This Week from Mitch
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I hope and pray that you are well. I am sure I join many of you in praying for a bit of relief from these temperatures soon. I also ask you to join me this week in both prayer and acts of service for all the people who have to work in this heat, and for the elderly among us, who, when the weather gets like this, essentially become trapped in their homes. In the gospel on Adam Steele's last Sunday with us, Jesus said, "Even one who gives a glass of cool water to one of these little ones in my name will certainly not lose their reward." In heat like this, a cooler full of cold water on a porch for delivery drivers, or even a simple gesture of offering something cold to workers or police officers whose labor places them in the heat, can go a long way. It's easy and simple.
On top of this, if you have a moment, call your loved ones. The heat truly can leave them feeling trapped, and a simple phone call can do a lot to lift someone's spirits. In a church our size, even with 2 clergy, a parish nurse, an army of note writers, lay eucharistic visitors, and lay chaplains, people can sometimes be missed. A friend calling a friend, a loved one calling a loved one, to spend some time in holy conversation is one of the simplest ways we can help ensure no one goes unnoticed.
To fight the heat this week at St. Martin's, we will have Pelican's Snoballs outside after the 10:30 AM service; before that, though, we get to celebrate the sacrament of baptism. I am delighted to be a part of this service with you all. When we welcome new people to the faith, we promise to do all that we can to support them in their life in Christ. It is a promise with no time limit. Like God's promise to the Israelites, "I will be your God, and you will be my people," our promise of support is eternal. It's a promise to care for the world that we will one day leave to them. It's a promise to make sure St. Martin's continues to thrive for generations. It is a promise to teach faith, love, hope, justice, and charity. It is a promise that I hope you will join me in making again this week.
Peace,
Mitch