Happy Anniversary!

Third Year Anniversary Letter

Dear Friends & Family,

Please join with me in celebrating our three year anniversary of St. Raphael's by the Sea Anglican Church. As a young parish there have been many challenges, but you have kept your hands to the plow in going forward for the Lord. Your hard work and dedication have been an inspiration to me as your pastor.

This past Easter we broke another record in attendance as we celebrated the spiritual birth of two more members into the Body of Christ through the waters of baptism. We also broke records in our fund raising efforts this past year and were able for the first time to start setting aside for future efforts in having a place of our own. Our continued efforts to reach others for Christ through live streaming by bringing the message of the gospel to those unable to physically attend our services have been an inspiration to other churches.

This past year, we had a major loss with the passing of our senior warden, Roxie Smith. Yet, you did not let that loss destroy our efforts for Christ. Instead, you rallied to fill in wherever you could to keep our ministries for the Lord continuing. Special thanks goes to A. J. Bassett for her willingness to step into the leadership role as Senior Warden and to Don Cole for coming onto the Vestry. These are just two of many examples of your fortitude and commitment to the ministry of St. Raphael's by the Sea Anglican Church.

In the spirit of this commitment, the time has come for our Annual Thank Offering to our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the author and the finisher of our faith, for the parish of St. Raphael's by the Sea. As you know, during the summer months we have our lowest attendance, since the majority of our members are away. While absence may make the heart grow fonder, absence also makes the offerings lighter. So much lighter that we are only collecting enough each month to cover half of our monthly expenses. We really need your donations at this time.

So please give generously to keep the ministry of St. Raphael's by the Sea continuing as we who remain here on the island work hard to keep the doors open for you and for others seeking a spiritual home. Thank you once again for your commitment and for your continued support.

Blessings, 

The Reverend Alice Marcrum+