From the Rector's Desk
At Diocesan Convention on October 22, Bishop Waldo challenged us to evaluate how well our churches are forming our members into mature Christians, people who profess their faith "not only with their lips, but with their lives."
Our delegates spent some time discussing how our worship services reveal the deep love we feel for one another at Incarnation. We felt like our love is most evident at the passing of the peace – at our enthusiasm and our desire to speak to everyone there as well as at the special effort many of us make to greet newer folks. We felt the names added into the Prayers of the People help us to stay connected to with the needs of our parish family and our community. We were glad that we’re more concerned with the people participating in worship than with strict procedure, happily living through little mistakes in order to give everyone a chance to take part. Our Wednesday evening service offers even more evidence of our genuine love for one another as we all gather around those coming for prayer and lay hands on them together and as we pass communion to one another.
we were then asked how our worship conveys what is actually true about the day-to-day life of our community. We celebrated that we’re a small enough church that we can easily know one another well and be invested in one another’s lives. We’re able to know one another’s joys and sorrows and to share them. This evident in our worship on so many ways, many of which we’ve already listed. But we celebrated, too, the way we greet one another before and after services, coming early and staying late in order to be together. And we were glad that our announcement time allows room for folks to add their own announcements. We love celebrating one another’s birthdays and anniversaries, praying for those expecting children, and sharing the moments marked by the giving of altar flowers.
I think we all left the Convention even more grateful for this wonderful church we call home. We are so blessed!
God's Peace
Jenny+