How very blessed we are to belong to the wonderful community of St. Alban's! There is so much joy here, so much genuine affection for one another, so much willingness to share not only our good times, but also our times of difficulty and sadness.
The next time you come into the Parish Hall be sure to stop and look at the "moving picture show" that is on display on the table in the entryway. What a good time we are having together in these pictures! We are worshiping together, enjoying delicious food together, talking to each other, working together, and always it seems, laughing together. We truly enjoy being in each other's company. This is so wonderful and, I think, quite rare. It is not always thus in church communities, or in any kind of community.
It take work to achieve what we have here. It takes individuals who are anxious to welcome any and all who cross our threshold. It takes people who are willing to share their stories and to listen to others' stories. It takes patience and forbearance and compassion. It takes hearts that can rejoice in each other and in God's love which, to my eye anyway, abounds here at St. Alban's. Thanks be to God for that extravagant love!
And thanks to Marjorie and Stacy for that exhilarating picture show!
Advent peace to you all,
Audrey
Audrey,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kudos. I believe in the importance of accepting everyone's gifts, talents and being that walk through the door of our church. It doesn't matter the socio-economic status or anything else we are all here for a reason and that is our relationship with God. This season I am aware that my continuing relationship with God may also be on the minds of others at St. Alban's. We do have a wonderful place to meet and greet, reach out and be there for people whose needs are great and small. I think the question for our parish is not how do we reach out but that we reach out in so many different ministries, so many offerings, and so many people who care at different levels for others who walk through the doors just like us with all their "baggage" and still find acceptance. I really "feel the love" when I walk through the doors. We have clergy who are constantly working and reworking their approach to the many needs of parishoners and on how to get their own needs met as they pastor to themselves and others. Our sacramental life as a parish offers joy, solace, comfort tot those who come looking. Everyone can be a intergral part of the life of this parish in whatever kind of relationship that is important the most important being how we relate to God. I see this in this place. I know the value of this place and I know the humanity we bring to the table when being in relationship. The ministries that we are trying to get up to meet even more needs of our congreation such as the health ministry, our youth and young adult program, our worship that we share with each other in the presence of God is so life-giving and sacred in the sense of committment and effort to reach out to others. This is truly Christ activity. We need to continue to focus on reaching people of all abilities, with the potential to use all gifts given, and find ways to say to our God "thank you" for all that you have called us to do in our relationship with you, with each other and those we have not yet met and especially those in need and have not yet experienced anything but feelings of feeling "less than". The song "reach out and touch" could be our song. St. Alban's has touched Stacy and my life in the gifts that have been bestowed upon us and I hope that our gifts will bestow that same feeling of acceptance toward others. The screen is a tool that we can all enjoy by looking and really seeing the faces of our people enjoying the many blessing of this place called St. Alban's. I believe all gifts will be accepted and find a place in the weave of what we do and continue to do for God, each other and ourselves. Our screen presentations are just a glimpse, a remind of what happens and the joys of being here in this place.
AMEN!
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