Dear friends in Christ,

As many of you know, Saint Philip’s participated in the Day of Discovery, a required event for every parish seeking a new rector.

The Rev’d Canon Anita Braden led a packed Murphey Gallery of parishioners this past Sunday in eliciting from all present as to what is most valuable in preserving and honoring besides what is most needed in Saint Philip’s unfolding next chapter.

I asked the Canon if I might be present, and she gave her “OK” as long as I would not speak. Interims are not allowed in this process. While I “behaved” as instructed, I did enjoy the conversation and meeting new people where I was seated, where I did speak—just not in the big group.

What came across was the energy and enthusiasm in the room.

This was emphasized in a group discussion the day after in the Reading Between the Lines lectionary Bible study group on Monday evening. Someone new to Saint Philip’s exclaimed, “You are a very happy church.” Another said how welcoming she found the parish to be.

Yet in another smaller forum group that met two weeks earlier, some expressed some frustration in finding their way in this large parish.

Everyone has a different experience in joining, finding welcome, and social connection. A shyer person will usually be more challenged than an extroverted person in joining. I would like to see more awareness of those who need to be reached out to, so that we can take the initiative to include them.

Please consider the importance of reaching out to a stranger. And…it really doesn’t matter if the “stranger” has been here for 60 years! You will have met a new person.

The Day of Discovery event brought different subgroups within the parish together. As Senior Warden, John Bremond put it, “communities within the community.”

How excellent to have been in that room to see and hear from people you were meeting for the first time. Expansiveness is a good thing.

When it seemed that polarization was developing around “high church versus low church,” the Canon reminded us to remember the guiding dictum, “Let us agree that we will at times disagree.”

How real is that! Such is the nature of any large group of people.

She went further in reminding us of our essence, which is that we are brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. Under the tutelage of Jesus, we will always be on solid ground that protects us from ego inflation of “my way or the highway.”

What happened in that room this past Sunday provides a marvelous grounding and foundational experience for the search committee, vestry, and the entire congregation in taking next steps in this interim phase.

There is so much love and appreciation and gratitude for Saint Philip’s among so many people. Holy space indeed.

Sacred space is offered for growing in Christ, both as individuals and for the full community that is Saint Philip’s. May this place continue to reflect and offer the healing of Christ to all persons both far and near.

Your fellow traveler,

—Richard