Back-page reflections are back! While I appreciated a few weeks away from them over the holidays, I am excited to wonder and reflect together in this space again this year.

This is the 3rd January, the 3rd start of the year, that I have been with you at St. John’s, and I am so grateful to have the privilege of being here and serving God in and with this community.  

Besides gratitude and reflection, January is also the time of year for budgets. With the diocesan funding ending, it is going to be a more challenging financial situation in 2022 than we have faced for a few years. However, do not be alarmed, do not be discouraged, do not be afraid. There are signs of hope all around us, reflecting God’s goodness and faithfulness to us; reflecting the fruits of our work for the past number of years; reflecting what I believe is our bright future together. 

Let me share one of these signs of hope with you: In the first 3 weeks of 2022 I have scheduled 5 baptisms for the year. That’s right, 5. 

That is amazing and fills me with energy and excitement. I hope it does the same for you. 

We will face the things that are challenging this year, not alone but together, remembering that God has promised to be with us even when (or especially when) things are hard. However, in the midst of it all, let us continue look out for and hold on to these signs of hope, of new life. They are all around us if we have but eyes to see them. 

Thanks be to God!


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