Prayer Requests and Vestry News

The readings for Sunday are all about relationship. For those who have experienced great relationships in their lives and for those who have never yet quite tasted that sustaining fruit, Jesus shows how much he loves us and the ways to cultivate deeper relationships. Jesus laid down his life to show his great love. We're invited to love expansively and experience the joy of friendship with Jesus and through the body of Christ.

And when those we are connected to in the friendship of Jesus and through the body of Christ are distressed or in pain, we too feel their suffering. Our faith community has been impacted by two recent events that call us to prayer...

• The Rev. Pat Stelz, wife of the Rev. Ted Rice, our former interim rector, was found to have cancer on the left temporal lobe of her brain. She had emergency surgery, is recovering in rehab, and preparing for a course of chemo and radiation therapy.
• Zack Holm, son of Senior Warden Don and Gail Holm had emergency brain surgery in Tahoe where he and wife Sara live. Zack is now at an excellent rehab facility and Don is helping Sara to keep his construction company going for an indefinite period. Don has told Zack & Sara that he will stay until Zack can say, "Go home Dad".

Strengthen your servants Pat and Zack, O God, and lead them through the journey ahead; that, accepting your healing gifts at the hands of physicians, nurses, and medical workers, they may be restored to wholeness with a thankful heart; and be a presence of comfort and peace with them and those who love them especially Ted, Sara, Gail and Don, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Don is thankful that he can be of help in Tahoe, but is sorry that he has to give up his responsibilities at All Saints'. The vestry met for an emergency meeting this week, I have been in conversation with Canon Hannah Anderson and we are discerning gifts and praying for God to lift-up someone to serve as our Senior Warden. The vestry has a retreat scheduled for Saturday, May 16th to continue our discernment and ask your prayers for our faith community and its leadership. You will receive notice of a special congregational meeting to elect a new Senior Warden and to fill the year remaining in Bill Lander's vestry term. (You may recall that the vestry received Bill's resignation in March; the vestry has nominated Jack McLaughlin to take his place).

Lord God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

If you have any questions about this news, please contact me or any member of our vestry: Junior Warden Andy Milligan, Treasurer Beth Smith, Clerk Gerry DeGeorge, Sarah Day, Anne Hunt, David Knox, Jack McLaughlin, Jim Thomas, and Dianne Wasmuth. Thank you.

Easter Blessings+

Bill