A Special Edition- From the Rector: June 2023
Dear Parish Family,
On June 1st, we mark together the second anniversary of my first day as Rector of St. James. In many ways these two years have passed by so quickly. At the same time, I am deeply proud and grateful for all that God has called us to accomplish together, and I remain thrilled and excited for my role in our shared ministry. We have so many, many blessings to celebrate.
Anniversaries offer a good opportunity for reflection and inspiration. With that in mind, I want to share with you an important decision I spoke of in the pulpit this past Sunday. If you were not present, I encourage you to watch my sermon.
From my very first interactions with the Rector Search Committee in 2020, and in all of the various surveys I read, and in the countless large and small and wonderful conversations I have had with you - members of this parish family - over these past two years, it is abundantly clear to me that St. James rightly places the highest premium on gathering together in worship. The number one priority in the St. James Strategic Plan? Worship!
Martin Luther once wrote this: "At home, in my own house, there's no warmth or vigor in me. But in the church, when the multitude is gathered together, a fire is kindled in my heart and it breaks its way through." These words are inspiring.
With the intent to glorify God first and foremost, and also to honor the incredible value of our worship together, this fall we are going to modify our Sunday worship schedule. I ask that you prayerfully open your hearts and minds to this new timeframe for regularly worshiping together.
Beginning with our Welcome Sunday on September 10th, I am calling for us to bring our 9:00 a.m. and our 11:15 a.m. worshiping communities together.
To have our traditional Rite I service at 8:00 a.m., Christian formation from 9:00 - 9:45 a.m., and then one main worship service at 10:15 a.m.
I’m announcing this decision in May, with many weeks to go before the schedule will change. I ask you to support it - and that you share this transition with Jesus as your focus.
The value of worshiping together is powerful. Let’s see together what this will be like. I want us to try this new schedule firmly until our Annual Parish Meeting on January 8, 2024. Along the way, there will be many opportunities for reflection, thoughts, and feedback - all of which I will welcome.
I trust in my heart that this will be an exciting and worthy and valuable endeavor. That it will offer a time to inspire, support, inform, and nurture us as we prepare each week to serve as witnesses in the world. And I firmly believe that God will show us the way.
I remain honored to serve as your Rector, and I look forward to many conversations with you in the seasons to come.
Faithfully,
Phillip
Tags: Announcements / Worship