Wish I could give each one of you a hug to say thank you but alas not possible!!! Maybe in 6 months! Smile. So I will let St. Paul say how I feel instead and never have these words had so much meaning for me as right now: “I thank my God every time I remember you—(which is every day!), constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day (December 1, 2019) until now (August 31, 2020) —Phil 1: 3
My dear siblings in Christ, with God’s help we have walked a path which was rocky and bumpy at times, but also filled with much love and grace, patience and commitment to this point where we have called Pastor Eric to be our newly Called and Settled Pastor. Now together with Pastor Eric, we will continue to walk in faith towards the future God has in store for us.
So I say, a most heartfelt thank you for my wonderful “thank You” celebration complete with so many tender and kind notes and gifts, the financial gift from the congregation and the marvelous gift made in my honor to the ELCA fund for developing International Women Leaders — that makes me giddy with joy!! Bet this is a run-on sentence by now!!!
Oh Well —The altar flowers were beautiful and the car parade —what fun —Way back in March when the world shut down, we never expected the pandemic to last this long but it certainly has—so now we are in a new phase —our new normal and with it comes some new challenges that with God’s help and guidance and the leadership of Pastor Eric and by working together we can overcome and, yes, thrive and grow in our faith! I am excited about the new possibilities for our children this fall for Sunday School and Adult Forum and…with God all things are possible. May you know God’s peace and love which surrounds you everyday.
In Christ, Peggy +
P.S. Bishop Bartholomew has given me a couple of days to remain retired!!! Grin