A Word from Laura: You Are a Blessing
“Sometimes I need only to stand wherever I am to be blessed.”
-Mary Oliver
After standing in all kinds of places this summer, blessed to reconnect with family and friends, travel to new places and eat new food, rest at home and at the beach, it’s a blessing to be standing back at 24th and G Streets! This week has actually felt more like swimming in the deep end, as I’ve talked with some of you, followed email trails, met with our new Director of Music Ministry Sam Gray, and encouraged those gathered at a rally for the Aston, the future non-congregate shelter on New Hampshire Avenue. In this process, I ask for your forbearance, as reconnecting and getting up to speed on regular tasks takes some time.
In this process, standing back at the church, I’ve realized the blessing of so many of you who have served so faithfully this summer, and I give thanks:
For staff, including our interims and supply preachers – for Rev. Dean McDonald, Rev. Irene Bennett, Nancy Kiefer, Sterling Thomas, Alec Resurreccion, Ariel Nathanson, Rev. Todd Sutton and Rev. Jude Michaels.
For all who made Sunday mornings worshipful and welcoming – as far as I can tell from CCB, thank you to Asia Perazich, Greta Morris, Dave Escobar, Kathy Hawk, Anna Zelinsky, Marcia Greville, Amy Lenander, Paul Fiddick, Ari Brose, Becky Koenig, John Bader, Terry Condon, Ben Evans, Ray Kim, Nicole Wallace, Cindy Stevens, and Carol Petrie and others who served as greeters, liturgists, and coffee hosts.
For all of our session members who continued to meet, both as the larger body and focused on your specific ministry areas, but particular thanks to Becky Koenig for doing the weekly email and announcements, Kathy Hawk for coordinating Sunday morning volunteers, Ari Brose for helping with special music, and Greta Morris for leading the search for our new Director of Music Ministry.
For our deacons who continued to meet and to serve, staying in touch with families and homebound members.
Sometimes the ministry of the church seems thankless, but it shouldn’t! Whenever you give of your time and energy for the sake of Western’s ministry you are a blessing, and not just to me as your pastor, but to all who are touched by the Spirit at work in you – whether they realize it or not. I give thanks to be standing back among you and look forward to the days ahead, as together we continue to seek and to share God’s blessing with all who are touched by our shared ministry.
I can’t wait to see you this Sunday! If you can’t be at church then, I hope to see you the next Sunday or in the near future.
Giving thanks for all the ways you continue to bless me and our community of faith,
Laura