Dear friends in Christ,
I hope this letter finds you well and that you are enjoying the many blessings of summer. We have gone through much together so far in 2018. We bid farewell to Weezie and Buck as they moved to Colorado. We shared the stories of what God is up to in our lives during our Lenten Forum series. We had a spectacular time at Date with the Daffodils, honoring Isabel Souder Correll and raising over $75,000 for our mission and outreach. We have celebrated together at weddings and baptisms, and we have wept together as we bid farewell to dear loved ones. And now we eagerly look forward to welcoming our new rector, David May and his wife Emily in July. St. Mary’s is a remarkable community and I can’t wait to see what God will be up to next in this special place.
And so it is with a great deal of joy and sorrow I must share with you that, after much prayerful discernment, I have accepted the call to serve as the next Priest-in-Charge of St. Andrew’s Church in Oregon Hill. This move was not something I anticipated, nor was it something I was looking for. But from the moment I was asked to consider the position and through my conversations with the vestry of St. Andrew’s, I have felt that the Holy Spirit has been very clear that this is the next step in my journey of service to God and the church.
I can’t adequately express how blessed I feel to have been able to serve as your priest and pastor, particularly in this period of transition. Your love and support, your commitment to one another, and your dedication to serving God in the world have made serving in your midst a true privilege. The leadership of the parish, especially Senior Warden Tracey Ragsdale and the vestry, are outstanding. And you have a staff that is unparalleled anywhere in the church. While I am sad to leave, I do so knowing that under David’s leadership, and with the support of Bob and the rest of the staff, you will continue to thrive and grow.
I am committed to supporting David as he begins his work with us. To that end, my last Sunday with you will not be until August 19. We will have plenty of opportunities between now and then to celebrate the time we have had together.
St. Mary’s will forever hold a special place in my heart. My time here, though briefer than any of us anticipated, has been crucial to my growth as a priest and, more importantly, as a disciple of Jesus Christ. I thank you for allowing me to share in your journey for this time and I can’t wait to see what God has in store for you next.
Peace & Blessings,
The Reverend Andrew Moore, Associate Rector
Dear Fellow Parishioners,
I received the news of Andrew’s appointment as Rector of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church with such mixed emotions. I am so thrilled for Andrew and this next phase of his spiritual journey. I can think of no one better suited to lead the St. Andrew’s congregation as it is a perfect match to Andrew’s gifts and passions. I am also pleased that the diocese recognized Andrew’s outstanding work and accomplishments while at St. Mary’s and reached out to him to consider this position.
As a congregation, we will be eternally grateful for Andrew’s commitment to St. Mary’s, especially during this time of transition. He has stepped up and assumed the role of leadership beautifully. He took on additional responsibilities and led the staff in a manner that appeared effortless. He has allowed St. Mary’s to continue to move forward in a time when it would have been so easy to do nothing more than just keep the doors open.
David and Andrew have discussed this move and while David is very happy for him, I know that he is saddened that he will miss the opportunity to work alongside Andrew. Once David arrives, we will begin making plans to search for a new Associate Rector.
Please join me, along with the Vestry, in congratulating Andrew on this wonderful new endeavor.
Blessings,
Tracey Ragsdale, Senior Warden