I want to sincerely thank everyone who stayed for nearly an hour after the 10 a.m. service to tidy up after Christmas. You were wonderful, efficient and thorough. We have entered the season after Epiphany and the church reflects that seasonal change.
As I announced on Sunday, Carol McConnell’s funeral service will be Saturday, January 21 at 10 a.m. The visitation will be at 9 a.m. If you would like to bring cookies or bars (only finger food options) please drop them off at church by Thursday, January 19. Thank you!
The Vestry meets to finalize the budget on January 18, and I am so grateful to the 53 pledging households and the eighteen households who increased their pledge to help support St. Mary’s in 2023. You have responded with such kind generosity, thank you. We are in a much better place than we were in December, and that is all thanks to you.
January 22 we will discuss the hopes and fears we have around the three-diocese discussion, or trialogue. Bishop Jeff Lee and Bishop Matt Gunter describe the process as providing “an opportunity to engage a changing world and become the church God is calling us to be.” They see this conversation as a time to explore: reconfiguring ourselves into a strengthened diocese organized to engage our changed and changing world; combining our financial, human and spiritual resources, into a diocese organized for mission, evangelism, and public witness; organizing ourselves to better support each of our existing congregations; encouraging, cultivating, and nurturing new communities of worship and discipleship; forming disciples equipped to live faithfully in these times; finding ways to faithfully and responsibly use various communication methods to better reach all ages; encouraging and training lay leadership; and drawing on our heritage and organizing ourselves to be a missionary diocese for the 21st and 22nd centuries.
I hope you will join us for our conversations on January 22 as we ask: What excites you? What concerns you? What hopes do you have? What fears do you have? What questions do you have?
Prayers and Blessings,
Mother Pippa