August 9, 2024

    Greetings from a rainy Durango, Colorado. Kate and I are supporting friends whose daughter is getting married. It’s joyful and fraught as so many mixed-family occasions can be when broken families negotiate their tensions and mixed needs and expectations. Strangely, all these family dynamics have put our life together and all the transitions and improvements that we are prioritizing and juggling into a stark relief. We could easily descend into tension and low-level conflict while trying to compete to get “what we want.” And yet, we haven’t, and I and we are blessed that the Holy Spirit has so prepared the ground of this congregation’s soul for this hard work.

   As y’all know, the leadership recently went through a process called Mutual Ministry Review. This process is new to St. Bart’s and was incredibly affirming. I think for many of us, it was surprisingly affirming because for so long our narrative has included statements of anxiety and maybe a little embarrassment. What emerged in our conversation were statements of joy and celebration and hope. We said things about our faithfulness and resilience and our hope for the future and willingness to be creative and adapt. We realized just how capable God has made us and plumbed some of the depth of how much God loves our life together. The leadership is crafting a full review of that process, its outcomes, goals, and priorities in a discrete communication to you shortly. I thank you in advance for your prayerful of the reflection of our common life that this process brought about.

   For the time being, I hope and trust that you will warmly welcome the Rev. Fred Huntington, who has been with us before, to serve in supply on Sunday, August 11^th. Remind one another of the Pig Pickin’ and Parish Picnic on St Bartholomew’s Day on August 25^th. And please pray for Kate and my safe travels back home.

See you in church,

Michael