Last week's Pentecost feast revealed to us that the coming of the Holy Spirit opened up channels of grace, inclusion in God's family, and membership in Christian community to all people without limits. 

This weekend we celebrate the full mystery of who God is. We don't pretend to be able to fully understand or explain it, but that does not change the fact that we are called to live it. This weekend is the Feast of the Holy Trinity - a day when we acknowledge that our families, friendships, and relationships with people and all of creation are a mirror of who God is: a community of persons bound by the power of love. 

This must mean that we aren't so unlike God after all. It also must mean that we can grow to become more like God: more loving, more inclusive, more peaceful in the midst of trial, more bold in our efforts to do good and stand against oppression. 

If you're wondering how or where to start or pick up growing in your spiritual life, community is the place to do it. If the unity and love shared by the Trinity happens in community, then community is where we will practice growing in unity and love as well. 

Let's see our church and the people we see week after week as our source of nourishment and recharging. Here in community we plug in to the love of the Trinity just by being together. During the week, we bring the overflow of that love to the people in our lives. This is what the Trinity does in our own lives 24/7. 

Jennifer and I put our ideas together for this reflection in the spirit of that unity. We hope you'll come and drink deeply of the life of God and the life of St. Mary's which both have their source in community. 

We will be blessing fathers and father figures and so we hope to see you this weekend!

In Peace, 

Jennifer & Gabe

A Note From the Rector...

Dear Friends,

You may have noticed there is a rainbow flag flying near the entrance of St. Mary's. Last October the vestry had a conversation  about how we welcome people from the LGBTQ community to our church. It came to the vestry as a  member suggested that St Mary's should display a Rainbow Flag as a sign that we are a welcoming and inclusive community. The flying of a rainbow flag demonstrates to all that we have the courage to proclaim our inclusiveness, and gives witness to our commitment to transforming lives and our church. 

Our first priority as a church this year is to begin the Invite, Welcome, Connect ministry. The vestry believes that while many people who already belong to St. Mary's or who wish to belong can assume that they are welcome, while many members of the LGBTQ community would never assume that they are welcome. We wanted to be clear that we are open to welcoming all people.

We will host two initial conversations to discuss how we welcome LGBTQ and others to St. Mary's. Please see below.

As with any issue in a community, we may find that not everyone is comfortable or supportive of the latest changes. Please know that being in Christian community doesn't mean that we all need to agree or be without discomfort. It does mean that we work and worship together in ways that are respectful and loving. This is what sets us apart as Christians from the ways of the world.

Your vestry, the staff and I are open to listening to your feedback. We are also open to the movement of the Holy Spirit and to all those who come seeking to a part of this church.

Jennifer+