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Grace and peace,
Three years ago, this parish began a journey without a destination, but with the hope of fulfilling our ministries in new ways that would reach more people, both inside and outside our walls. The journey was officially titled Tending Our Soil.
This diocesan program involved the intentional work of looking at who we are, and who are our neighbors. We explored the things we were doing, and we explored the needs of the community. We explored whether our actions aligned with the needs of the community, both inside and outside our walls.
We made choices and changes, both large and small, that affect who we are, and what we do, today and tomorrow.
How we present ourselves to the community, and how we welcome people to St. John’s is different today than it was before the effects of Tending Our Soil took root. How people are integrated into our community is different today. And perhaps most importantly, how we go out into the community is different.
We are a stronger Church today, and the growth and the changes will continue as we take the lessons of Tending Our Soil with us. This was the work of the whole congregation; however, a special thanks goes to the Tending Our Soil team of Shelley Spencer our co-convener, Bill Fleming, Johnna Gilchrist, Stephen Simpson, Joy Reiff, and Mother Shivaun. It has been a pleasure working together and seeing the fruits of our labors; please thank them for their efforts.
At the opening Eucharist three years ago from the prophet Isaiah we declared “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” Look around and perceive the new growth. Tend the soil, fertilize and water it, and plant new seeds. Our work continues.
Peace
Fr. Henry+
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