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February 07, 2006
Rector's Reflections
Dear friends,
February is a month of holidays—romantic, patriotic and religious. We often characterize February with a heart, a symbol of love and of Valentine’s Day. It turns out that St. Valentine was a martyr and had no connection with romantic love, but the day he died, February 14th, is the day that tradition holds that birds are supposed to pair, a belief at least as old as Chaucer.(From The Oxford Dictionary of the Saints)
As Christians we are commanded to love--all the time, all year round. So often in our busy lives, we forget to express that love, and sometimes we don’t allow ourselves to receive it from others. We are a community forged in the love of Christ for each of us and for us as a community. It is God’s good pleasure that each of us experience such love. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
One of the ways we experience God’s love is in Christian Fellowship. On February 28 we will have a Pancake Supper to celebrate Mardi Gras. In the Middle Ages people observed a strict fast during Lent, so they had a big feast on the day before Ash Wednesday to use up eggs, butter, and sugar and have whatever meat was available. Our Pancake Supper is the descendent of this tradition. This is a wonderful event for all ages. Dinner will begin at 6:00 pm.
New Rector Search Process
The search process is underway. Michael Hansen, executive officer of the diocese, has met with the search committee to lay out the steps we will take to call a new rector. The committee is organizing, dividing jobs and thinking about the tasks ahead. In March we will have a Town Hall Meeting after each of the services. This will be your opportunity to have input for the parish profile. (The profile is the brochure the church uses to introduce ourselves to prospective candidates.) The date will be announced several weeks ahead so that you can plan to attend. In the meantime, please think and pray about the future direction of Trinity Parish. What is important to you? What are your hopes for the future? Where is God calling us to exercise our ministry?
The search committee will give you the feedback from the meeting and will then write the profile, which will be approved by the vestry. At that point we will start collecting names. Do you know someone who would be a good candidate? If so, please give that name and address to a member of the search committee.
The committee will read all the applications and then decide which candidates to visit. After they complete the interviewing process, they will present 3 or 4 finalists to the vestry, who will interview them and make the call. We anticipate that this process will take a minimum of 10-12 months.
While the committee is doing its work, the rest of us are called to support them in prayer and to make this a healthy congregation ready to receive the ministry of a new rector. Attend worship, join a committee, attend a class, work on mission, teach, become an active and engaged Episcopalian!
New Bishop Search Process
The names of the candidates for bishop will be announced February 20. We will be able to meet the candidates the week of April 25. The electing convention will be held on May 6. Please keep the search committee and the candidates in your prayers as this process draws close to completing its task.
Faithfully, Anne+
