5 year mark

​In a few weeks I will surpass the 5-year mark as your Rector. It is a great honor and pleasure to serve you in as your priest and our family loves being a part of this community. As you all are aware we have been working hard at a couple of goals that came about at our annual meeting this year. The first was to payoff our Bank of America mortgage, the second was to complete a capital campaign for the next phase of construction at St. Thomas and the third goal is to bring on a second full-time clergy to the staff. It might seem at times that all you hear about is money at St. Thomas. I agree that in the current moment in our common life we are focused on this important part of our ministry.
            This is a time when we are gathering and at times “rain making” the resources we need for ministry. By the time you read this we will be just one or two months away from our mortgage being paid off. Many will remember the time when we thought that day might not come, it is here.  In a few weeks the congregation will respond to our capital campaign and we will then no the scoop and size of our construction that will begin with the design phase as soon as possible. In the midst of this we have interviewed a number of candidates for the full-time position on our staff and I am hopeful that we will have an announcement soon.
            What will of this allow us to do? First having a second full-time priest will allow us to bring a much stronger ministry to all of the congregation. It will give us additional resources for pastoral care, preaching, programming and sacramental ministry. Increasing our space will allow to do more on Sundays, during the week, and in ways we haven’t even imagined. Having the mortgage paid off gives us the breathing room to bring in the second priest as well as positioning us to not need to take on additional debt beyond our means as a congregation. In the end all of this will allow us to more deeply impact the community around us for the glory of God and to reach more and more people for Jesus sake.
            I am reminded that in the beginning of the disciple’s ministry many people brought them resources for their ministry. The disciples then used those resources to bring the message of Jesus to others. At times baptizing whole communities and bringing healing, ministry to the poor, and food to those who were hungry. It isn’t hard for me to imagine our community doing those same things- that is being disciples in our context and community, baptizing, bringing healing, feeding the poor and so much more.
            The leadership in the parish is exceptional. If I started to name anyone this note would go on for 20 pages. We would not be were we are without the dedicated people who make this congregation so strong. We are on the edge of a new time of growth and vitality in our community. I am honored to be your Rector in thIS time and can’t wait to see what God will do with us in the future.