Beloved Community,
It’s barely a week since we bid our final farewell to Thomas. We are all now living in that “in between time.” It is a time to grieve, a time to give thanks, and a time to look toward the future with hope and trust in the One “in whom we live, and move, and have our being.”
I am honored to walk beside you on this next part of the journey. For the next five months or so I will serve as your “Bridge Priest.” The Bridge Priest fills in those in-between times until an Interim Rector is appointed by the Wardens and Vestry. We are blessed to have the Reverend Ran Chase return to assist me during this time. Ran will be here one day during the week and on Sundays. He will help out liturgically and with pastoral visits. Once the Interim Rector arrives, I will return to my role as Associate Rector.
None of us does this work alone. We have the guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead us, direct us, and inspire us during this time of transition. I want to tell you that I do the work of ministry among you with joy and excitement for what God is dreaming for this wonderful Parish. I do this work of ministry with my spouse, Lisa Garcia, at my side. Without her support, love, and encouragement, I could not do all that God has called me to do. I hope if you have not met Lisa yet that you will introduce yourself to her.
Epiphany is blessed with an incredibly talented, experienced, and dedicated staff. Thomas really helped to form us into a collegial and collaborative team. We work hard, have deep respect for one another, and we know how to laugh and have fun! Thank you Sarah Twiss, Carolyn Hughes, Craig Benner, Suzy Westcott, Brian Curreri, and Fred Benson for your willingness to embrace whatever the future holds.
Thanks also to Suzanne Owayda and Dave McSweeney, our Wardens. They have taken on so much during this time of transition. I hope you will thank them and every member of the Vestry for their spiritual leadership and for accepting the call to guide this Parish during the search process for our new Rector.
So many of you have offered help to me, the Wardens, and Vestry during this time of transition. Thank you. I hope you will pray for us, the staff, Wardens, and Vestry every single day. Pray for guidance, inspiration, patience, good humor, and endurance to run the race that lies before us.
One of my favorite collects from the Book of Common Prayer is for guidance. I leave it with you as we look forward in joyful hope to a future filled with new possibilities, new dreams, and new challenges.
Loving God, in whom we live and move and have our being:
We humbly pray thee so to guide and govern us by thy
Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life
we may not forget thee, but may remember that we are ever
walking in thy sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (p. 57 BCP)
Faithfully yours in Christ,
