As I lay here recoving from my surgery, I feel blessed by your prayers and outpouring of love and support.  I give thanks for you and for your continued relationship with me, and with our parish, and want you to know how much I truly appreciate all that you do.

I feel like I have been lying on my back for almost a month (because I have), and while my body is healing, my mind has been happily engaged in "what if" thinking - some of which resulted in an improved website, and these weekly newsletters.

Some of my other thinking has been around the areas of Sunday School, Worship, Caring for the Sick, Preaching, Community Outreach, and Communication. 

For each of these areas, there are a number of ways that we can further enhance the good work that has already been done - but for each idea, I keep coming back to the same place:  None of this can be done without you and your personal involvement.

Take Worship, for example:  Episcopalians talk about "liturgy" a lot.  Some people confuse the "liturgy" for what the priest does, standing there at the altar - using the same words, week by week, to sanctify the bread and wine.  But liturgy is not about the priest - it is about the people.  In fact, the Greek roots of the word "liturgy" specifically mean "the work of the people" - worship then, is all about what YOU bring to the table and what YOU ask God to do with it.

As I return, we will be planning for enhanced programs, in the areas of Sunday School especially, and I'm going to need you to exercise your gifts and help!  None of the work of the church can be accomplished apart from its people, because the work of the church IS the work of the people.

Together, we will continue to build and enhance - but most importantly, together we will continue to worship!

To God be the Glory,
Michael+