August 19, 2021

August 19, 2021

Dear Friends in Christ,

As I enter my second year of ministry with you all, I have been reflecting back on the past year and looking forward to the future. Despite the Delta variant and rising numbers of new coronavirus infections, as things open up including our church, it feels like time to if not to get back to “normal” whatever “normal” might be, at least start working towards the kind of community Saint Anna’s is called by God to be. Already the many months of seeing your faces and worshipping together only on a computer screen feel like the distant past even though it has been less than three months since we have been back in in-person worship. With most people including myself fully vaccinated, I have begun visiting members of the congregation, especially those unable to get to church, meeting with other members about their various ministries, and thinking ahead to the coming years. The Bishop’s Committee and I have spent much of this year reflecting on the opportunities and challenges facing Saint Anna’s. Our hope is to develop a mission statement and vision that reflect the direction we hope to move forward with 3-5 short-term and long-term goals that are SMART – Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time sensitive.

It isn’t without its challenges. We have all been deeply affected by the uncertainty and disruption to our lives of the past eighteen months. The pandemic has affected us all differently and in varying measures, but we have all been under a great deal of stress and even trauma this past year and a half and it isn’t over yet. We are exhausted, emotional and anxious, and energized, hopeful and excited at the same time. A recent article floating about in clergy circles likened the closure of churches due to the pandemic to a marathon that required innovation, creativity, learning new things, and adaptability, and pointed out that just as we reached the finish line, exhausted, sore, and ready to rest and recover, now that we are back to in-person worship someone has slapped another number on our backs and told us to run another marathon. Which describes what it feels like perfectly.

Not only that, we also don’t know if things will get bad enough to have to return to remote worship once again. So add uncertainty to the mix. And yet, no one wants to lose the momentum of being back together again, and I find myself alternating between hopeful anticipation and concerned despondency. And so I made a decision last week. During my daily prayer time when I pray for all the people in my life, and for all the people and things that are on my heart that day, I will also spend time praying for the mission and ministry of Saint Anna’s. Trusting that God will show us the way forward, give us the courage and strength as well as the wisdom and patience we need, and open up the opportunities to make it possible.



I invite you all to join me in praying this daily. I pray this between 7:30-8 every morning if you want to join me at the same time. And if you are interested in a more concrete and intentional prayer effort, let me know.

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Jane +