Dear Incarnation,
Today is my husband's birthday — if you know Trent, please send him a celebratory text! He jokingly refers to himself as Incarnation's First Gentleman, but in all seriousness, we are enormously blessed as a church through his humble, often invisible, steadfast support of me as your rector. And as if that weren't enough, he's also a gentle and sensitive prayer minister, a smoker of truly excellent brisket (why yes, we do have a vat of wagyu tallow in our kitchen, why do you ask?), a maker of Wild Wonder balloon animals, and a purveyor of Penetrating Thoughts that stir us to contemplation and laughter (ask him to explain his retreat talent show act!). Happy birthday, First Gentleman!
And happy belated birthday to Incarnation! We celebrated Membership Sunday last week by welcoming 13 new members (19 including children), praying a litany of thanks for God's work in our church, and feasting on belated-birthday cake. Our church launched six years ago in September 2018 in the sanctuary of Greenbrier Baptist, after a summer of Evening Prayer services in our first rector's home. So many things have changed in that time, but our commitment to being a place of "messy reverent" worship, of authentic welcome, and of deep wonder has only grown deeper. Incarnation is what it is because of the people who worship here — thank you, all of you, for creating this community.
And part of what makes this community is the normal, mundane stuff of our life together, like Parish Meetings. Great news — there's one this Sunday!! Bring a dish to share for the potluck and plan to stay as we celebrate the past 6 months and report on our finances and future plans.
There's a lot to celebrate around here. And there are lots of changes, as has always been the pattern of this church's life. I'm praying that in the midst of it all, we will all find time to be still and know God as the one leading and shepherding us from year to year to year.
I know many of you are carrying heavy burdens — please reach out. We'd love to pray with you.
With love,
Amy
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