Dear Friends,
The months of summer have gone by quickly. In addition to our weekly worship, we celebrated at Vacation Bible School, sent our youth on a mission trip, welcomed our vicar back from his summer semester of seminary education, added new members to the church staff, held a Member’s Meeting, and carried out many of the year-long ministries of our life together with only a few variations.
As fall begins, I encourage you to renew your commitment to worship, join your friends at one or more of our Bible studies throughout the week, and consider serving in some way if you don’t already. As a wise person once said, “practice doesn’t make perfect, but it does make habit.” And as the writer to the Hebrews put it, “let us not give up the habit of meeting together.” Doing so will be good for your soul and great for our church family as we worship and serve together. When you are not able to join us in person, livestream worship is an option, though as I’ve said before, people in love don’t like long distance relationships! But, when necessary, we give thanks that the opportunity is there.
Speaking of staff changes, I encourage you to welcome Juan Ayala, our new Property Manager, as well as Lynn Van Norstrand and Caroline Poese to the Finance Team. Read elsewhere in this newsletter about the new roles of Caroline and Lynn, as well as the countless blessings given over the years through Bookkeeper Anne Harpster and the work of our Finance Team under the leadership of Bruce Winter. And in case you missed the Member’s Meeting in June, you can also read about our upcoming celebration of St. Andrew’s 75th anniversary next year, including plans for a Capital Funding Campaign in thanksgiving for our past and with renewed commitment to our future as a community of faith.
In the coming weeks, we will continue to serve our Gracious God, move our mission forward, and celebrate the Good News at five weekly services, including three on Sunday, one on Monday, and one on Friday evening in Amharic. We’ll also turn our attention to filling some gaps in administration following the passing of our friend and colleague, Greg Twombley, late last year.
On behalf of Mitch Glazier, Chair and our Board of Directors along with Pastor Gonzalez and the members of our staff, I ask for your prayers, invite your responses, and encourage our mutual growth in Christ as summer turns to fall and our congregational life is once again renewed for the glory of God.
Blessings to all of you, always, in Christ,
Pastor Mark