2023 Vestry Candidates:
Letter from the Rector:
Dear Saints
To you, the faithful members, friends, and supporters of Saint Michael and All Angels (SMAA): Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
As I reflect on the year 2022, I can clearly see the presence of God at SMAA in many moments of celebration, faithfulness, and good stewardship. A ministry in the form of Community of Hope International was born, which produced new pastoral care ministers. We were blessed to see members among us rise to the call of ordained ministry. We welcomed a Deacon, Postulant and Seminarian to our program staff. SMAA fed over two thousand individuals both locally and internationally through the Community Outreach Committee’s food distribution initiative. We endured in our weekly bible study program and revitalized our Youth Christian Formation activities. The infrastructural damage suffered at the end of December due to freezing temperatures notwithstanding, we painted walls, tiled floors, and welcomed community groups back into our building. God showed up in many ways to remind us that with open and willing hearts, we can identify and execute God’s Will through programs that matter to the church and community.
The Good News is that you, the members of SMAA, listened to God’s call and responded. You did so with a spirit of resilience and determination. I continue to be grateful to have so many willing partners in God’s ministry. When I consider your faithfulness, the image of the woman at Jacob’s well comes to mind (John 4). What is most prominent to me in this story is the visual of the woman walking towards the well with an empty bucket. She is probably weary, thirsty, and in need of a reprieve. Perhaps she was close to giving up or maybe she considered asking someone else to fetch water. Ultimately, she sacrifices her last effort to journey to the well to fetch water not only for herself, but most likely her family and possibly others in her community. I see and recognize your willingness, SMAA, to sacrifice your time and effort to attend church on Sundays, serve at the altar, be active on committees, and share the love of Christ in the community. Although tired, sometimes discouraged, but never faithless, you find the energy to fetch one more bucket of water.
Indeed, the Congregational Assessment Tool’s (CAT) survey findings indicated a high level of satisfaction with where and who we are as part of the body of Christ. Yet, while I am elated with the results, I am mostly curious. I am curious about what drives the purpose, energy and spirituality within the congregation. Specifically, why is being a member of SMAA important to you? What area of SMAA’s ministry excites you the most? How do you see yourself participating in that area of our ministry?
Throughout this year, I will be focusing keenly on the answer to these questions. In this regard, it is my plan to visit with all groups and committees at their regularly scheduled meetings to listen and discern with them on these topics. Similarly, my invitation to you is to ponder the following questions in relation to each ministry activity:
1. How does the proposed activity permit us “to participate, learn, and serve in our neighboring communities”?
2. How can we “invite neighbors into our church family in our commitment to seek and serve Christ in all persons”?
3. Are we offering Christian hospitality to our neighbors at ministry events and on Sunday mornings in ways that reflect the Love of God?
In closing, I offer you Paul’s prayer to the faithful at the church in Ephesus recorded in 1 Ephesians 1:15-23:
"I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love towards all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.”
One Love
Fr Winston