Greetings, dear church and friends of the church,

I bring you peace and love in the name of the risen Christ. I returned Sunday from the beautiful state of New York. The memorial service for John McIntosh was beautiful. The service was held in a chapel built in the late 1700s. John’s family participated in the memorial, sharing touching stories and sentiments about their father, grandfather, and uncle. John’s great nephew, a professional opera singer, filled the wood and stone chapel with his powerful voice. There was a naval flag ceremony at the graveside that was incredibly moving.

At the same time, I missed you all terribly. My heart is broken, as is yours, over the loss of our dear brother Bill Parker. The thought of John greeting his friend Bill just inside those pearly gates was the thing that kept me going through this difficult weekend. I am grateful to God that I will see these men again, that their suffering is no more, and that they are busy watching over us in heaven.

I have spoken to Linda, and she sends love and thanks for the cards, text messages, and prayers. Bless you all for gathering her up in your arms as you have done for so many who have lost loved ones. I know that when I look out at you, I am in the presence of angels.

My love to all,
Mary

Did you know there are two stories about how God created people? In Genesis 2, we see a closer look at how God made the first human. God took dust from the ground and breathed life into him. Then, God planted a beautiful garden with trees and water and asked the human to take care of it. But God saw that the human shouldn’t be alone, so God made a helper. Together, they became the first team to care for God’s world.

You might notice this story is a little different from the first one in Genesis. Some people say there are two versions to help us understand God’s big story better. What really matters is that God shows us we need each other. We’re meant to help one another and take care of the world around us.

See you in church on Sunday!
Blessings…

Blessings and peace to all in the name of the Risen Christ,

My heart is heavy as I write this newsletter. Bill and Linda Parker have made the incredibly difficult decision to pursue comfort care for Bill. He has chosen hospice and was placed on service today, September 17, 2024. I know that you all join me in understanding that this is not the last time we will see Bill, while also living with the grief that he will not be here with us. Bill is one of the people I imagine to be most like Jesus—always forgiving, always loving his neighbor, always serving others. Linda will need her church family now more than ever, and I have promised Bill that we will take care of her.

While the timing is hard, there are still many things happening in our community that need mentioning. First, the Bill J. Elliott Elementary School blanket drive starts October 6th and runs through October 18th. We are providing warm children’s coats for this drive. Please begin bringing the coats we’ve discussed, starting this Sunday. We will collect all warm clothing items until October 18th. Also, Saint Matthew Women United are providing breakfast for the teachers on September 25th. If you are contributing to the breakfast, please have your contribution at the church by September 24th. We had our first choir practice on Sunday morning, and our new members, along with our wonderful existing singers, are making us sound better than ever. After church on Sunday, at our annual choir luncheon, a couple of the new members volunteered to organize a fall activity for the church—either a “Trunk or Treat” or a table at the Bill J. Elliott Elementary Fall Festival on October 24th. More to come on that soon.

Unfortunately, the AC unit at the church has completely shut down. Brian McCosky has worked diligently this week to find a dependable AC company to replace the broken air handler and heat pump unit. We cannot avoid replacing both, but Brian was able to save the congregation about $5,000 from the original estimate we received. We are truly blessed to have volunteers in our congregation who dedicate so much time and effort to keep us running.

It seems like I have asked for a lot in the past few weeks—food and money for Eastside Ministries, clothes and coats for the elementary school, volunteers for various projects, and now, financial support for AC replacement. I want to be clear that while I am asking, I also feel incredibly blessed. I am blessed because I am in fellowship and service to this congregation, and each of you reminds me of Jesus—always loving your neighbor, always forgiving, and always serving others. There is no church like this one, and I am deeply grateful for you. My cup overflows.

With love,
Mary