July and August. My long, hot summer of shifting sands in a new location is receding. Soon we will gather joyfully for Homecoming Sunday in joint worship (one worship service at 10am) on September 11. Over these two months, I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know some of you, God’s saints, in this place, and I eagerly anticipate the return of many more new faces with the school year. (P.S. I would love it if you would try to wear your name tags for a while anyway!)
There’s an attitudinal shift in the September air, a readiness to take on new challenges and to learn new things, and I pray all the people of FCCB will embrace it. We have much work to do together in the coming months: assembling a smoothly-functioning governance structure and re-instating bylaws; establishing a pastor-parish relations committee and using other channels of communication between staff and congregation; healing grievances; and ultimately, looking forward to discerning the kind of church you are called to be in the coming years before you begin to search for permanent pastoral leadership. I will be your guide in these tasks, and I promise to be present, available, and steadfast in this interim time. But, I can’t do it alone. Please join me, with goodwill and open hearts, forgiven and forgiving in the way of Jesus.
Your pastor,
Carrie