Dear fellow Pilgrims,

Those of you who heard my “I Have This Dream” sermon on June 19 will remember that I talked about some of the distinctive aspects of being Episcopalian, and some of the characteristics that I hope will remain and grow about St. Peter’s. One of those is that we intentionally and enthusiastically welcome all people to journey with us at St. Peter’s (remember the mission statement?: “We believe that Christian life is a journey, and we invite God’s people to journey with us”)

Sometimes our worship doesn’t feel totally accessible to guests (stand up, sit down, juggle books, say this – sing this…), and it is a constant challenge to try to make our liturgy open while not watering it down.

I had a chat the other day with our dear friend and former St. Peter’s staff member, the Rev. Gary Manning (he’s now Vicar at Trinity Church, Wauwautosa, WI), and as we both shared our solutions to every problem in the Church these days, he told me about a presentation he had heard. I share a quote from that as he wrote it down:

Nobody out there wants to become an Episcopalian. Nobody out there cares about our liturgy or our history or why we kneel, stand and cross ourselves at particular points in a worship service. But people in our culture are seeking relationships (with God and with one another). They are seeking emotional and spiritual healing. They are seeking meaning and spiritual grounding in their lives. And the things that they’re seeking are the things we can provide right here in the Episcopal Church…we simply have to not only open our doors on Sunday mornings, but open our mouths and spread word in our homes, workplaces, schools and neighborhoods.

The Rev. James B. Lemler
Director of Mission for ECUSA
(as quoted by G. Manning)

I’d like to suggest that we not only “can provide those things,” but that we DO provide those things – relationships, emotional and spiritual healing, meaning and spiritual grounding in our lives – in fact, that this is the hallmark of our life and worship together as the Episcopal Church, and specifically St. Peter’s in this place.

A group of Vestry, staff, and other leaders met over the June 24-25 weekend to do some strategic planning, and have begun to assemble some plans that will guide us in carrying out our mission more creatively and effectively. Top values are Education & Formation, Music & Liturgy, and Stewardship. Keep your ears & eyes open to hear and see more about this. In the meantime, may we “not only open our doors on Sunday mornings, but open our mouths and spread the word in our homes, workplaces, schools and neighborhoods” about our life in Christ in this wonderful congregation!

Peace & love,
† George