Dear friends in Christ,
Happy Easter!!! Wow – is this Easter season ever full! Here are 5 things I want to reflect about a bit with you:
· The Preserving Our Past by Planning Our Future Campaign is in full swing! There have been many, many people doing so much to make this successful. Our calls have been experiences of pure grace, as you – the people of St. Peter’s – have contributed so generously and joyfully. I am humbled and thankful. We are well on our way to preserving this great Jewel of Centre Street!
The Campaign Dinner was a great occasion and a joyful time. Thank you to all who attended, and to all who helped produce this great event!
Thank you also to all who have made sacrificial commitments to the campaign. If you haven’t had a chance to do so yet, please welcome your fellow parishioner who calls you to arrange a visit. You’ll be moved by the good news!
· Last month, Lisa Flores announced to us that she has accepted a call to Christ Church, Grosse Point, Michigan. We wish her Godspeed as she continues to spread her wings as a priest in the Church. Her last day with us will be Sunday, June 3 – and we’ll have a big party (St. Peter’s style) to wish her well that night at 6:00 p.m. More info coming!!
· I am overjoyed to announce that I have invited Kimberly Still to become the next Assistant Rector of St. Peter’s. Kimberly visited with us over Easter weekend, and had a chance to meet a few folks. She is a Candidate for Holy Orders from Christ Church, Ponte Vedra Beach, and has just graduated with a Masters of Divinity from the School of Theology, Sewanee, Tennessee.
Kimberly will be ordained Deacon on May 27 at 5:00 p.m. at St. John’s Cathedral in Jacksonville. I hope as many of you as are able will attend this glorious celebration. She will begin her ministry with us on July 1, 2007.
· Many of you remember that I was honored to receive a Lilly Sabbatical grant several years ago. Some of you also know that my wonderful and talented (did I say beautiful too?) wife Kammy also received a grant, and her sabbatical period is May-August 2007. Her program has our family doing backpacking and traveling in France and Italy for most of May – with a highlight being a week at the Taize Community in France. I look forward to this re-creational time with my family, and I pray you will also do some re-creating this summer.
· April 27, 1997 was my first day at St. Peter’s with you. These have been 10 of the most wonderful and incredible years of my life! Thank you for the joy, honor, and privilege of serving our Lord with you. You are a tremendous blessing to me and my family, and I thank God for you!!! I hope these next 10 years are nearly as fun!
Happy and Holy Summer!
Peace in the Risen Christ, George+
