What a busy month we have had--the Marigold Parade, a Celebration of the Feast of All Saints, a meeting of our Governing Group and the wedding in Tucson of two members of our community--Jagan Jayaraj and Kristen Howe. Imagine: the month is barely just half over!
A big "Hats Off" to Anne Hanke who pulled together our Marigold Parade, Float and presence. Attending meetings, keeping lists, buying up orange, yellow and black napkins as well as face paint and florist wire--all to get us ready for the parade. Here's a picture of Anne resting a moment before the parade began.
A stalwart group of people from Live at Five and the larger St. Michael's community braved the rain to march in the parade. We gave out over seven thousand pieces of candy--each piece handed to a spectator with the words, "This candy comes from St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church" or "A kiss from St. Michael's". As I placed candy in the outstretched hands of children and adults standing by the parade route, I found myself remembering the words I'd said that morning as I gave out communion bread (the rhythm was the same) "The Body of Christ. the bread of Heaven." Words that build community. Words that mark a community formed and reformed at a shared table.
It is that shared table that binds us together as a people gathered in love and fellowship--something our Governing Group reaffirmed just last week in their decision to resume weekly Eucharists at Live at Five. Beginning this month, we will be celebrating Eucharist every Sunday at Live at Five. Most months, Rev. Kristin will celebrate one Sunday, Canon Doug will celebrate one Sunday, I will celebrate one Sunday, and we will have a guest priest one Sunday. Anne Hanke will continue to be our chief wrangler and coordinator.
To make this work will require all of us to pitch in--our time, our money, our ways of serving, and most important of all--our prayers. As many of you know, this is stewardship season. It is my prayer that all of us will pledge. Sometimes folks don't pledge because they can't pledge very much. But the amount doesn't matter. Pledge what you can--the the cost of a weekly cup of coffee is a good place to start. So many times in the last three years I have been able to point to Live at Five's commitment to giving and serving. So many times in the last three years we have sustained one another through our prayers.
As we enter into a New Year (November 30 is the first Sunday of Advent), may we all hold Live at Five, St. Michael's and one another in prayer.
Susan+
A big "Hats Off" to Anne Hanke who pulled together our Marigold Parade, Float and presence. Attending meetings, keeping lists, buying up orange, yellow and black napkins as well as face paint and florist wire--all to get us ready for the parade. Here's a picture of Anne resting a moment before the parade began.
A stalwart group of people from Live at Five and the larger St. Michael's community braved the rain to march in the parade. We gave out over seven thousand pieces of candy--each piece handed to a spectator with the words, "This candy comes from St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church" or "A kiss from St. Michael's". As I placed candy in the outstretched hands of children and adults standing by the parade route, I found myself remembering the words I'd said that morning as I gave out communion bread (the rhythm was the same) "The Body of Christ. the bread of Heaven." Words that build community. Words that mark a community formed and reformed at a shared table.
It is that shared table that binds us together as a people gathered in love and fellowship--something our Governing Group reaffirmed just last week in their decision to resume weekly Eucharists at Live at Five. Beginning this month, we will be celebrating Eucharist every Sunday at Live at Five. Most months, Rev. Kristin will celebrate one Sunday, Canon Doug will celebrate one Sunday, I will celebrate one Sunday, and we will have a guest priest one Sunday. Anne Hanke will continue to be our chief wrangler and coordinator.
To make this work will require all of us to pitch in--our time, our money, our ways of serving, and most important of all--our prayers. As many of you know, this is stewardship season. It is my prayer that all of us will pledge. Sometimes folks don't pledge because they can't pledge very much. But the amount doesn't matter. Pledge what you can--the the cost of a weekly cup of coffee is a good place to start. So many times in the last three years I have been able to point to Live at Five's commitment to giving and serving. So many times in the last three years we have sustained one another through our prayers.
As we enter into a New Year (November 30 is the first Sunday of Advent), may we all hold Live at Five, St. Michael's and one another in prayer.
Susan+