Sometimes a lot happens in a week. This week has been one with both tremendous highs and lows…There have been several other positive COVID cases either in or close to our community. For this reason, last week we went back to everyone wearing masks indoors at every service or church meeting. Please continue to be safe. If you have not been vaccinated and you can be, please get the shot. It can save your life and the life of another.

Our church has done a lot. We're currently partnering with Episcopal Migration Ministries and Habitat for Humanity in a critical house rebuild. We've hired a full preschool staff who did their CPR training today. We've worked to re-open all of our worship opportunities and we have hired a youth minister slated to start in just a couple of weeks. The stage is set for an amazing year. In order to live into this year and all of the many opportunities that we have, I ask for your cooperation as we seek to be safe, loving our neighbors as ourselves.

There is much to give thanks for as our new school year and program year begins. Where do you see joy? Hope? Expectation? Blessing? How will you pause and offer to God thanksgiving in all times?

As parents/mentors/coaches, we must trust we have done enough. We pray to God to protect those we love, and then we pray for the strength, courage, and grace to trust those whom we have raised. We are asked as families to trust faithfully both what has been done, and trust what will be. In that trust, we say "Godspeed." I pray that our youth go with God and that we can hear what they learn each time that they return. I pray that our relationship with them will continue to grow. And, finally, I pray that one day, when they return home, we will see them as friends and not children, as peers -- as the generation of both tomorrow and right now.

In many ways, I feel like St. Martin's has been in the midst of a period of practice and preparation. We have worked hard and we have planned. As the start of our program year approaches we have HUGE projects on the horizon.

Despite the pandemic, we are growing. Growing in ministry, growing in love, and growing in numbers. It is my belief that as long as we stay faithful to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, this growth will continue. It was faithfulness that led volunteer after volunteer to help at the vaccination sites; it was faithfulness that kept worship happening even when it was forced online and outside; it was faithfulness that kept our Community House open and our feeding ministries alive, and it is faithfulness that leads us in a spirit of joy and love to these exciting new opportunities.

This summer at St. Martin's has been one of preparation and work. Looking back, three projects have taken a large amount of focus. Our Capital Improvement Committee, Preschool Advisory Board, and Youth Minister interviews have been our priorities. In each, we have made tremendous progress that we’re excited to share!

As I was driving home, I recall thinking about how bright the future is for St. Martin's. As I look toward the end of summer and the beginning of a new school year, I am filled with hope. The story of 2021 is only half over. The second part of the year has begun and it looks like it is going to be a wonderful journey. With God's help and an open heart, I believe the Holy Spirit will lead us to something wonderful.

Tim's vision for the garden is to have a place of growth, fellowship, learning, and fun. It's a long-term vision, but it has taken root. If you can, drive by the back of the church and take a look, or better yet, volunteer! It's a fun ministry and an exciting one to watch.

This Sunday, we will welcome Bishop Waldo to St. Martin's for his final visit with us at the 10:30 a.m. service. He will confirm 10 young people. Teaching their confirmation class was a bright spot for me during the pandemic. Our classes, outside under the lights, served as a reminder of normalcy during a very peculiar time. I am proud of our young people and look forward to watching them take over their baptismal vows.

Looking for a spiritually grounded, deeply present, and energetic youth and children’s minister to come serve with us!