Melissa May will leave Saint Matthew on April 30. She’s been called to serve full-time as a Diaconal Minister with an ecumenical organization in Canada. Although this may be sad news for us, it is good news for her and the wider church. Come and wish her well at a cake & punch reception after each worship service on Sunday, April 21.
From Melissa May
By now, many of you are aware that I have accepted a call to diaconal ministry with an ecumenical organization in canada called On Eagle’s Wings, and so I will be leaving Saint Matthew in order to serve in that ministry. If you are interested in learning more about their service to support Christian education in aboriginal communities in the north of canada, visit their website at www.oneagleswings.org or come to my Adult Forum presentation on April 21st to hear all about the organization.
While I am excited to be joining this new ministry, I am certainly very sad to be leaving the people of Saint Matthew when I have my last day as Leader of Family Ministry on April 30. This congregation is a place of strong leadership, caring members, cheerful children, and talented and giving youth and young people. I have been especially privileged to spend some wonderfully fun and meaningful time with the young folks of Saint Matthew during this brief six-month period. It is not easy to prepare to say goodbye to such welcoming and loving people, but I trust that we can hold each other in prayer and keep in touch.
Each person who !s involved in the worship, fellowship, and ministry of Saint Matthew-whether it is inside the church doors or serving out in the community-can be delighted with the many faith-building activities which are already taking place here, and can be excited about new possibilities. While I will no longer be in a leadership position with children and youth in the congregation, many people regularly step up as volunteer teachers, planners, and chaperones, and this is encouraging for the future. Faith formation in the congregation and at home-through prayers, conversation, and service-is so important to build young people of character and Christian conviction, and there are new ways to be explored about how to equip parents and other adults to have these conversations and ”teachable moments” about faith with their kids. Let’s keep the conversation together going about how we are supporting each other to be good role models of faith for the young people in our lives so that they too may grow into strong Christian disciples who go and serve in Christ’s name. We trust that God will abundantly strengthen and encourage us for this mission each and every day, and that the Holy Spirit will lead us to inspire and support each other all the way. May God keep blessing you each and every day in the love of your families! –Melissa May