Hello from Pastor Sarah

I am so happy to have been called as your new Pastor! What a wonderful time to join this congregation and begin my ministry with you! It is a wonderful coincidence that my first Sunday preaching will be the first day of Advent. Not only is this an exciting
season for the church, but it also marks the new liturgical year! A new year with a new pastor! This church, though old in its history is entering a new chapter! I feel so blessed to be able to go on this journey with you!

I met many of you at the ‘Meet and Greet’ on the Saturday before the first Call Sunday and many more of you during my actual Call Sunday. I am looking forward to working with you, hearing your ideas for this church, your dreams for this congregation, and where you see God calling us to participate in God’s work in this world.

The Search Committee has gotten to know me very well through our meetings as I was candidating for this position and I realize that many of you might not know as much about me. I have many hobbies and love doing crafts. Put me in a craft store and I’ll be there until closing with half the store’s supplies in my shopping cart! I love to scrapbook, make homemade gifts, and entertaining. I often host tea parties and other theme parties. Traveling and learning about other cultures fascinate me. I have been to Japan, England, Wales, Ghana, and Canada. (I figure it’s another country so I get to count it!) I love day trips and exploring the tourist attractions close by. I especially enjoy the oddball tourist traps such as the Jell-O Museum, America’s Stonehenge, largest banjo and more! I really enjoy learning and reintroducing Christianity’s Jewish roots and participating in interfaith opportunities with the Jewish community. I get excited finding new ways of introducing our faith in contemporary and tangible ways, especially to make it understood by our youth. These are just a few things about me and I’m sure you will all learn more about me as I work with you.

As we enter into this holiday season, we often can become very overwhelmed with shopping, parties, and decorating. But I am reminded by the words of Edward Hays in “A Pilgrim Almanac” which reads, “Take time to be aware that in the very midst of our busy preparations for the celebration of Christ’s birth in ancient Bethlehem, Christ is reborn in the Bethlehems of our homes and daily lives. Take time, slow down, be still, be awake to the Divine Mystery that looks so common and so ordinary yet is wondrously present.” This is wonderful advice we can all be reminded of and take to heart this season.

I know that I am in for a real adventure with this congregation if my Call Weekend is anything to show for it! With God’s Spirit alive around us, I know that our time will be blessed! I am honored to be your pastor and having the privilege of walking along beside you as we go forward on this journey of faith to share Christ’s love to the world.

Pastor Sarah