This Week from Mitch

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

My favorite event of our church year is coming - our Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras Potluck! I look forward to celebrating it with you all on Tuesday, Feb. 21. The reason why it is my favorite event is because members of the church decided to do Mardi Gras with an emphasis on Cajun food here during our first year in order to welcome my family, particularly the kids, from our previous home in New Orleans, where Mardi Gras is a big deal! I love the potluck because it is a reminder of how you all welcomed the Smiths into your lives. I remain grateful.

At our Kanuga Parish Weekend, the Rev. Chris Jillard introduced us to the concept of "Worship + 2." Essentially, the concept asks members of our community to commit to worship PLUS two other ministries of the church. It's a way of serving your community and connecting more deeply to it. Worship+2 invites you to come to worship and to pick two other ways to connect to your community.

Everything from potlucks to the flowers at our altar to the passing out of bulletins in the back of the church to coming to rock a baby during the week is a ministry, and all of them could use some help. If you are curious about a ministry, or eager to start a ministry, give me a call. I want to connect with you. I want to learn. Sometimes, however, I realize that joining a ministry can be daunting, and push us out of our comfort zone. Because of this, during Wednesday nights in Lent, my formation offering will be one of training. I will train lay eucharistic ministers and acolytes (adult and youth). We will do flowers at the altar, and we will talk about how we can greet and welcome new families into our lives. If you are curious about a ministry, come and see what it is all about. For old and new, I hope this serves as a fresh invitation to join and to learn.

In Christ,

Mitch+