Reach Out

Dear Creator Family,

Even a pandemic can’t touch our season of plenty. God’s abundance—abundant blessing, abundant mercy, abundant care and provision in all the ways He abides and cares for His people is harder to see in these isolating times, but it is still there. I pray you are able to experience His love and care for you in very real and tangible ways this month, and that you and your loved ones navigate the different, difficult, frustrating, lonely and sometimes heartbreaking days ahead.

His “plenty” is there for the asking. We ask by praying. We ask by worshipping. We ask by fellowshipping and reaching out to the members of our church family. What do you think we were called to be together for - the good times only? In this time of loneliness and restriction, fear and suffering, hardship and honest crises of the faith--Please, my brothers in sisters in Christ, reach out to one another. See your parish church with new eyes, as a place of genuine connection and belonging so that we, strengthened, can walk together.

Who knows if we will meet inside or out, in-person or online, but we are together, always, united in the love of Christ and that corporate communion we have shared for years? Let us feast on that in our hearts and feel inspired and emboldened to reach out. Please keep up the faith, and the “fight” for health, and for inner peace, calm and sanity during Thanksgiving and the coming holiday season. I promise, because He promised - his plenty is there for the asking.

Speaking of plenty…we have much happening this month and next. Please keep time with us. I encourage you, as always but perhaps this year a little more, to join us in the observance of a holy and intentional Advent. Our church programs and weekly worship opportunities will be aimed at just that, and I truly hope you will consider joining us. Imagine having such nice things on your calendar, in this, our ninth month of the pandemic.  

• This Saturday is our 2nd Stew Sale! Please check with Katherine Earls for ways to help and serve.

• This Sunday, immediately after the 10:30 service, we will hold a Special Parish Meeting to elect our Vestry for 2021. We are blessed that Eric Knopf, Stacy Rusch, and Gale Saedan have heard God’s call to serve and will stand for election. Please plan on attending in person or via ZOOM. This is an important way our church connects, grows, and deepens our commitment to serve God in our personal lives, our greater communities, and the world. Please find a way to be there. Who is it for if not for you?

• The first Sunday in Advent, November 29, will be a ZOOM/YouTube service. This will be a gathering time for our parish, then a shift to watch the Sunday service at the National Cathedral. All links will be sent to you in Creator Calling and by direct email next week.
• After much deliberation, we have decided that December 6th will be our last in-person service for the winter season. If the opportunity arises or our COVID circumstances change, we will gladly modify this decision.
• Wednesday night, December 2nd at 7 pm, starts our Advent compline and Advent program. It is four weeks long leading up to Christmas. Maybe you haven’t participated in a book study or a CE program at Creator for a while. This one will include four different “lenses” from through which to view and experience Advent: historical, spiritual, symbolic, and personal (as in, seeking the Incarnate Lord). Please join us. Wednesdays have become quite a friendly, hopeful and prayer-filled group of regulars. Come swell our ranks and ride into the Christmas season filled with love of Christ and neighbor. Starts promptly at 7 with fellowship and visiting, followed by a specially written Advent Compline (need four leaders/readers), followed by a thought provoking and faith building program. If you need help enabling Zoom at your home, please let us know!
• A Pastoral Care Ministry team is being commissioned to call our parish family from time to time. Please respond to their calls; we are all worried about each other and want to stay in touch.

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I know that ZOOM is the least desirable method of meeting/worshipping, but please try to attend our gatherings. It is what we have. It may not be that great, but we need each other, and like all signs, symbols, practices, and efforts on our part--when given fully, they become invested and imbued with the love of the Holy Spirit.

In Peace,
Fr. Bill