored. The power outage didn’t prevent our Vestry from having a day retreat at the Nancarrow farm on Saturday (thanks Rob and Glenn), which proved very productive. Then we all gathered once again as a congregation on Sunday morning for a joint Ordination/Baptism service. Dr. James Manley was ordained to the priesthood, and six young men ranging in age from thirty-three years to seven weeks were baptized. Did I miss anything? Of course, we have to add all the craziness of our individual and family lives during that same period.

 

Adding to this already busy time, Jody and I will travel to Pittsburgh for the Consecration of Jim Hobby as the new Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh this Saturday, September 10th. Please keep Jim and Shari and the entire diocese in your prayers as they prepare for this important moment. Please support our new priest, James Manley, as he preaches and celebrates at both our 8:00am and 9:30am services. Yes, you read that correctly, 8:00am and 9:30am services.

 

I know that some probably suspected that we would continue the one combined service. After hearing from you at the parish meeting, discussing with the staff and Vestry, along with much prayer, I believe this is the best course of action. We will offer both a quiet, spoken service at 8:00am, and then encourage as many as can to participate in our main service at 9:30am. It is my belief that we would all benefit from engaging in a combined service where we are truly multi-generational and learn to worship together. However, I realize that for some of our congregation, offering just this one service a week would be a real hardship. Christian charity demands that we not forget those few for the majority. I’m hoping that with an early option which will need to be shorter and without music, and the main service now adjusted to 9:30am, we will meet almost everyone’s spiritual need. Here is how our morning will look starting this week:

 

8:00-8:45             Spoken Service

8:30-9:15             Music Team Practice (starting in B-3)

8:45-9:15             Fellowship time

9:20-9:30             Quiet Prelude to Worship

9:30-11:00           Main Service with Music

 

There are plans to add back our Adult Sunday School once we have the services fine-tuned. There will also be the opportunity for Q&A with the preacher or other conversation after the 9:30am service. But you will hear more about that later this fall.

 

I apologize for the short notice of these changes, but to hear from the congregation and leadership, this decision was delayed. As always, please feel free to contact me directly if you have concerns.

 

Onward and Upward,

 

Alex +