God's story and ours.
Dear friends and members of St. Matt's,
We have a busy few weeks ahead of us. I hope you're ready!
On Sunday, don't forget to join us for the Annual Meeting at 11:30am. Like every year, the Annual Meeting is our chance to tell the story of the prior year. Each year when we gather to do this, we give thanks for the year that has passed and for all of you who were a part of it. And we look just briefly at the year ahead. It's an important ritual, not just because of reports and transparency, though the Vestry and I are deeply committed to telling you the whole story. It's an important ritual because of the story itself. Because of what we can celebrate and remember together, even in times of challenge or pandemic.
As Christians, we are people defined by a story. Our whole being is meant to be shaped, formed, and hemmed in by the story of Jesus. By God's relentless story of love. By the story that tells us God is always coming for us, always ready to save us, always present with us. This story is our story, and it makes us who we are. So, when we gather for an Annual Meeting, or even our quarterly Parish Updates, what we're really doing is examining our part in that big, broad, loving story. As Episcopalians, this ritual allows us to search for meaning in the year that's passed, to give thanks for what was, and to begin to wonder about the year ahead. 2020 was a year unlike any we've ever experienced - but every day, we were still a part of God's story. Every day, in some way, this congregation was a witness to the love of God. Every day I heard from one of you - or saw one of you in action - as you tried to love your neighbor and make the world better because of your faith. And we continued to gather for worship, prayer, fellowship, connection, formation, and to share the light in the midst of all that challenged us in this season. We should celebrate that, celebrate our part in God's story of love. I hope you'll join us on Sunday to hear the story, to recognize your part in it, and to begin narrating a new year with us. A new year with God, a year filled will possibility.
Please take a careful look at this e-news. In it you'll find all the links you need for the weekend, including a link for the Annual Meeting and a link to the Annual Report. Sign up this week to pick up ashes for Ash Wednesday (which is less than two weeks away!). Join us for Pancakes, for Pub Theology, and for all the programming available for our children and youth. When you're part of these things, you're part of God's story and ours. And that is always something to look forward to, something to give thanks for, something to celebrate.
Faithfully,
--Marissa +
Tags: Welcome from the Rector