This Week from Mitch
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I hope and pray that all of you are well! For the rest of 2023, St. Martin's promises to be a hive of community activity. In addition to worship we have something planned for each weekend until our Kanuga Weekend. I don't recall a time when our church has been consistently this filled with activity. Our common life feels like it is filled with energy and love, and for that I am grateful.
This weekend St. Martin's will participate in South Carolina's Famously Hot Pride Festival. Our participation will begin as in years past on Friday with the parade and then on Saturday, we will have a booth next to Reformation Lutheran Church, our partners for Safe Space Dinners.
As the church, we participate in this event for a few different reasons. First, we participate because of our "all our welcome" call that we pronounce each and every week. We say it and we mean it. "All are welcome" is a direct response to the call of our Baptismal Covenant to respect the dignity of every human being. Churches have caused hurt, and if our participation can help to heal some of that hurt then we have done something worthy and good.
Secondly, we participate to honor our many members who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. From families raising children to couples to teenagers coming into their own, we love, honor, and cherish their contribution to our community. As a church family, we celebrate and give thanks for the diversity of our membership that reflects the width and breadth of God's kingdom.
Finally, we participate to invite. Do you know someone who needs a safe church, a hug, an offering of love? Invite them, bring them, welcome them. William Temple once wrote, "The church exists primarily for the sake of those who are outside of it." We who know the love of Jesus are called on to invite others to know his love. We who know grace are called to offer grace to others, or we fail to honor God's gift.
St. Martin's is a special church. I am grateful for it. I invite you to come and walk on Friday, celebrate with us on Saturday, and worship with us on Sunday. Our 5:00 p.m. service will be a special Pride Mass which our praise band has been practicing for. I am excited to worship with them and I am excited to see you this weekend.
In Christ,
Mitch
