Dear Friends,

Now that Father Jack, Susan and David are gone, I know a lot of people are concerned about what happens next.  Now we have entered into the "interim period".  We need to remember that the process of calling a permanent rector is a slow, careful, prayerful process that will take place gradually over the next year and a half to two years.  This first stage is a time of reflection where we, as a parish, take a deep breath and give ourselves time to relax a bit and adjust to the fact that our former leaders have moved on.

We welcome our Interim Rector, the Reverend Anne Jensen who will begin working full-time on this Tuesday, June 19th.  Anne will see to our pastoral needs and serve as our leader in worship until we call a new rector.  She will also oversee the administration of the church and be in charge of staff in consultation with the vestry.  She will be helping us to teach hospitality and to review, prioritize and enhance the various ministries of St. Paul's.  She will help us identify the areas where we are strong and help us strengthen those areas where we are weak.  One of Anne's first  priorities is to determine the level of staffing needed and to work with the Senior Warden and the Vestry to make sure those needs are met.

In a couple of months, once we have moved through this time of reflection, we will begin to organize the search committee.  We will have an open invitation where any member of the parish who is interested in serving on the committee may submit an application to be reviewed by the vestry.  It will be the vestry's responsibility to choose about 12 people who, together, will represent all of the diverse groups of people who make up our parish family.  There will be a series of "town hall" meetings where every member of the parish will be able to participate in discerning who we are and who we want to become as a parish.  Together we will develop a "parish profile" that will identify the parish to the people who will be applying for the position of permanent Rector. 

The message I want to leave you with today is that God has not brought us this far to drop us on our heads.  We are in the best of hands, let us stay together and gently help each other move through this time of change.
 

Peace be with you!
With Love,
Phil