A HAPPY, BLESSED AND JOYOUS 2019!
That is my wish, hope and prayer for us all as we continue our transitional journey together - beloved sisters and brothers of one another and of our Lord Jesus.
Like those Magi from the East, whose visit we will celebrate this Sunday, we at St. Luke's are following the star of the Holy Spirit, seeking to discern God's manifest will for us as individual Christians, as a congregation, and as a diocese of the Episcopal Church.
Your excellent Discernment/Rector Search Committee is moving ahead with all deliberate speed. Stay tuned, and continue to keep them and the parish in your prayers.
The 2019 Vestry and officers of St. Luke's will be commissioned and blessed at the 10:00 a.m. service on Sunday, January 6th, as they begin their year of servant leadership and discipleship in this vital ministry. We will be "retreating" soon for an extended time of discernment, team building and fellowship.
We will continue our work of organizing for ministry, growing in discipleship and becoming more faithful stewards as we, "prepare the way," for your next rector, and for the healthy future we together can build.
My plans are to continue as your Interim Rector until your new Rector has been called, and a date has been agreed upon for her/his arrival. I will begin now to step back a bit to allow your leadership to take responsibility and ownership of the plans and processes we have and will put in place. I look forward to working closely with Sr. Warden Patrick Robinson and all of your leaders, elected and otherwise. I am always available to you in every pastoral way as well, to the limits of my time and energy. We will be planning the programmatic portion of the next few months and may well be calling on you for your advice and assistance. Most of our usual programs and ministries are starting up now that the new calendar year has begun.
If you have made your pledge for this new year, I thank and bless you. If you are yet to do so, do so! As a vital piece of preparation for the next Rector, we will be clarifying the membership status of anyone on our rolls who is not currently a known giver of Time, Talent, AND Treasure to the mission and ministries of the parish. It is just as important for the individual to clarify his or her discipleship as well. What better time to get serious about our faith? What better way than faithful stewardship?
A modern magus once said, "Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine."
Periods of great change, exciting though they may be, can often be filled with stress and anxiety, so let's stay supportive, positive and calm. This is a time for us all to be prayerful, patient and understanding. Your fine lay leadership and I need your prayers and your participation now more than ever. We will be faithfully working to keep you informed and involved.
We may not know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future.
"Rejoice in the Lord always. And again I say, Rejoice.: (Philippians 4:4)
A HAPPY, BLESSED AND JOYOUS 2019!
Fr. Rusty+
