"Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love." (1 Corinthians 16:13-14)
Dear friends,
This is my last newsletter article to you. It is and was my pleasure to be able to serve you this past year. Soon, the vestry will call a priest to spiritually lead and guide you. I pray with you for a good and able priest. With at least one hiccup, you have been blessed with many good and able priests. I expect that will continue.
We began attending Trinity over four years ago, following my retirement from active church ministry. It doesn't seem that long. We chose to attend Trinity because of the warmth and healthiness of the congregation (and also because we knew Karen+ from seminary). I was honored when Karen+ invited me to assist her. I was honored again when the vestry requested my appointment by the bishop to be your interim. We will see Karen+ and Steph in September.
We will soon say so long, but not good-bye. We will continue to live in Placerville. Our paths will likely cross again.
You are a healthy congregation because you follow Jesus' commandment to love your neighbor. We do not always do that. We sometimes fall short. But God gives us grace to pick ourselves up and continue our walk with God and our neighbor. The source of God's grace is forgiveness and reconciliation. This is to be emulated by us.
Do not forget that loving our neighbor also involves doing what we can to help those in need. The poor and homeless issues seem overwhelming. However, when something seems overwhelming it is often best to deal with it in small pieces. In other words, as an example, we cannot get all the homeless people off the streets, but we can help those we see in need. Sometimes, all that is needed is a kind word (and maybe a can of tuna).
May the peace of God which surpasses all understanding guard your hearts and minds and the love of Christ be with you forever more.