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It is great to be back from my vacation. Thank you for the time off to relax and regenerate! As you can see, Dave and I had a blast snorkeling and to our great delight, we had a chance to go snorkeling with turtles (and get a picture of it)!
This coming Sunday will be the last "Sunday of Lent" with Holy Week beginning with Palm Sunday on April 2nd. I hope you all had time to connect with God on a deeper level and enter into lent with time for reflection.
One of the spiritual truths we know and live into at St. Michael's, is that when we reach out to help someone else in need, we feel a sense of peace, joy, and love. However, when I think I am the only one who can help - I feel frantic and anxious. So, as time goes on, I learned that I must discern who I am called to help, how I am to help, and with what I am to help. I believe that for each one of us, God calls us to something unique. No one has to do it all. That is the beauty of a church community - we are all called to do something but no one is called to do everything.
I feel like we might have gotten carried away with all the “collections” we have for members to participate in. St. Michael's has a rather rigorous schedule of collections. As one person said, there is always something to give to. Yes, I would agree - and I would say it is by design. Not to overwhelm us all, but to offer opportunities. For some, helping children with their education is very important. That is why we are offering an opportunity for you all to give to the hygiene kit drive to supplement the 5th grade hygiene unit at Starr King K-8.
For some, making the cold bearable for the unhoused and working poor is important. That is why we are doing a coat drive.
For some, it is about feeding the hungry and making their Easter meal special - hence the Easter Gift Card Collection.
Again, we do not expect anyone to do it all, but we offer these opportunities so we can help those in need with something that is meaningful to each one of us. If we can each give a little, combined it makes a lot. So I know that we are asking for many things, but truly, we encourage you to search your heart for what it is that God is asking you to give. God does not want to make you crazy, frantic, or broke. I promise. Give to the Glory of God - not out of guilt.
And thank you for all you give - your time, treasure, and talent, but most of all - thank you for sharing your heart!
Faithfully, Rev. Mary
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