Letter from Fr. Isaias - JUNE

Dear Friends,

I'm now in the fourth month as your supply and Priest-in-Charge at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, and I’ve been spending a lot of time lately thinking about my transition here. I remember how welcoming everyone was the first time I visited you all during the Pancake Supper the day before Ash Wednesday. Then, as I was moving into the rectory in May, several of you came to ask me what else I’d need to comfortably settle in. I remember my first Easter Memorial service for the cemetery families, the first funeral here that I had the honor of serving at, plus all of the various church functions I’ve been able to be a part of. Most of all, I remember all of the heartfelt conversations that have happened in my office, the parking lot and at the front of the church.

This month, I am simply writing to say thank you. You are such an amazing congregation and it has been such a blessing to be your Priest-in-Charge. I am continually blown away by your compassion, generosity and willingness to serve. I can only hope that I have inspired all of you as much as you have inspired me.

On June 4 , we’ll celebrate three things: Pentecost Sunday; the start of our Summer Schedule (one service only at 9:30 a.m.); and our annual Parish Picnic.

I invite everyone to participate and feel at home here at St. Margaret’s. Invite your whole family and friends as we share our blessings. I imagine our parish as a place for people to turn to in times of grief and trauma. We welcome and affirm all people to “live and move and have their being” in God’s presence. All are invited to receive God’s gift and know God’s presence, comfort and strength for themselves. At the very least, like Jesus, let us recognize that God is at work and present in the most un-expected and surprising places.

God has given us all unique gifts. As members of the St. Margaret’s com-munity, I invite you to begin taking inventory of your strengths, interests and assets in preparation for a survey that I will conduct this summer. This information will be used as part of an initiative that I am working on called “relationship mapping.” My goal is to use the results of these surveys to find relationships between individuals who share similar skills, resources and passions so that, together, we can discover new ways to serve our community here at St. Margaret’s and in the Plainview area.

Thank you so much for all that you do. You make this great place possible.

Blessings,

~ Fr. Isaias Ginson