Growth

This week I've been thinking a lot about what a very living, organic organism a church is--how dynamic and changing. The church is alive. I'm thinking about this around a few different themes. Most personally, of course, is the decision of the discernment committee and vestry to invite me to stay as rector. I am so honored and pleased to do ministry with you in this place. We have done, and will do, great things in our ministry together! Special thanks to our Junior Warden, Jonathan Duce, who facilitated the process. Another piece of growth is that it's been a whole year since St Peter's came to worship here at Christ Church on a trial basis.

We're growing in numbers, too, and each of us continues to grow in faith. On May 30, 7 people from Christ Church will be confirmed/received into the Episcopal Church at the deanery service (the service will be at 10 AM at Redeemer in Lexington if you want to come--choir practice is at 9 AM if you want to sing). Ed and Michelle Drozd, Chris and Erin Jensen, Cindy Hutchison, Ken Johnson, Mike Balulescu, and Sarah Staley will be officially welcomed into the Episcopal Church. In the reaffirmation of their baptismal covenants and laying on of hands from the bishop, they join with the communion of saints of the historical church and mark a special time in their own spiritual lives. On Sunday, our reading from the book of Acts told the story of the apostle Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. As they drove along the road, the eunuch asked Philip, "What is to prevent me from being baptized right now?" and so he was. In that spirit, if anyone is interested in joining the party (whether you'd been planning to or not) you're welcome to join in now. (Or if I inadvertently left you off the list of people above, please tell me!) We'll have a short retreat this Saturday (May 16) from 9 to 12 for everyone who would like to be confirmed or received--just let me know so I can buy enough snacks (you are received if you had been confirmed in another tradition and confirmed if you haven't).

Yet a FOURTH thing that has me thinking about the growth of our parish is the ministry of our youth leader, Suzanne Hughes. Suzanne has led the youth group since before I arrived, and her faithfulness and care have been really remarkable. The children she started with are now young women, and have helped to welcome others into the group since they began. Children are a natural sign of the growth of all things, but it's also a sign of the grace of God that Suzanne continues to grow in her own ministry as well as she takes on new challenges (and already has, in being our treasurer for the last year and a half!).

All of us are growing in our lives--whether it's our parish welcoming another congregation, an individual deciding to make a spiritual home in a particular place, or someone putting down one ministry to attend to a new one, nothing in this life is fixed. We might sometimes wish it could just stay the same, but life is always in flux. What's different about life in Christian faith and community is that we are growing toward God and growing in the likeness of Christ. This growth has a goal--it's not just change for the sake of change. It can be challenging, and it can be tiring, but God is always there to support us and hold us, even when it seems like life just asks too much of us.

I'd like to share with you the prayer for the parish from the BCP (p. 817).
Almighty and everliving God, ruler of all things in heaven and earth, hear our prayers for this parish family. Strengthen the faithful, arouse the careless, and restore the penitent. Grant us all things necessary for our common life, and bring us all to be of one heart and mind within your holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Blessings,
Sara+