My Brother and Sisters in Christ,
We have been most fortunate here at St. Paul’s
that our period of endings, transitions, and new beginnings has gone very well. Frequently parishes experience anxieties and some disruptions caused by uncertainty shifts in responsibilities, the unknown, and a sense of suspension of activities. One thing that we did differently, and I think helped immensely was to do the search as soon as I announced my retirement. And now, as we come to the end of my tenure, we know who is coming and when.
God has blessed St. Paul’s with an excellent new Rector, Fr. George Woodward. He is eagerly preparing for his transition to San Miguel de Allende to begin his new ministry with you. He brings wide experience, deep faith, great capacity and energy, and a sense of humor. He is an intelligent, competent priest and pastor. In addition to great joy for you, I have a wonderful sense of delight and confidence that as my time with you closes, the right person is coming to you. However, that does not eliminate the need to pay close attention to the process of ending and moving into the new chapter.
An excellent Transition process is being led by Elaine Sells. Lynn Ramsey is overseeing the process of getting the Rectory (Sollano 42) ready for Fr. George. As I move into my last week with you, I am reminded that my first week with you four years ago was also Holy Week. We have come full circle, as it were. It is a busy week, and culminates with the Great Vigil, Holy Baptism, and Holy Eucharist on Easter Eve and then the celebration of Easter Day. Sunni and her crew are planning a culinary extravaganza, and we all know that will be wonderful.
I believe that we have together
indeed brought ourselves
to a good ending.
We conclude four years of work that has shored up the finances, the administration, and the building and grounds of the parish. Not particularly spectacular or sexy, but essential work that now sets the parish free to build forward on a solid organizational foundation that will sustain the good ministries already being done and open up possibilities for ministries and activities as yet unknown, but that will surely by coming. My own sense of things is one of completion. The work that was laid before me has been essentially done. Let me be clear, it took many others working together for all of us to get the work done. I am very grateful to all who have served and worked.
Vestry, Officers, volunteers, ministry groups such as the Choir and music staff, Knitters, Altar Guild, Servers, Ushers, and the other staff, Pepe, Nancy, and Miguel. I know I have left out someone, but know that you, too, have been appreciated. Getting our ministries done always depends on having people who are willing to do these ministries. These ministries have grown in depth. To continue, they need to grow in breadth of participation.
For Kathy and Me
As I said to the Vestry at our work day on Wednesday, March 21, for both Kathy and me, we could not have asked for a better end of career experience than to be at St. Paul’s with you. We leave with joy and a sense of blessing that God gave us this gift. We leave with a sense of thankfulness for you and the pleasure it has been to live and work with and among you. San Miguel has, of course, been a special place to live, and came to us as quite a surprise. St. Paul’s is a vibrant parish of wonderful people. We take treasured memories with us.
Moving forward, I have a great sense of your being perched on the edge of a new, exciting, and holy adventure. I pray that you embrace Fr. George with your goodness and love, and with him, go with expectation, anticipation, joy, and faith into the adventure God will unfold for you. There will be inevitable changes. Fr. George will do some things differently. Some folks who have been very active will take a well-earned sabbatical. Some folk who may not have been as active or visible will come forward bringing new energy to the life and work of the parish. Many will continue as they always have. There will be some sifting and kneading, some shifting and adjusting around the strong, faithful, healthy core of who you are and the life and work of St.
Paul’s. May whatever this new adventure brings, nurture your hearts and souls, drawing you ever closer to the Father through the Son in the Holy Spirit as you love and serve the Lord each day