A New Page

I become increasingly aware that along with the regular rhythms of the liturgical seasons established by the Church, parishes like ours turn the pages, start writing new parts of our story of faith and discipleship quite frequently.

I am writing this message two days after Pentecost Sunday—the “Birthday of the Church” and the Feast Day of Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter.  On Sunday, it felt like the liturgical rhythm and the rhythm of our life in community was in sync—a moment of fresh and lovely joy. Again, I wish to thank Terri and Missy for the initial planning and preparations. Nelya, Carol, and her daughter Allison made sure we had plenty of red, orange and yellow balloons. Randy leading with the dove kite made me smile. And Gabe and Pru? Just the very best!!!!

As we begin to write the next page of our story, here are a few bits and pieces that will shape the storyline:

1.     On Sunday, Jeri, Roger and I attended the final service at All Saints. While I am not sure how many folks from All Saints will ultimately make Holy Comforter their new church home, I do know that several made a point after the service, of telling me how much they had appreciated the warmth and hospitality they experienced with us during Holy Week and Easter. I know that’s what we do, but I was still grateful and proud of our parish. We will be fortunate to receive new members who bring gifts and talents that will surely help us move boldly into the future—I hope we will all keep an eye out for visitors in the weeks to come; those who are grieving the closing of All Saints will need our TLC!

2.     I encourage you to mark the date and do your best to be here or on line on June 9th. On that date, Dr. Kristofer Sanchack, will lead the music portion of our Eucharist. Kris is the candidate to become our new Organist/Choir Director at Holy Comforter. If all that goes well, we will take the final steps to extend an offer to Kris to come onboard on September 1st of this year.

3.     At our retreat in January, the vestry decided Coffee Hour was a critical part of our life as a community of faith and decided the VPOW (Vestry Person of the Week) would take on the added responsibility of ensuring there were light refreshments for Coffee Hour. Week after week, since then, I have watched every single one of them take the responsibility seriously. This is an active time in our life as a parish and the vestry is already doing a lot. That they volunteered to do this is deeply moving to me. Please help me let them know how much this means to us—something old and familiar is new again, and a source of delight!

After the tumult of the last year, I don’t take for granted that it’s summertime, “and the living is easy.”  However, I am hopeful that things will slow down enough to remind us of other summers of watermelon, beaches, and condensation running down glasses full of icy-cold, sweet tea on the porch. Hopeful as well, that we will have time to allow ourselves to dream new dreams for this amazing parish that has received soooo much amazing grace, even in our darkest days in the past year!

With prayers for the blessing of rest and renewal, Rosa+

A sweet video of Pentecost Sunday procession

also streamed live on our Facebook page

  Michael Paul • Randy Woodland

Weekday Worship 

MONDAY

Compline | 7:00 PM facebook 

WEEEKDAYS

Morning Prayer | 8 AM

National Cathedral

 Please pray for

Parishioners — Ann Carlton, Barbara Dailey, Rob Dailey, Fred Earle,

Sidney Hennessey, Scott Lollar, Eddie Norred, John Parker, Lea Russell,

Claudene Thomas, Judith Granger Ward, Barbara Zdanis

Friends — Gay Curlin, Kathryn Dorlon, T.J. Esco, Wayne Goble, Jack Harris,

Sharon Kelley, Jon Kusa, Mike Lloyd

Students — Matthew Franklin, Will Franklin, Addie Hoffman, Anna Hoffman,

Sam Lee, Michael Moore, Rachel Moore, Charles Speaks, Thomas Speaks, Aiken Via