August 18, 2025

Beloved of God,

This past Sunday, Pastor Russ preached on Luke 12:49-56 and reminded us of the fire Jesus came to bring – not destruction, but the fire of love and justice that changes everything. He lifted up Jonathan Myrick Daniels, an Episcopal seminarian who said yes to God’s call during the civil rights movement and gave his life standing with those who were marginalized. Jonathan’s witness isn’t just history, it’s a reminder that saying “yes” to God often pulls us out of our comfort zones and into the work of love.

That connects with the feast we celebrated last Friday – St. Mary the Virgin, the Mother of our Lord. Mary said “yes” to God with her whole life, even though it brought risk, uncertainty, and pain. Her courage and Jonathan’s courage echo through the ages: ordinary people, willing to trust God’s extraordinary call. That’s the invitation still before us.

Speaking of saying yes, our parish said “yes” in a delicious way at Sunday’s Annual Cookout. A huge thank you to Maggi Lubov for organizing, and to everyone who grilled, scooped ice cream, set up tables, cleaned up, and brought joy just by showing up. What a gift to gather in gratitude, laughter, and community.

Mark your calendars: Sunday, September 7 is Homecoming Sunday! We’ll celebrate the return of our choir and start of our fall program year, introduce new classes and events, and unveil a brand-new video created for us by Blanket Fort Creative. After a summer of visitors, vacations, and rest, we’ll gather again to kick off what promises to be a rich and vibrant season together.

Finally, let’s hold in prayer the children, counselors, and volunteers of Amazing Grace Camp as they begin their week—may it be a time of friendship, joy, and blessing.

Friends, may we, like Mary, like Jonathan, be bold enough to say “yes” to God.

Faithfully,